Virginia Department of Education
Elaborating with Showing, Not Telling
This engaging activity is a great change of pace for the classroom. The activity starts with a simple message on the board “The teacher is angry.” The instructor is to stomp around, drop books and glare—anything to show anger. The...
Curated OER
Don't Forget to Say Thanks
Students practice descriptive writing in a thank-you note format. For this descriptive writing lesson, students read the example letter and analyze the corrections in the letter. Students read the example thank you notes and focus on the...
Curated OER
Pumpkin Patch Fun!
Students research a website to find out about pumpkins. In this pumpkins lesson plan, students research the site, make a review sheet for another group to complete, draw a pumpkin, and write a summary about their learnings.
Curated OER
I Think Mom Loves You Best
Sixth graders listen to, "The Pain and the Great One", by Judy Blume. They discuss advantages and disadvantages to having a particular position in a family. They write a paragraph from the main character's point of view.
Curated OER
Social Studies: Population Distribution
Students create a population distribution map of Goodland Island indicating where people live by marking the locations with dots. After reading a written description of the island, they write short paragraphs explaining and justifying...
Curated OER
Family Pictures
Fourth graders, after reading the story, "Family Pictures," discuss the format of the story and then recall a favorite family experience of their own. They then write a paragraph as modeled by the author describing that experience with...
Curated OER
Exploring Photographs
Students explore the basic tools for analyzing images using description, reflection, and formal analysis. In this photography analysis lesson plan, students analyze a photograph as a class and then in small groups. Students write...
Curated OER
Life Cycle of Butterfly
Second graders investigate life cycles of insects by writing a story. In this butterfly life lesson plan, 2nd graders create a checklist of the many steps a caterpillar takes before growing wings and flying. Students utilize...
Curated OER
Luscious Language Boxes
Students experience a writing activity aimed at spicing up their writing. They use the classroom Luscious Language Box to add creative parts of speech to their writing.
Curated OER
the Naturalist's Notebook
Third graders, after brainstorming what they already know about trees and what effect the seasons have on them, create a model of a hollow log. They participate in a young naturalist's notebook writing activity while walking outside...
Curated OER
The Pied Piper Of Hamelin
Students participate in a lesson that covers the genre of narrative poetry. They examine the elements of a narrative poem while focusing upon the characterization. Students compare and contrast the characters while analyzing their...
Curated OER
Masks Across Cultures
Learners examine various masks from different cultures. In groups, they review vocabulary related to expressing emotions in art. They work together to create a mask using the techniques described to them and representing a season. ...
Curated OER
Civil War
Fifth graders discuss the causes of the Civil War and write a paragraph summarizing each identified event. In the computer lab, 5th graders create a PowerPoint presentation explaining events leading up to the Civil War. They use the...
Curated OER
Bubble Blast
Students explore the ingredients and properties of bubbles. They participate in various bubble blowing activities, and write a paragraph describing their best bubble.
Curated OER
Masks from Around the World
Students examine the history of masks, and create their own mask as a culminating activity. They view and discuss a PowerPoint presentation about the history of masks, complete a class KWL chart, create their own mask, and write a...
Curated OER
Designing Medieval Shields
Students design and create a medieval shield. They read and discuss the history and color schemes of how shield symbols are chosen, design and construct an original medieval shield, and write a paragraph explaining the design and symbols...
Curated OER
Fields of Candy Bars
Students research and write about the origins of the ingredients in candy bars. They taste them and describe what they are tasting. They use descriptive words to write a paragraph describing the candy bar. They research ingredients in...
Curated OER
Adjectives
In this adjectives practice instructional activity, 3rd graders write 1 paragraph to describe themselves. Students may choose from a list of adjectives to write about themselves.
Curated OER
Isolating Bacteria from a Mix Culture
Students isolate three species of bacteria using the plate streak method, implement sterile microbiology techniques, and produce pure cultures of each microorganism at the end of this exercise. They write a descriptive paragraph for each...
Curated OER
Flags
Students explore flags. In this social studies civics lesson students listen to Flags of the Metis by Calvin Racette. Students identify examples of symbols used in the 21st century. Students research information about flags, design an...
Curated OER
Measure This!
Students estimate the measurement in centimeters for common classroom objects. They check their estimations, discuss the differences and write a paragraph summarizing the activity.
Curated OER
Re-Presenting Race in the Digital Age: "Who Can Pass"
Eleventh graders examine the relationship between race and class in historical and societal settings. They read and discuss the poem, "Passing," by Langston Hughes, analyze photographs by Yinka Shonibare, answer discussion questions,...
Curated OER
Make A Mummy: The Science of Mummification
Learners research the history of mummification. They work together to create an apple mummy. They write a paragraph about what they gathered while doing the experiment.
Curated OER
Squanto's Science Lesson
Students explore Squanto's contribution to the settlers. They plant seeds and follow instructions for water and fertilization. Students keep a record of the growth of the seeds. They write a paragraph that tells what they learned from...