Students investigate syllabic metre and rhyming techniques by analyzing poetry.  In this language arts lesson, students read the poem Considering the Snail and discuss the nature and mood of the poem with their classmates....

Students explore the concept of slope.  In this Algebra I lesson, students investigate the definition of slope as rise over run or change in y compared to change in x.  The lesson includes a real-world problem in which the...

If you're reading Lord of the Flies, and you reach chapter 10, use this learning exercise to encourage a deeper understanding of the text. There are a series of questions for the reading. 

Create a "Double Bubble" to organize information in a Venn diagram-like graphic organizer.   There are a few options included to differentiate this assignment, but unfortunately, there are no topics for selection. Provide your...

Determine the author's purpose in writing a memoir. Eighth graders work in groups  to elicit author's purpose in memoirs, taking care to note how subtle the message can be hidden throughout the work. This lesson is a good way to...

What's the best way to start a story? Learners write a memoir using effective openings. They research the process and work through a list of hooks to use in their writing. They use at least two hooks to begin their personal memoir. A...

Students combine simple sentences into compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.  In this combining sentences lesson, students are given short, choppy sentences and combine them into more mature sentences.  Students...

Create to learn! Your class can create posters of transitional words and phrases to help them compose an explanatory text. They work in groups and focus on one type of transition (time, place, importance, etc.). They also create a poster...

Use this lesson plan to focus on a compare and contrast writing structure in your middle school language arts class. Here, young writers compare and contrast two texts using graphic organizers. They use a double bubble format for their...

Engage your class in a scavenger hunt to find the main ideas and supporting details in a text. They follow the teacher while s/he models how to determine main idea and find supporting details, and then they work independently. A fun...

The opening of J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit provides a model of how to use rich details to create a setting. After reading the description of Bilbo Baggins’ abode, young writers create their own magical home for a fantasy creature. The...

In this energy transformations worksheet, students fill in the objects to a chart for which one would fit each energy transformation, and fill in the blanks to a chart about which energy transfer fits each object. Students complete 6...

In this electricity learning exercise, students read about static and current electricity and then draw pictures of an electric cell and circuits. Students draw 3 pictures total.

Emerging readers practice reading fluency. First, they listen to the teacher and classmates model fluent reading, and then they practice fluent oral reading with a partner. To close the day, they participate in a Reader's Theatre based...

Learners explore recycling. In this science lesson, students sort everyday objects based on their properties. Learners view examples of items made from recycled paper. Students create recycled paper.

Here are 5 multiple-choice questions based on the symbols in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the Through the Looking-Glass. Secondary pupils may take this timed quiz and submit their answers online to be scored.

Quiz your students on various topics related to the Roaring 20's, The Great Depression, and WWII. They'll ace any test after viewing this slide show. Tip: Turn this quiz into a game, see which side of the class is ready for the test.

Read Clap Your Hands to explore new vocabulary with your class. In this three-tiered vocabulary lesson, youngsters read the book and identify the plot, setting, and characters. They also define vocabulary terms from the book and...

Investigate the prospect of wind as a renewable resource. Second and third graders make a pinwheel, answer critical thinking questions, and then attempt to use wind power to wind string. I would be more apt to use this lesson in a 1st or...

Rivers aren't just a place for animals to live, they also provide industrial transportation. The class will examine the Hudson River on a map, discuss all the commercial vessels that use the River to transport materials, then complete a...

Using boats along in the Port of Albany as the focus, learners practice adding single-digit numbers and interpreting data. This instructional activity comes with the worksheets, resource links, and other materials to make it a worthwhile...

Entice your learners with this lesson on animal footprints. After reading the story Footprints in the Snow by Cynthia Benjamin, they use photos to identify animals and their footprints. Then they participate in an activity to classify...

Focusing on what electricity is and where it comes from, the information here is accessible to young scientists.  The basics of how electricity is made and its uses as a power supply are given with clear illustrations. Some examples...

With words like silverware, measuring cups, and pressure cooker, this presentation will help your ESL learners find their way around the kitchen. Each slide features one item found in a kitchen, as well as an explanatory illustration,...