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Idiom Workout
Teach your students that identifying a phrase as an idiom isn't an insult! Providing an ample definition of the term "idiom," as well as three categories of popular idioms ("get the..." "in a..." and "on the..."), the activity prompts...
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Take the Prefix Challenge
Learners form words using prefixes. In this prefix lesson, students compete in a "prefix challenge" to see which team can combine a set of twelve prefixes with a set of twelve words fastest. Learners enter their words in...
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Brain Break: Vocabulary and Context Clues
Young scholars utilize various sources to build and refine their vocabulary skills. They work together to solve a crypto-quote and daily puzzle from the newspaper.
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Dictionary Work - Entry Words
Second graders examine the use of entry words in the dictionary. In this dictionary use activity, learners look at guide words in a children's dictionary as the teacher/librarian describes the characteristics of each entry. They complete...
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The Sand Horse
Fourth graders are introduced to the book THE SAND HORSE and discuss the title and cover illustration. They listen to the story listening for words and phrases to describe the setting. They then brainstorm key words to illustrate the...
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Writing about Internal & External Conflicts in Lois Lowry's The Giver
Seventh graders examine the internal and external conflicts that Jonas faces in "The Giver" in an essay. Students use SMART Board and Inspiration to organize their ideas graphically before combining them into their paper.
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The Heart of the Matter
Upper elementary pupils learn about the blood transportation system and anatomy of the human heart. They fill in an outline of the human heart (not included) focusing on the flow of blood to and from the heart. Using stethoscopes,...
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Writing: Narrative, Expository, Persuasive, and Descriptive
If you are interested in having a basic framework for teaching expository, narrative, persuasive, and descriptive writing, this resource may help; however, you will have to find information on the different forms of writing to share with...
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ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.5
"Timid, scared, terrified." High school scholars examine words, their denotations and connotations, in a series of exercises that use lines from Shakespeare to explore figurative language and word relationships. Participants then...
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Words That Sell
Explore words, definitions, their connotations and associations with brand names. Middle and high schoolers identify words used in commercials and determine their effect upon the consumer population. They explore how meanings are...
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Choosing Words Carefully
Use literacy tools to select precise vocabulary. High schoolers respond to discussion questions that require them to consider the denotation and connotation of words. They then read non-fiction passages and identify words in the passages...
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Letter from the Chateau
Students write a friendly letter based on their observations of a painting by Poussin.
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Postcards to the Troops
Students write postcards to the troops in Iraq. After listening to letters written by troops in Iraq, students discuss ways the troops are helping America and how they should show their support. Students use a postcard template and...
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The Class Garden Essay
Fifth graders use a class garden as inspiration for a specific writing assignment. They conduct research into different types of flowers in photo images taken with a digital camera. Students write a creative essay and draw a picture to...
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Gopher, Part 2: Gopherin'
Students explore how to access a gopher site using a root menu. Several options are presented with their definitions and the fastest routes examined in this lesson. The lesson is designed for librarians with little or no net experience.
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Reading Comprehension: Context Clues
Fifth graders use context clues to help them understand unknown words. In this context clues lesson, 5th graders practice identifying context clues on a worksheet, then work with a peer to write their own story. Stories are peer edited...
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Laurence Yep's Dragonwings
Learners read independently the novel, "Dragonwings," by Laurence Yep and make connections between a text and the world. They summarize, paraphrase, analyze and evaluate skimming and scanning techniques when reading a novel. Each student...
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Synonyms
Students discover the defintion for synonyms and how they describe similar situations. They start with a common word such as "happy" and brainstorm different words that mean the same as happy. They draw pictures or write sentences to...
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Laurence Yep's, Dragonwings
Students discuss vocabulary words and compare definitions. They read chapters 6-9 of the novel, Dragonwings, and discuss point of view, and complete a plot diagram. Then they review the four types of conflict and identify the conflicts...
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Fourth Grade Language: Research Process
In this review of fourth grade resource usage worksheet students answer questions about guide words, library database, resources for specific information, parts of a book, and dictionary usage. Students answer 10 questions.
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Passive Voice and Grammar Checkers
This handout gives an overview of the passive and active voices as well as pointing out that the grammar checkers in word processing programs mark sentences written in the passive voice as incorrect. While this is not an interactive...
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Shakespeare: Henry V - Writing Task
Pairs of pupils choose a person who they consider to be a hero. They research that person, develop a speech, and deliver it to the class in hopes of persuading them that this person really is a hero. A vote is taken after the...
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Writing Check List
In this writing skills worksheet, students check a piece of writing they've completed using the check list. The check list includes sixteen different items to check.
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Arizona Historical Persons Scavenger Hunt
Fourth graders use a research site directory and a scavenger hunt worksheet to locate information on early explorers and settlers in Arizona.