Curated OER
Environmental Quality in Our Own Backyard
Students research an environmental issue and decide on a course of action. They write a reseach paper and present an oral presentation based on the research.
Curated OER
Word Perfect
Students explore the value of personal written communication as compared to the use of e-mail or text messaging.
Curated OER
Autobiography
Eighth graders identify key components of an autobiography. They plan and draft an outline of a summer school mini-autobiography and employ peer evaluation in revision step of writing process. They explain difference between revision...
Curated OER
Student Published Books
Fifth graders create a graphic organizer after it is modeled by the teacher. In this graphic organizer instructional activity, 5th graders complete a graphic organizer describing chapter 1 of a book. Graphic organizers will be revised...
Curated OER
WH AT' S Y O U R A M B I T I O N?
Students read and analyze an excerpt from Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain. Students use the Six Traits of Writing to compose an essay on a personal life ambition that each students may have. Students use prewriting strategies and...
Curated OER
House on Mango Street
Students complete a guided reading study and autobiographical essay for Sandra Cisneros' House on Mango Street. In this literary analysis instructional activity, students read the novel, complete novel response activities, book review...
Curated OER
Acrostic Poems: What's In a Name?
Students find words that begin with the letters in their own names, using a variety of sources including word banks and online dictionaries. They create an acrostic poem. Pupils revise poems as needed, for meaning and conventions. ...
Curated OER
Snow Day
Third graders examine the effects of a snow day on various people in the community. They listen to the book "Snow Day" by Betsy Maestro, complete a graphic organizer of people affected by the snow day, and write a story from the point of...
Curated OER
KG Lesson Plan
Eighth graders explore the four major components of an autobiography. As they discuss the major characteristics of an autobiography, 8th graders list the advantages and disadvantages of traditional, word of mouth, tales. Individually,...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
6 Traits: conventions
Students watch a video and write using conventions. In this conventions lesson plan, students edit their writing for the correct spelling, grammar, and paragraph usage.
Curated OER
An Immigrant's Journey
Pupils use books, resource CDs, and the Internet to research and collect images of the experiences of immigrants in 1907. They are divided into groups of four to write journal entries for a fictional, yet historically accurate, immigrant.
Curated OER
Color Poems
Young scholars listen as the teacher reads several poems from the book "Hailstones and Halibut Bones," "My Many Colored Days," and a teacher created poem. Students choose a color and share some brainstorming ideas with the class. They...
Curated OER
Who's Speaking?
Young scholars study the components of a good speech. They write, practice and present a speech on a topic of interest.
Curated OER
Teaching a Short Story
Students work in small groups and prepare an analysis of a short story to be presented to their peers. They research the story and create a handout or a visual aid that cites sources of information and summarizes the main points of the...
Curated OER
Unknown Element Project
Students work with a partner to determine the identity of an unknown element based on given descriptions. Groups use classroom textbooks, encyclopedias, and science internet sites to identify their unknown element then write a report as...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
6 Traits: Word Choice
Students explore language arts by participating in a vocabulary usage activity. In this word choice lesson, students read examples of great word usage in literature and discuss with the class why some words appear stronger than others....
Curated OER
The Titanic
Middle schoolers use various sources to compare and contrast information about the Titanic. In groups, they create a list of questions and use the internet to find the answers. They write a report with the new information and use their...
Curated OER
Oral Presentation of a Research Report With Visual Support
High schoolers are introduced to the rubric to guide them in an oral presentation. Individually, they use the internet and other sources to research a predetermined topic. They must prepare and use a visual aid when presenting and answer...
Curated OER
Learning about Animals
Pupils chose one animal to research. They research the animal using the internet using the sites provided. They also research using books from the library. They conclude the lesson by writing a one page story about their animal which...
Curated OER
Subject-Verb Agreement
Eighth graders evaluate writing samples for subject-verb agreement and make necessary changes. They correct verb phrases and create simple sentences using pronouns as subjects. In groups, they correct writing samples and submit at the...
Curated OER
Designing Scavengers
Students write a headline that captures the most important aspects of the People's Design Award. In this design lesson, students are introduced to The People's Design Award and collaborate to create a headline for a newspaper article....
Pennsylvania Department of Education
6 Traits: Organization
Students make logical patterns in their writing to demonstrate the trait of organization. In this organization lesson plan, students focus on events proceeding logically.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
6 Traits: Sentence Fluency
Students practice writing with sentence fluency in order to make the story more enjoyable for the reader. In this sentence fluency lesson plan, students focus on rhythm and flow.
Curated OER
Famous Peacemakers - Creating a Declaration of Peace
Students create written reports about a famous peacemaker. In this peacemaker lesson plan, students use books and the internet to research someone who is famous for creating peace in the world and write a report on it.