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Deciding Theme
Fifth graders explore the theme of a story by identifying the effects of a character's decision. In this theme study lesson, 5th graders refer to the events in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Students discuss as a whole class how...
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Historical Effects
Fifth graders examine how events affect characters in the text The Watson's Go to Birmingham--1963. In this historical effects lesson, 5th graders read from the book and complete a worksheet. Students discuss racism and segregation and...
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What's the Main Idea?
Students explore poetry. In this main idea in poetry lesson, students read poems from Words with Wings, thenidentify the main idea and complete a "Main Idea Mania" worksheet.
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Lesson 1: Determine the Meaning of Unknown Words
Sixth graders use context clues to find the meaning of new vocabulary. In this vocabulary lesson, 6th graders read A Wrinkle in Time written by Madeleine L’Engle and use post its to flag words they don't know. They figure out the meaning...
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Lesson 4: Analyzing a Plot Conflict
Sixth graders identify plot conflicts and how they are resolved. In this plot conflict lesson plan, 6th graders read the book A Wrinkle in Time written by Madeleine L'Engle and identify the conflicts. There are 4 different conflicts to...
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Interpreting Perspective
Sixth graders analyze how a character's perspective is influenced by cultural backgrounds. In this language arts activity, 6th graders discuss traditions and celebrations they participate in. Students read a story and discuss how the...
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Textual Analysis Lesson: Who Was Vermeer?
Apply the Textual Analysis process and answer questions about a text. Learners read Chasing Vermeer and "Who Was Vermeer?" They then use the textual analysis process to answer questions regarding what they read.
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Character's Motive
Why do people commit crimes? Middle schoolers investigate characters' motives for committing a crime in a character analysis lesson. First, they read the book Chasing Vermeer and identify the suspects. They then record the details about...
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Lesson 3: Voice
Examine the "voice" of Ganwar, a character in "Ganwar Speaks!" from Home of the Brave. Middle schoolers identify and discuss dialect, description, and tone. They then work independently to analyze voice and complete worksheets. An...
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Identifying Symbols
Identify symbols within text and explain what they mean. Sixth graders examine Home of the Brave and identify recurring pictures in the text and discuss what they mean. They then choose a symbol from the text and explain what it means...
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Lesson 3: Voice
Explore voice in writing with the story Chess Rumble. After examining the character's voice to understand the character better, sixth graders analyze and discuss the dialect, tone, and descriptive language used. A good way to focus on...
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Determine the Meaning of Unknown Words
Sixth graders explore the meanings of unknown words in science fiction. In this language arts lesson, 6th graders participate in a game of Balderdash and guess the meanings of given words. Students discuss how to use context clues to...
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Interpreting a Symbol
Analyze the symbols in the book, Only You Can Save Mankind in a fun science fiction lesson. After investigating the symbols from the book, middle schoolers jot down any details they recall about objects or idea. Next, they brainstorm the...
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What are the Main Ideas?
Prior to beginning Rosa Parks: My Story by Rosa Parks, model for your class members how to determine the main idea of a text. Exercepts from another story are provided to use for the demonstration. The focus then shifts to Rosa Parks'...
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Character's Motive: Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy
Sixth graders explore language arts by completing a reading comprehension worksheet. In this character study lesson, 6th graders read a crime story and investigate which character they belive committed the crime. Students complete a...
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Predicting a Mystery's Solution
Sixth graders explore the genre of mystery. In this language arts lesson, 6th graders predict the solution to a mystery based on the text. Students read a text and predict the solution.
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Lesson 5: Red Herrings
A red herring isn't just a fish! Identify the clues that an author makes in a book to mislead the reader and make predictions accordingly. Have your class discuss how it feels to be tricked as a reader and about making wrong predictions....
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Mysterious Plot Problems
Students solve 3 riddles given by the teacher and discuss how solving a mystery is like solving a riddle. In this language arts lesson, students watch as the teacher records problems in a detective story. Students record questions...
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Identifying Clues to Help Solve a Mystery
Students investigate clues in mystery novels. In this genre study lesson, students read the book Sammy Keyes and The Hotel Thief and use the 5 W's to answer questions about the mystery. Students draw conclusions using the details from...
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Textual Analysis: Forensic Science Files: Handwriting Analysis
Learn to analyze handwriting samples in a textual analysis lesson. Middle schoolers complete a textual analysis procedure based on the text Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief. They also provide supporting evidence for their work.
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Genre Lesson: Short Story
Stories from Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street provide sixth graders with an opporltunity to identify the elements of a short story. After several modeling exercises, readers use the provided worksheet to recording information...
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Multiple Perspectives
Sixth graders watch and listen as teacher models how to contrast and compare perspectives in a story. In this language arts instructional activity, 6th graders engage in guided practice to compare and contrast perspectives in a selection...
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Fact and Opinion
Sixth graders discuss the terms "explicit opinions," and "implicit opinions," from a text. In this literacy lesson, 6th graders analyze the author's techniques to find explicitly stated opinions. Additionally, students complete a...
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Predicting a Mystery's Solution
Who killed Sam Westing? Model for your class members the components of a good prediction, and how to use these components to predict a mystery's solution. Class members use what they have learned to craft predictions while reading Ellen...