Curated OER
Integrate Reading and Writing this Valentine's Day
Spend Valentine's Day reading, writing, or creating gifts with your students.
Curated OER
How to Write A+ Essays!
This lesson plan, which promises to improve the essays of your middle schoolers, contains a list of characteristics an essay should include. It breaks it down into the introduction, thesis statement, body, etc. There's also a list of...
Curated OER
Penguin Writing
After discussing the main events in Mr. Popper’s Penguins, young writers describe in sequence what they would do if they had 12 penguins living in their house. The narratives are then glued onto a penguin cut-out, mounted on construction...
Curated OER
Positively Paper
Learners discover that all paper is recycled the same way, and that some paper requires complex chemical treatments before it can be made into usable recycled paper. They see that we must choose what kinds of paper minimize environmental...
Curated OER
Positively Paper
Young scholars study concepts related to paper recycling. In this recycling activity, they investigate the chemical processes used to recycle paper, and look at the environmental problems associated with using and recycling different...
Curated OER
Positively Paper
Students discover how paper is recycled. In this recycling lesson, students investigate which types of paper recycle best and are best for the environment.
Curated OER
Best Part of Me
After listening to the story, The Best Part of Me, learners will identify a positive physical feature of themselves, and create a descriptive poem about their favorite feature. Photographs are taken, and a nice final draft of the poem is...
Curated OER
In My Opinion
Young writers craft letters to the government stating their opinion on different topics. They pick an environmental or ocean issue, research it, and craft their formal persuasive letter. Ensure your learners include supporting facts and...
San José State University
Essay Exams: Common Question Types
Novice writers often struggle to determine what style of essay to write when given a prompt. This worksheet helps to identify an appropriate form based on the language of the question. For example, key words like prove or justify...
Curated OER
Don't Let the Earth Down
Writing a persuasive argument starts with a clear thesis. Using this resource, your class will write a persuasive paper on a conservation issue. They will then transform their argument into a 30-second public service announcement. If...
Laura Candler
Bio Poems Made Easy
A creative way bring autobiographical writing to your poetry unit or back-to-school curriculum, this lesson plan guides you through a bio poem activity. Kids use the graphic organizer to describe themselves using adjectives, things they...
EngageNY
Introducing the Performance Task Prompt and Beginning a Visual Representation
What exactly is a visual representation? Scholars use a think-pair-share to answer questions and record their information on anchor charts. Next, they use what they've learned to create visual representations of their position papers on...
San José State University
Organizational Patterns for the Comparison/Contrast Essay
Organization is key in essay writing. The two organizational charts included in this resource model the block approach and the point-by-point approach to organizing a compare and contrast style essay. After examining the charts, writers...
Anti-Defamation League
Dolls Are Us
Representation matters! A lesson examines the looks of dolls and discusses whether the design is inclusive or not. Scholars create a paper doll representing a characteristic about themselves or highlights another diverse quality....
Curated OER
Writing Newspaper Articles
Students write newspaper articles regarding their service learning experiences. In this writing skills lesson, students review the writing process skills to develop high-quality articles. Students write articles regarding the their acts...
Curated OER
Does Security Mean Safer? Exploring Issues of Security in Public Places
Students explore various scenarios that may or may not make them suspicious in the post-September 11 world, and discuss and write position papers about a fatal shooting involving air marshals and a mentally ill passenger.
Curated OER
B Sound in the Initial Position
Students listen for letter sounds. In this phonics lesson, students read A Basket Full of Surprises, brainstorm items that start with the B sound, and complete a comprehension activity where they identify words with and without B sounds...
Curated OER
Up in Smoke
Students consider their beliefs about anti-smoking laws before and after examining total smoking bans in various countries and the rationales behind them. They write position papers supporting or opposing the institution of a total...
Curated OER
Paper Plate Aerobics
Young scholars participate in physical activities with paper plates under their feet. For this paper plate aerobics lesson, students make original routines consisting of a series of moves and play tag,
Virginia Department of Education
Writing Counterarguments
This activity is better utilized as a peer-editing exercise and not as an activity on how to write counterarguments. Writers take their argumentative rough drafts, peer edit in groups of four, and review the author on common essay...
Curated OER
Using a Computer to Write a Letter: Verbs (Sequencing)
Review sequencing by providing your English language learners with this mix of sentences. Cut the paper into 20 strips, and have each learner rearrange them into the correct order. Don't forget to keep one copy with the correct order!
Utah Education Network (UEN)
Self-Concept: Self-Esteem
Most teenagers struggle with self-image and self-esteem. Guide them through these stormy waters with a series of activities focused on positive messages, true friendship and support, and self-concept.
PBIS World
Forced-Choice Reinforcement Menu
Find the best way to appeal to the kids in your class with a positive reinforcement survey. Using forced choices, they decide which of two options would be better for them, based on adult approval, peer approval, independent rewards,...
Curated OER
Minting New Thoughts
Consider a new metaphor when discussing positive thinking with your learners by having them "recycle" their negative, poison thoughts and "minting" them into positive ones using these dollar bill printables!