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Persuasive Writing I
Examine the characteristics of an effective persuasive paper. In a group, eighth graders discuss the analogy of a debate being like a persuasive paper. After brainstorming topics, they write an argument and then debate it. Secretly, the...
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Writing Author's Purpose
Write in all three authorial purposes (persuasive, informational, entertaining) with this lesson. Young writers consider a time when a friend of theirs helped them out and gave them advice on something. They write a short paragraph (no...
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Intro to Pronouns
Sixth graders are able to identify personal pronouns and understand their function. They are able to use personal pronouns correctly as subjects and objects in sentences. Then they look at sentences given by the teacher, and they list...
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Hyperbole and Idiom
Seventh graders use context clues to determine the figurative meaning of idioms and hyperboles. They practice writing idioms and hyperboles in sentences about real life situations around them. This lesson is a good way to improve variety...
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Simile and Metaphor
Middle schoolers use context clues to find the figurative meaning of similes and metaphors in writing. They practice using figurative language to help their writing come alive. Use this activity in a lesson about poetry, figurative...
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Comparatives Superlatives
Review comparatives and superlatives. Middle schoolers are introduced to modifiers such as Adjectives and Adverbs. They will talk about comparatives and superlatives such as: What makes them different, fo over rules for each type of...
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Functions - Intro and Inverses
Define the terms domain, range, function, vertical limit test, and linear function notation with your class. They can then, graph several equations applying the vertical line test to determine which are and which are not functions, write...
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Persuasive Writing II
Help your young writers use logic in their persuasive writing. Discuss the characteristics of a persuasive paper, and have pupils work together to explore and solve a syllogism. They will write a short persuasive paper which includes a...
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Discovering Angel Island: The Story Behind the Poems
Poems carved into the wooden walls of the Asian immigrant prisons on Angel Island provide upper elementary graders an opportunity to study not only the story behind the poems but to also focus on the figurative language employed by the...
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What's In Store for Four More
Students examine issues that they consider to be priorities and how President Bush might address them in his next term. They create public service announcement scripts motivating citizens to stay involved in these issues beyond the...
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MS Math Multiplying Fractions
Students investigate the concept of fractions using the application of a word problem. The concept is taught by giving a word problem that needs to be solved. The instructional activity requires strong reading comprehension and logical...
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Equations Lesson 1
Middle schoolers engage in a study of equations and how they are solved using algebraic methods. This overrides the fact of guessing as done in earlier grades. They cover the concept of inverse operations as the main way to manipulate...
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Numbers Lesson 3 - Hershey Bar Fractions
Talk about delicious math! Pupils solve problems involving rational numbers and analyze real-life problems to find solutions in a pre-algebra class. They discuss the sections of a Hershey's bar in terms of fractions and decimals before...
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Oral Presentation
Practice your speaking skills! Using a chosen visual aid, pupils present a previously written essay to the class. During the oral presentation, the listeners identify and write down the author's purpose and a question for the author. At...
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Endocrine And Reproductive Systems
Students investigate the hormonal levels that are created with the endocrine system and tie it to the act of sexual reproduction. The lesson discusses how the respiratory system is organized as a comparison to the endocrine system which...
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Main Idea
What could you pack for a trip if you don't know the destination? After writing a list of items they would want to bring, fourth graders learn that the "trip" is to the South Pole - revealing the need to understand all available...
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Rational, Irrational and Square Roots
Learners identify rational and irrational numbers and their use in mathematical functions. Through demonstration, students discover the difference between rational and irrational numbers and their use. Using estimation skills learners...
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Writing For Different Audiences
Evaluate the use of vocabulary in written paragraphs to make the determination of its appropriateness for a particular audience. As a class, seventh graders develop a fictional team and write three paragraphs to different audiences based...
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Formal and Informal Language
“C u l8r @ skool.” As part of a study of formal and informal language, class members examine excerpts from Lil’ Boosie lyrics, the Emancipation Proclamation, a speech by Martin Luther King. Links to the resources not provided; however,...
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My Worksheet - Multiplying Fractions
Upper elementary schoolers investigate the concept of multiplying fractions with the help of a handout and a treat of brownies. They work on a worksheet for a short while and then progress to multiplying a chain of terms. Then the...
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Hyperbolas
Young scholars engage in a lesson that covers the concepts related to the graphing of hyperbolas looking at topics like foci, center, vertices, and asymptotes. They find multiple different points in the coordinate plain and then plot the...
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Gift of the Magi
While reading O Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," your class will define and identify situational irony and allusion. Use a study guide (not included, but easy to produce) to record and discuss examples of allusion as you read. Map the...
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Graphing Linear Equations and Inequalities
Pupils discuss methods to solve equations and inequalities with one variable. As a review, they write Addition and Subtraction properties of equality and Multiplication and Division properties of equality. Students graph points, write...
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Identifying author's purpose
Why is it important to know an author's purpose? After reviewing the three main purposes of writing, seventh graders write a persuasive letter to convince why summer school is better than taking the summer off. They can then join in a...