Discuss the active and passive voices with this packet. There are several exercises to complete! First, identify which sentences are active and which are passive. Then, create sentences in the passive voice with the given topic. Finally,...

Discuss the meaning of the phrase tone of voice with the class. They respond to a variety of scenarios where a particular tone would be prevalent. They then read "Mother to Son" without knowing the title and answer some questions about...

How are the active and passive voices different, and when should you use each one? The first page of this two-page activity contains the rules and several examples. On the second page, your grammarians will be able to put pen to paper as...

Follow the procedural details here to model for your class how to identify author's voice in two poems, "Since Hannah Moved Away" by Judith Viorst and Mirriam Chaikin's "I Hate Harry." Together, determine voice and the words that reveal...

Use this lesson to reinforce the effect of passive and active voice in writing. First, middle schoolers write several sentences, and then use the attached worksheet to identify whether the sentences are written in active or passive voice.

What is the passive voice? What is the active voice? Which voice is typically preferred in writing? Use this worksheet to discuss the different voices. Then, have learners rewrite a series of sentences so that they are in the passive...

Often deemed the weak voice, the passive voice is often a stylistic choice in many narratives. This presentation, created by Prairie View A&M University, details the pros and cons of using the passive voice. 

Six quick slides show the difference between the active and passive voice and how to eliminate the passive voice in one's writing. Identify the subject and verb of the sentences shown, and rearrange them to change the voice. Encourage...

Work on identifying the passive and active voice with your learners. Show them what each voice emphasizes and the typical syntax for each type. The active voice is encouraged, but the reasons for effectively utilizing passive voice are...

What is the difference between the active voice and the passive voice? Focus on the latter with your middle schoolers to help them strengthen their writing. First, they identify which sentences are written in the passive. Then, they...

Strengthen understanding of grammar and syntax with this task. First, grammarians identify the active and passive voices, then they rewrite individual sentences to be in the active voice before manipulating an entire paragraph. Great...

Poems For Two Voices are a great resource in any language arts classroom, whether you are studying poetry or not. Focusing on The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this lesson prompts young authors to write a Poem For Two...

Dr. Seuss and Walter Dean Myers team up to cover the topic of prejudice. Using The Sneeches (about the culture clash between star-bellied and bare-bellied Sneetches) and The Glory Fields (about a boy coming to America on a slave ship),...

Why was the road crossed by the chicken? Because the writer forgot to write in active voice. Many myths surround the use of passive voice. Thankfully, an informative handout explains how to recognize passive voice and when it's okay to...

Explore the impact a narrator's point of view has on a story with a reading of the children's book, Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne. Written in four different voices, the story is told and retold from different perspectives to...

"Yo, what's up?" "Nuttin!" While such a dialogue might be appropriate between friends, it would be ill-advised in more formal situations. A mini-lesson asks young writers to consider how to adjust the voice they use to bring their...

Use this online interactive worksheet in an ELD class or for younger native speakers. They practice using simple past tense verbs in the passive voice. Many of the constructions are not straightforward, nor often used by early speakers,...

After reading a text written by James Joyce, middle and high schoolers find examples of passive voice. They share their findings with the class. Use this instructional activity to emphasize the effect of passive voice in writing.

Students explore the use of voice and title in William Faulkner's, "As I Lay Dying". They identify and discuss the use of image, symbols and narrative voice in the story.

Why do some phrases contribute to a weak authorial voice? The first page of this packet explains what a strong and weak voice sound like, and it lists some common phrases that clutter writing, ultimately weakening it. The second page...

Middle schoolers complete a unit of lessons that explore the poetic voice of Langston Hughes. They define voice, read and analyze various poems by Langston Hughes, and complete journal entries for each instructional activity.

Incorporate technological fluency with a search for examples of active and passive voice in online resources. Discuss how use of active or passive voice influences mood or tone and contributes to author's purpose. List of...

Reinforce your lesson on passive and active voice with this grammar worksheet. Young grammarians review examples of active and passive voice, and then determine which voice is used in a set of ten sentences. Next, students rewrite...

The definition of passive voice is given along with tips to identify whether a sentence is written in this form. With one slide for the title and one for the end, the remaining four slides include the definition and a different tip on...