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The Art of Persuasion
Learners practice persuasive writing by creating a travel brochure. In this creative writing lesson, students research a popular tourist destination they would like to visit and create a brochure enticing readers to come....
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The Great Mail Race
Students explore the art of letter writing. In this writing skills lesson, students examine the format of friendly letters and business letters. Students create mail race surveys and practice writing letters according to the formats...
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Folktale Unit: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Students examine and discuss different perspectives of the Story of the Three Little Pigs. They write a friendly letter, from the wolf to any other character, using the proper letter format.
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Entrepreneurship: Is it for me?
Young scholars get an introduction to entrepreneurship and business plans in the first lesson of this series. They attempt to determine what personal factors to consider in deciding if the time is right to become an entrepreneur.
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Alarm as the Clock Ticks Toward 2000
Students explore how various people and businesses are reacting to the potential technological problems that may occur when the year 2000 arrives. They read and compare two related New York Times articles and share their own views of the...
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Speaker Report
Fifth through eighth graders think of themselves as newspaper reporters as they listen to a presentation by a guest speaker. As reporters, they take notes during the presentation. Using these notes, they create a rough draft and then a...
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Examining What Sharing Really Means
After reading "The Senegalese Miracle" about the degree of sharing the author encounters upon arrival in Africa, class members read Mike Tidwell’s “Sharing in Africa” and compare the two stories. This cultural diversity lesson concludes...
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Writing A Resume
Students practice the skill of writing a resume that reflects professional presentation. They use a worksheet that is used for writing guidelines. The tool is effective for the scaffolding of different ability levels. Then students...
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Process-Writing
Middle schoolers prepare to write a discursive composition. They pay particular attention to generating, selecting, ordering and organizing ideas. Students incorporate the use of linking devices and paragraph planning.
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Writing Away For Information
Students review the format used to write a friendly letter which they will use to write an e-mail. They use questioning techniques as they write a letter of inquiry using a number of drafts. Using a word processing program they develop...
What So Proudly We Hail
A Lesson on Benjamin Franklin’s “Project for Moral Perfection”
Benjamin Franklin identified 13 virtues that he felt would strengthen his character if he could focus on each one. A thorough lesson explores high schoolers' personal values in the context of their lives, and compels them to strive for...
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Creating Personalized Stationery
Students write, format, enter, save, revise, edit a full block style letter with open punctuation for printing. They produce a personalized letterhead using a computer and access information from the Internet using a variety of search...
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Improve the Lives of the Homeless in New Orleans
Students develop a business plan to address the issue of homelessness. In this "Homeless in New Orleans" lesson plan, students learn how to develop a business plan, interview homeless people, brainstorm ideas and present their final plan...
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What Do You Want to Sell?
Learners explore how companies describe their products and services. They write business plans for companies based on their interests or needs.
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In Good Company
Students research and write a radio or television news special on some of Silicon Valley's most successful companies. For homework, they write lead-ins commenting on new developments and reactions to them.
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Pitcher Perfect
Students consider how advertising messages are constructed and relayed. They invent fast-food businesses and create presentation posters outlining the first commercials to promote their new brands.
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Publication Project
Ninth graders publish a magazine during a ten week marking period. They make individual contributions to the group project that is based on career choices. They write and publish articles, poems, entertainment pieces, and a play that...
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Short Story Lesson Plan
Students read and discuss the short story, "The McWilliamses and the Burglar Alarm," by Mark Twain. They assume the role of the main characters in the story and write a humorous letter of complaint using a business letter format. They...
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Cause And Effect
Fourth graders read the book Stellaluna and cite sentences that show cause and effect in the story. For this cause and effect lesson plan, 4th graders also write sentences that show cause and effect in their own lives.
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Living on the Titanic
Eighth graders research life on the Titantic using the Internet. They write journal entries from the point of view as a Titanic passenger. They write a friendly letter and a busines letter.
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Fourth graders read the novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for Reader's Circle, they also are writing a variety of pieces for the Writer's Workshop that is closely related to the novel. The quality and the quantity of work that...
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College Accept-tion to the Rule
Students extend their ideas about the college application process. They write an informative, persuasive letter about themselves to a college admissions counselor that could be used as a 'cover letter' to college applications.
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For Richer or for Poorer
Students read about one cross-class marriage and create scenes to dramatize interactions among the family members and consider how class shapes relationships. They imagine the issues faced by cross-class couples by writing a short story.
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Do You Hear What I Hear?
Students explore and review punctuation. They discuss examples of poorly punctuated paragraphs and how it affects writing. Students describe the types of punctuation used for writing. They correctly punctuate a variety of sentences and...