Curated OER
Editorial Writing: What's On Your Mind
Students write an editorial column for a newspaper. For this journalism lesson, students discuss and analyze editorials in print and broadcast media. Students will compare the differences in these two formats of editorial pieces and then...
Curated OER
Language Arts: GloFish - Illuminating Essays
Learners research the genetically-engineered GloFish and write essays expressing their views about the subject. They evaluate the pros and cons of genetic engineering.Students may also hold a debate about genetic engineering.
Curated OER
Thinking About Hate
This lesson starts out with a guided discussion about the statement "Birds fly in the sky; airplanes fly in the sky; therefore, airplanes are birds" and goes on to cover logical fallacies and reliable sources, relating these to the topic...
Terminix
Bee Writing Prompt
What do your pupils know about bees? Ask them to examine facts and images about three different types of bees and write about one type. Pupils explain why their chosen bee is interesting and back up their ideas with facts and opinions....
Curated OER
PowerPoint Prairie
learners create a PowerPoint presentation to both inform and assess the knowledge of the prairie. This project must have the cooperation of the technology teacher or the teacher must be able to instruct Students on PowerPoint presentations.
Curated OER
Writing Diagnostics and Introduction to Literary Terms
Assess your new learners' writing abilities and knowledge of literary terms with these diagnostic activities. Part of a back-to-school unit, this is meant to provide the teacher with information about the ability levels of their class....
Nancy Fetzer's Literacy Connections
Expository Paragraph
Upper elementary and middle school writers learn how to craft an expository paragraph by following the six steps detailed in a 48-page instructional guide. Learners learn how to write six different types of informational paragraphs: to...
Curated OER
Writing Pourquoi Tales
Complete research on Pourquoi tales and then lead your students in creating their own. This lesson accompanies another on Pourquoi Tales on our site and deals more with the writing process. Your class will put the tales together in a...
Curated OER
Pourquoi Tales
Lead a web search for information on writers and discuss the craft of purposeful writing as a class. Your students investigate "pourquoi tales" which are "why" stories. and then write their own examples of pourquoi stories to share in a...
Curated OER
An Inspiring Scene
In Guatemala, around AD 600-900, a vase was created. This vase is the inspiration for a lesson that incorporates expressive language skills, writing skills, and social studies. Children analyze the images on the vase and then choose one...
Curated OER
Argument
Students write and discuss opposing points of view. In this argument lesson, students learn to understand what an argument is and they get to argue one side of a disagreement. An alternative written assignment is provided. A worksheet is...
Curated OER
Views on Downloading: Developing Persuasive Writing Techniques
Students write persuasively by convincing others of their point of view about music downloading.
Curated OER
The Great Kapok Tree: A Rainforest Le
Students explore the rainforest. In this language arts and social studies lesson plan, students discover the importance of the rainforests as they read The Great Kapok Tree and complete an activity.
Curated OER
Putting a Spin on Current Events
Students explore the artistic value of propaganda. In this visual arts instructional activity, students analyze antique artistic pieces for their political agenda perpetuation. Students discuss propaganda techniques of the past to today...
Curated OER
Face the Nation! A Panel Discussion
Sixth graders simulate an election-year debate between opposing political parties. In this persuasive-speech lesson plan, 6th graders will work in teams to prepare for and participate in a debate between opposing parties. The lesson plan...
Curated OER
Character Education Podcasts
Learners study character traits. In this character education lesson plan, students create podcasts highlighting a particular character trait. Learners broadcast one podcast per week.
Curated OER
Uniforms vs. Fashion: Want to Take a Side?
Seventh graders write a draft of a persuasive essay to the principal addressing the issue of whether or not Three Oaks Middle School should adopt uniforms. This lesson get your students motivated to try persuasive writing!
Curated OER
Preparing for the Informative Speech
Students read an outline on how to prepare an informative speech. In this informative speech lesson plan, students read an outline and then prepare a speech.
Nemours KidsHealth
Smoking: Grades K-2
Learners navigate websites to discover the reasons not to smoke. For this smoking lesson plan, students research and answer questions about the bad effects of smoking.
Curated OER
Energy Plus!
This lesson plan seems pretty advanced for K-2nd graders, but there are some pieces that can be used with young learners. Look through this comprehensive, fact-filled lesson plan and pull out information and activities that you can adapt...
Curated OER
Understanding Propaganda
Students define propaganda and give examples from the mass media. In this propaganda instructional activity, students review examples of propaganda and then research versions of it in the mass media.
Curated OER
The Persuasive Letter
Students explore techniques used in persuasive writing. After studying editing marks and business letters, they complete a business letter activity. As a class, students volunteer to read a business letter and make corrections on the...
Museum of the Moving Image
What Makes an Effective Ad?
As an introduction to a series of related resources that examine political advertising and commercials from 1952-2012, class members use the provided rubric to analyze and rate the effectiveness of the emotion, persuasion, factual...
Dream of a Nation
Congressional Debate
Should junk food be banned in schools? Should the US open its borders to all immigrants? Should the US impose term limits for the House of Representatives and for the Senate? Using Tyson Miller's Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a...