Curated OER
Do-deca-he-dron-It's Greek to Me!
Young scholars create a dodecahedron shaped visual report of the literary elements of a short story.
Curated OER
Poetry-The Essence of Life
Students analyze and appreciate various types of poetry. In this poetry unit, students read classic and contemporary works to discover ways in which poetry expresses strong feelings. Students identify key vocabulary used to analyze...
Curated OER
Comparatively Speaking
Students practice creating similes and metaphors together as a class. Individually students create similes and metaphors and illustrate them.
Curated OER
Tone Poem Composing Project
Students explore role of music in storytelling by watching and discussing effect music has on perception of scene from movie, and using Sibelius program to compose single excerpt of music, considering dynamics, timbre, and articulation,...
Curated OER
Whole Numbers
Student are assigned one of the sections on whole numbers. After reviewing the content, they teach their assigned sections to other class mates. They publish their findings on a PowerPoint slide show to use when they teach their section.
Curated OER
Tall Tales Today
Students explore the attributes of American tall tales. In this folklore lesson, students read several tall tales, describe the elements of tall tales, and then use hyperbole to write their own tall tales.
Curated OER
My Favorite Holiday
Students create a My Favorite Holiday Calendar Page. They recall the months of the year and identify the various components of a calendar. Students also apply their learning about holiday customs to consider their own favorite holiday...
Curated OER
About Life: The Photographs of Dorothea Lange Image as Metaphor
Students define metaphor in both art and writing. In this metaphor lesson, students examine a photograph by Dorothea Lange and discuss the metaphor that is displayed in the picture. They write about an object that symbolizes a personal...
Curated OER
Amazing Animal Alliteration Book
Learners understand the meaning of alliteration. In this alliteration lesson, students write sentences using alliteration and recognize how it changes the writing in a story.
Curated OER
Snow Similies
Students listen to poems to explain how poets use words to paint pictures. They use hands-on materials to practice using similies and figurative language to write a poem about snow.
Curated OER
Personify This
Eighth graders study personification in published works of poetry, then create their own through the use of diamante or cinquain poetry. They read and discuss poetry by Shel Silverstein, William Jay Smith, and Elinor Wylie.
Curated OER
VH1 All Access Spotlight: Josh Groban
Students discuss the lyrics to You Raise Me Up, sung by Josh Groban, and identify the structure and markings in the song that show expressive qualities. They explore how composers use musical concepts to show meaning and mood in a piece...
Curated OER
The Hobbit
Students list W.H Auden's six characteristics of a quest story. They say what is meant by a "metaphorical quest." Pupils discuss some differences between symbolism and allegory. Students indicate how Bilbo Baggins's adventures changed...
Curated OER
Vetern's Day, A Chance to Honor Those Who Served Our Country
Learners examine some of the symbols, songs, and pledges that represent our country as well as the liberties they enjoy today due to those who served. They discuss the rules for displaying the United States Flag, practice folding the...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Explaining Social Security with a Metaphor
In this current events instructional activity, students analyze a political cartoon about Social Security. Students then respond to 4 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: From Toons to Icons
In this current events worksheet, students analyze political cartoons that feature icons like the hot dog and the teddy bear. Students respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Walk on the Wild Side
Have your class practice alliteration using this lesson. Learners listen to stories with alliterative elements and create their own sentences illustrating this technique. The lesson is incomplete, but could be enhanced to provide a...
Curated OER
Find Figurative Language
Meet with the school library specialist and work together to plan a visit and presentation on figurative language. After defining and examining examples of targeted terms, the class travels to the library where the SL has collected...
Curated OER
Busy As a Bee
Students define the term 'simile,' write their own similes using the words as or like, and work cooperatively to write similes. In addition, students write stories that include similes and illustrate picture books that contain similes.
Curated OER
Idioms Lesson Plan
Sixth graders discover idioms. In this idioms activity, 6th graders evaluate idioms and discover their meaning. Students read Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein and create unique idioms. Assessment rubric is provided.
Curated OER
Figurative Language-Part 1
Students explore figurative language. In this figurative language lesson, students look up, define, and give examples of a list of literary terms.
Curated OER
Hyperbole
Students define the term hyperbole and determine when it is appropriate to use hyperboles in writing. They work in pairs to develop short stories and poems with examples of hyperboles.
Curated OER
Bling and Sound-Symbolic Words
Young scholars explore the definition and derivation of the popular term "bling" and other sound-symbolic words. Using worksheets and lecture materials, students provide meanings for the word "bling" when used in varying contexts. They...
Curated OER
Teaching Imagery
Students review the terms idyll and imagery. They read "A Winter Idyll" from "Snowbound" as a class. They break into groups of 5 and respond/react to their lines to make connections to the text.