Taking Sides

Take a stand! Even the most reluctant speakers find their voices if the topics are engaging. Use pictures, photos, or word prompts (I think pizza is the best lunch on the school menu. What do you think?) to stir responses. Encourage...

In this math learning exercise, learners review the steps they were taught, to take correct notes in their math class. This learning exercise can be used to teach students the correct process of note taking for just about any subject....

Relate policy decisions to classroom activities. In order to prepare for a writing activity in which they will need to choose a side, learners are first given a sample policy for which they must choose yes or no and walk to the side of...

A full and thoughtful activity includes links, handouts, guided viewing worksheets, and great extension activities. Upper graders will examine extreme politics, propaganda, hyper-partisanship, and the 1928 presidential election. They...

Students identify both sides of an issue and find strategies for decision making. In this problem-solving lesson plan, students read passages and identify both sides to an issue, then read for specific information. Students identify...

The Jets and the Sharks are back! As you watch the film version of West Side Story, use this viewing guide to help keep your class on track and analyze important plot events. Each song's lyrics are presented here, along with a set of...

An education packet shares information about West Side Story, a re-telling of Romeo and Juliet and a tale of two loves. Information in the packet includes an overview of the plot, characters, and story behind the creation of the classic...

Students take notes from oral readings and lectures to create a summary of the material. They use different sizes of post-it notes to complete the activity. They practice pulling the main ideas out of the given material.

Encourage your students to interact with the text as they read. While reading "Three Skeleton Key," class members note predictions, define words and study their meanings, take notes on how the suspense builds, and jot down ideas about...

To recognize the International Day of Peace, pupils complete activities such as reading a passage, phrase matching, fill-in-the-blanks, correct words, multiple choice, spelling sequencing, scrambled sentences, asking questions, take a...