As a class, 7th graders observe examples of brainstorming and then complete brainstorming worksheets themselves. They compose and describe planning strategies. Prior to writing an essay, they identify the purpose and the audience.

Give your upper classmen something to think about. They'll read a New York Times article on the politics of student loans. The six comprehension questions will have them thinking about the impact legislation has on how much they'll pay...

Fourth graders research the design of the aircraft used by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk. They design a sculpture of aircraft using recycled materials.

After a brief class discussion about public speaking, individuals complete a handout that asks them to reflect on the best and worst presentations they've seen. The extension activity involves students presenting to the class on a...

Students engage in a literature study in order to appreciate the world around them and create an innate instinct of working for the cause of conservation for the environment. They answer guided questions that use the story as a resource.

Students investigate the history of America with the help of children's literature. The story is structured as a timeline that begins at the time of Columbus and progresses to the present. The teacher reads the story with the class and...

Models of and directions for how to write 20 different types of poems are featured in an NCTE resource. The introduction to each form highlights the embedded concepts. For example, tongue twisters encourage poets to use alliteration and...

Eighth graders determine the net amount of an income for a fictional job. They must determine their net worth minus standard deductions. Students must then determine their monthly budget including, groceries, credit, and rent.

A helpful guide to Jane Yolen's The Devil's Arithmetic for your literature unit. Use the sections on point-of-view, dramatic irony, and background knowledge, among others, to frame your lessons in an engaging and educational way.

After studying all of the 220 Dolch basic sight words, your class can read this great short story that includes every word. You can have your readers circle each sight word as they go.

Introduce some nonfiction reading into your classroom! This resource contains seven comprehension questions pertaining to an article from The New York Times website about the first middle schoolers to ever win the United States Chess...

Fifth graders search and sort prepared databases for information to use in classroom projects, locate, gather, evaluate, organize, and analyze information.

This James and the Giant Peach instructional activity provides 15 short answer questions and extension activities. They address characterization, basic reading comprehension, making personal connections to the reading, and...

In this pre-reading activity worksheet, students respond to 3 questions that require them to list main ideas, generate questions, and clarify unclear items prior to reading a selection.

Having difficulty in class broaching controversial issues? This lesson offers several linked online tools to get students engaged in discussion about bullying and homophobia. Coastkid.org offers an interactive scenario activity, which...

Third graders develop an appreciate for the various cultures that are present in their local community. Through reading and research, they explain how various culture came to live in their area. At the conclusion of the unit, 3rd...

In this music worksheet, students answer 10 questions about the cartoon Yellow Submarine. Students also answer 10 additional questions about the Beatles and the instruments played in the song.

Second graders explore cultural differences through reading. In this culture lesson, 2nd graders read the book The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric. Students discuss scenes from the book and how the character feels. Student get with a...

Fourth graders conduct an experiment related to heat sources, and participate in a heat source hunt. They identify sources of heat, then compare the melting rate of ice cubes, illustrating the results in their science journal. Students...

Fourth graders focus on fluency by reading the book Charlotte's Web. In this reading strategies lesson plan, 4th graders partner read, do guided reading, and independent reading to increase fluency. Students use Venn Diagrams,...

Students research historical events in ancient Greece.  In this ancient Greece lesson plan, students design a magazine which includes a cover, table of contents, cover story, advertisement and visuals. Students focus on Pericles and...

Students investigate the Underground Railroad. In this African-American history lesson plan, students listen to the book Clara and the Freedom Quilt and use map skills to identify the various locations in the book. Students create a...

In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 15 multiple choice questions about The Mayor of Casterbridge. Students may submit their answers to be scored.

In this literature worksheet, 3rd graders refer to the book entitled Follow the Drinking Gourd.  Students respond to 15 short answer reading comprehension questions.