Curated OER
The Important Thing About Reading
Third through fifth graders discover the importance of reading and plan a service project to provide books to children. First, they read the book The Important Book and then they brainstorm about the importance of reading. Afterward,...
Maryland Department of Education
The Concept of Diversity in World Literature Lesson 13: Unit Culmination - Symposium
To conclude a unit on the concept of diversity in world literature, class members conduct a symposium on "African Literature in Global Perspectives." In order to earn a spot on the panel, individuals craft an original thesis that...
Curated OER
What Makes a Hero?
Learners identify the characteristics of a hero. In this character development and writing lesson, students listen to music with a hero theme and discuss the common traits of heroes. Learners explore individuals and charitable...
Curated OER
"A MLA Style of Life"
Students effectively research using the internet, encylopedias, magazines and newspapers. They desegregate into needed and un-needed information based on their research findings. Pupils recognize and appropriately site sources using a...
Curated OER
Earth Day for a Small World
Students explore what it means to be a good steward of the environment. In this Earth Day activity, students create watercolor pictures of how to take care of the earth. They brainstorm ideas for an Earth Day project.
Curated OER
I am a Hero for Animals!
Students explore the humane treatment of animals. In this character development and civic responsibility lesson plan, students define "hero" and brainstorm related attributes. Students complete an action plan using the "rational...
Curated OER
An Apple a Day
Students explore the Johnny Appleseed story. In this service learning lesson, students sequence the life cycle of apple trees and recognize how Johnny Appleseed worked as a philanthropist.
Curated OER
How About a Hand?
Students experience a shared reading regarding the importance of feeling like a valued member of the community within a family. For this family member feelings lesson, students discuss the feelings and the motives of the characters....
Curated OER
Fame, Fortune, and Philanthropy
With your middle schoolers, develop concepts such as philanthropy, civic responsibility, community service, and common good. Discuss famous philanthropists and what we can each give of our time, talent and treasure to better our...
Curated OER
The Research Report
Students brainstorm criteria for reliablility, currency, and accuracy of information. They research a given topic, write a research report then develop a bibliography of sources for the research report using the designated format.
Curated OER
Using Information Resources
Eighth graders engage in a lesson that is intended to develop the skills of research to find the proper resources needed to find information. The lesson includes dialogue boxes that is intended for the teacher to use for direct...
Curated OER
Research Report
High schoolers review research skills and discuss types of information, e.g. fact/opinion, examples/evidence then research and gather information to answer a given set of research questions. They write a multi paragraph report using the...
Maryland Department of Education
The Concept of Diversity in World Literature Lesson 3: Igbo Culture
What cultural concepts must readers understand in order to connect to Things Fall Apart? As part of their study of Chinua Achebe’s novel, class members research Nigeria and the Igbo culture to create a collaborative, web-based,...
University of Pennsylvania
Decoding Propaganda: J’Accuse…! vs. J’Accuse…!
Reading snail mail is a great way to go back into history and to understand others' points of view. The resource, the second in a five-part unit, covers the Dreyfus Affair. Scholars, working in two different groups, read one letter and...
Curated OER
Love That Dog and Hate That Cat Teacher's Guide
This teaching guide for Love That Dog and Hate That Cat includes suggestions for how to integrate Sharon Creech's books into a poetry unit, as well as writing activities, discussion questions, and tips for making poetry...
Curated OER
All About Homophones
Put the fun back in reading fundamentals with an interactive set of lessons about homophones. Learners of all ages explore the relationships between words that sound the same but have different meanings, and complete a...
Orlando Shakes
Henry V: Study Guide
Shakespeare did more than write timeless literary works—he coined words such as moonbeam, fortune-teller, and even eyeball! A study guide for Henry V introduces key words the Bard first used with a fun vocabulary activity, part of a...
Orlando Shakes
The Importance of Being Earnest: Study Guide
Historically, members of the upper class provide plenty of fodder for comedic writers. Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is no exception, and a study guide for the classic play discusses some of the Victorian social...
Curated OER
MLA Documentation Exercises
Has your school adopted the MLA style for documentation? If so, use this activity to assess whether or not your class members know the rules. Young researchers complete of series of documentation exercises using the MLA format. They...
Curated OER
Class Soup
Youngsters identify the ingredients in a can of vegetable soup and record a recipe for the soup. They volunteer to bring in soup ingredients, graph the quantities of each vegetable in the soup, and make the soup with help from parents....
Curated OER
Synthesis of Information
Locating and synthesizing information is an essential part of the research process but can be overwhelming for many young writers. Eliminate some of the stress and confusion, this resource suggests, by separating these steps. To focus...
Curated OER
RESEARCH PROJECT
Students develop a list of famous people and choose an individual from the list. They create a web design for notes. They research their individual and add information to their bibliography. They finish by writing a report on the person.
Curated OER
Mini Research Report
Sixth graders select a topic to research. They gather information from at least 3 sources and take notes according to the categories chosen. Students write a rought draft using the notes. They edit, revise and publish the information....
Curated OER
The Land of Macondo
High schoolers research the culture, geography, music, myths and legends of the Caribbean coast of Colombia using online tools. They determine how these factors influenced the writing style of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. They design and...