Young scholars consider the elements involved in reading poetry aloud. They discuss different poetic forms and how the choices a reader makes in tone, emphasis, breaths, and pauses can affect the listener's interpretation and...

Students choose at least one poem that they like and one poem that they dislike from twenty poems posted around the classroom. They copy the two chosen poems into their Poetry Journal and write a response to the two poems using the...

Second graders analyze storytelling devices by examining sensory details in literature. In this descriptive writing lesson, 2nd graders define the 5 senses and practice using descriptive vocabulary words in their writing. Students read...

Students examine examples of literary terms in poetry. Then they choose two songs, write out the lyrics, and decipher what they think the artist is trying to say. Each student presents their song to the class and they cite examples of...

Eighth graders read the short biographical sketch and selected poems of Langston Hughes, 8th graders examine the hardships historically faced by Black Americans through class discussion, interpretation, and journaling.

Students consider the attributes of heroes. In this literature lesson, students read selected poems from Hesse's Out of the Dust and then create their own bio-poems that feature themselves as heroes.

Students listen and explore how African-American culture relates to learning Spanish as a foreign language. Poetry, music, and history are utilized while learning about Langston Hughes and Nicolas Guillen.

Students explore the Earth's various biomes and ecosystems using Internet research. They create a multimedia poem using the photos, sounds, and vocabulary from their research.

Learners brainstorm what they know about Tupac. In groups, they divide the statements into good and bad and read "The Rose That Grew From Concrete" about Tupac's life. To end the instructional activity, they answer questions about the...

In this unique lesson plan on autobiographical writing, students compare and contrast three types of writing: narrative, poetry and newspaper. Students prepare to produce a short autobiographical writing based on the framework of one of...

Middle schoolers solve and write riddles using similes and metaphors.  In this similes and metaphors lesson, students work in groups to solve descriptive riddles for famous landmarks.  Middle schoolers are given pictures of...

Ninth graders write a poem and participate in a poetry slam.

Students recognize predictable patterns in literature. They use the selected pattern to create their own writing using the same type of literary pattern. The new writing is proofread by other students and the editing is done until the...

Students listen to the story The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe read aloud and answer prediction questions at designated stopping points during the reading. Students discuss and write either an acrostic poem or a comic strip in...

Fifth graders write rebus stories using technology. They share the rebus stories with younger students

Students research the importance of play. For this research lesson, students work in pairs and interview each other about their 'play history.' Students take data from the interview and shape it into a play history for the individual....

A hearing impaired student identifies rhyming words. In this rhyming word lesson for the hearing impaired, 2nd graders read and write poetry correctly using rhyming words.

Students select writing prompts for the class.

Students identify and use literary devices such as personification, idioms, hyperbole, and metaphors. They identify one literary device and illustrate the meaning. They write a letter using correct letter format and incorporates literary...

Students take their own digital photographs and scan them onto the computer. For each photograph, they write about them and use the internet to research their subject in the photo more throughly. They are graded based on a rubric and...

Middle schoolers write a short paragraph using strong descriptions.  In this using modifiers activity, students define modifier, adjective, adverb, metaphor, and simile.  Middle schoolers then write a journal entry in which...

Students examine the parts of a letter and a written invitation. They write letters inviting family members to a classroom celebration.

Students explore myths in ancient times.  In this mythology activity, students read or view a video production of a myth to determine specific characteristics of myths. Students work in groups to write a myth that explains an...

Tenth graders are introduced to the vocabulary that is acceptable and unacceptable in writing a haiku. Individually, they are given a set of instructions in which to write their haiku and discuss how these limitations have affected...