VIF Learning Center
Languages as Reflection of Cultures and Civilizations: French Speaking Countries
Expand your class's vision of the French-speaking world by conducting this research project. Pupils focus on building 21st-century skills while they look up information about a French country and put together presentations.
Curated OER
Teaching “Level of Difficulty” through Close Reading, Reflection, and Performance
What makes a poem difficult? Explore that topic and more with your class as you work through the instructional activity detailed here. Using materials from Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation contest, individuals or small groups...
Roald Dahl
Matilda - The New Home
Matilda finally gets her happy ending with a new home with Miss Honey. But first, Mr. Wormwood goes on trial for his wrong doings and bad car sales. Class members take on the role of a character in the trial and participate in a role...
Roald Dahl
The Twits - Mr Twit Gets a Horrid Shock
Mr. and Mrs. Twit do not treat each other very nicely. The sixth instructional activity in an 11-part unit designed to accompany The Twits by Roald Dahl explores the way the characters talk to and treat one another. Role play and...
Curated OER
Selling, Spending, or Saving
Students examine and discuss vocabulary dealing with finances. They write and develop commercials promoting savings practices and spending habits that incorporate emotional appeals.
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911 As History
Students recognize persuasive techniques, think criticaly about the messages contained in various media, and discuss controversial issues in constructive ways. They analyze the deeper messages contained in children's literature, and...
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Language Arts: Revision and Peer Editing
High schoolers are able to evaluate their peers' essays to determine clarity, completeness, and persuasiveness. They are able to revise their own essays for greater clarity and fluency, adding explanation where needed and cutting...
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As Seen on TV
Sixth graders research how minority groups are represented in media. In this media literacy lesson, 6th graders investigate two YouTube clips of Hugo Chavez and discuss different points of view.
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Vocabulary / Writing Strategies
Learners will increase spelling and vocabulary skills. Then they will develop critical thinking skills. Next, they will develop expository writing skills. Finally, students will practice language skills with non-traditional text: a...
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Friends in the Community
Second graders build a classroom community by getting to know each other better. They ask classmates various questions and use graphic organizer software and Microsoft PowerPoint. Students practice their oral language skills while asking...
Curated OER
Revealing Process
Students investigate the method of collage in art in part of a study of Dada and Surrealist art. In this art analysis lesson, students explore how artists incorporated materials from everyday life into their art works. Students complete...
Curated OER
Determining Relevancy
Students learn skills for evaluating information they retrieve from searching book catalogs, article indexes and Web search tools. They evaluate print and Web materials that they have collected for a specific topic. Use before a research...
Curated OER
Y2-OK
Students explore the technological problems faced in various critical sectors of society such as personal finance, safety, transportation, energy, and health care as they relate to the Year 2000 computer problem. they read and discuss...
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Call It Courage
Sixth graders complete many activities and lessons based on a reading of "Call It Courage." They watch the video, complete computer based writing assignments, and prepare writing folders in the art center. They practice their word...
Curated OER
Sonnet Illumination
Pupils create presentations of digital sonnet illuminations along with sonnet research. In this Sonnet lesson, students view images, colors, and listen to sounds of their own choice to illuminate Shakespeare...
Curated OER
Pierre Elliott Trudeau: Memoirs
Students watch the video "Pierre Elliot Trudeau: Memoirs," complete a vocabulary list, and participate in a discussion of the video. They explore one of Cananda's most charismatic leaders.
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Holiday Cards using Publisher
Students create a holiday card using technology. In this technology lesson, students use Publisher templates to create a holiday card. Students organize, design, and edit their card.
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Stakeholders Lesson
Students discover stakeholders in life situations. In this personal responsibility lesson, students ask and answer questions about real life scenarios, discussing who is at stake if things aren't handled correctly.
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Parts of a Story
Students read a short fiction book and demostrate comprehension by identifying the main characters, setting, conflict, theme, and summarizing the main points. They organize the information in Inspiration and create a powerpoint to show...
Curated OER
What Is the Influence?
Students investigate propaganda techniques. In this media awareness instructional activity, students watch instructor-selected commercial clips and use the provided propaganda handouts to identify the propaganda techniques used in each...
Curated OER
Novel Analysis
Students read the novel, Lord of the Flies, then write an essay analyzing the novel. They analyze, in small groups, characters, plot, setting, style, symbolism, theme, critical responses, and historical influences
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
Prisms-Turn Up The Volume
Identify the length, width, and height of prisms. Critical thinkers calculate the volume of prisms given small amounts of information. They derive the formula given the length, width and height.
Curated OER
Clifford's Big Idea: Be Responsible
Students become aware of how important it is to be responsible at home and school through meaningful reading and language experiences. In this Clifford Gets a Job lesson plan, students author their own booklet regarding responsibility at...