A close examination of John Gast's painting "American Progress" launches a study of the concept of Manifest Destiny used to justify United States' policy of westward expansion. Young historians read statements from persons with different...

Different tones for different audiences. That's the big idea behind the second lesson in a two-part series that reveals Abigail Adams as a mother. Scholars examine letters Abigail Adams wrote to her sons, John Quincy Adams and Charles...

Students trace the immigration patterns of their ancestors. They plot information on a world map, develop a timeline of target immigration patterns, research and write a report on immigration and participate in a class play.

A beginning study of linguistics will include phonetics and the way sound is made. Show your class these great slides with pictures and examples of consonants, vowels, and blends. Placement of the tongue, lips, etc. are displayed to give...

This task is best utilized after a rough draft revision is completed. Writers pair-up and identify when the author uses the passive voice, clichés, and wordiness.  Basic examples for the revision points are provided for the...

Learning by example is always effective if it's paired with independent practice opportunities! Model good reading practices for your class. Learners listen to the teacher model examples of reading with voice, expression, and tone...

First through third graders explore reading with fluency and expression. They examine how to read with expression, changing the speed, volume, and pitch of their voices while reading. Students listen to a story that is read with...

Students examine the melody of a patriotic song by playing it on the piano and having them sing it back to the teacher and are assigned a specific patriotic song to arrange for voices. They create their own four-part choral arrangement...

As your class reads Gary Paulsen's Canyons, challenge them to assume the perspective of a character to write a letter. The plan suggests learners pair off, one person assuming the voice of Coyote Runs, and the other assuming the voice of...

Young writers compose an article on the benefits of healthy eating. They are coached on how to use the passive voice in their writing. On the whiteboard, they brainstorm ideas of why healthy eating is important, then use those ideas to...

Ninth graders take note of the ways in which word choice, rhythm, language and narrative voice, as well as point of view in a poem can be used to evoke a time and place. They use their insights to create a poem of their own.

Readers work to increase their reading fluency through repeated timed readings. They learn to read with more excitement and enthusiasm in their voices, making a more pleasurable experience for their listeners.

Fifth graders, in groups, research one of the biomes of Canada. They create a multi-slide PowerPoint presentation about their biome that contains specific types of inserted/downloaded pictures, recorded voice, and a sound effect.

Reading aloud is a great way to engage learners in pacing and pronunciation! They practice using voice, pitch and intonation correctly. The teacher introduces the lesson by example, correctly stressing punctuation and using appropriate...

Students read news articles/television reports of a Student Walkout that occurred in Ohio and investigate how a citizen group could overturn a school board decision. Students also explore other ways Students could make their voices heard...

Get ready to boost fluency in the classroom with this lesson geared toward elementary readers. Listening to the first half of The Little Engine That Could,  learners focus on how voice changes create expression. They then...

Students record themselves saying basic biographical facts about themselves: : what their names are, where they live, how old they are, what languages they speak, and what activities they like to do. They practice their presentational...

After reading chapter six of Ordinary People with your class, conduct this activity with your class. Turn the lights down, put on your softest voice, and have them try to imagine that they lost a close friend. Then, encourage them to...

The focus of the lesson is rhythmic speech and 4/4 time. The topic of the lesson is trades common in Old Salem during the colonial period. Learners will practice keeping time with their voices and body percussion. They will then research...

Junior high writers investigate other student’s sample writing and critique on how it could be improved. Skill emphasis is place on elaboration, voice, and sentence variety. The student writing is provided, but the checklist for revision...

Learners demonstrate a comprehension and a tasteful appreciation of the creative and performing arts. They seek, experiments, and shares reactions of different forms of art. Students analyze and reflect on others' work. They recognize...

In this study guide worksheet for The Bean Trees, students answer comprehension questions based on the reading. Students are given vocabulary words to know, asked about motifs, themes and symbols.

Students watch a video on Patrick Henry, complete a vocabulary list and discuss the video following provided questions.

Twelfth graders analyze "Dedication" and "Child of the Americas" using a double-journal format. They compare responses and infer meaning from the connotations of select images in the poems write a paragraph describing the importance of...