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Book Trailers
Students develop a list of criteria for a book trailer. For this book trailer lesson, students review book trailers, create storyboards and use Photo Story 3 to create book trailers. Students create a mini-webquest to review copyrights.
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Now This is a Contender, Allow Me to Prove It
Tenth graders persuade others to see their Blank History Month postage stamp as the best choice. In this African-American history lesson, 10th graders research noteworthy African-Americans and create postage stamps and write proposals...
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Evaluating Nonfiction Texts
Students evaluate nonfiction text. In this evaluating nonfiction lesson students read two pieces of nonfiction text and respond with a short free-writing piece. Students discuss the content and focus on the accuracy.
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What's My Point?
Sixth graders move through the process of defining persuasion, identifying persuasive arguments and techniques in writing and evaluating their own use of accurate details. Students also define an author's point of view.
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The Price is Right - Advertisements
Fourth graders design written advertisements using cut out items from catalogs or newspapers in order to persuade consumers.
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Fearing the Fear Factor
Students write a reaction paper on the topic: "Reality shows like 'Fear Factor' are dangerous/nothing to worry about because...." Students respond to the situation Akron, Ohio's First Energy Corporation being labeled irresponsible after...
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Media Literacy Discussion Guide
Students examine and analyze visual media and its messages critically. They determine whether specific media messages inform, entertain, or persuade and what factors influence the media. Using primary sources, they participate in peer...
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Exploring American Tall Tales
Students explore elements of American folktales and tall tales. In this literature lesson, students read examples of American folktales and tall tales and prepare a monologue or news report to present to the class based on their readings.
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How To Win Votes
Second graders are introduced to the concept of political campaigning. As a class, they review how Parliament makes laws. They decide on an issue they would like to see passed and get other classmates to sign their petitions. To end the...
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Exploring Michigan
Students create and present an itinerary for a trip. In this travel lesson, students list ideas of travel experiences for their country. Students then pretend they are taking a trip to Michigan and read an example letter for their trip....
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Leaflets and Posters
Provide your class with a simple overview of the use of leaflets and posters. Within this presentation, there is a list of tips for creating informative and easy-to-read text and a slide with examples of this type of writing. This could...
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TV ATTACK ADS AND THE VOTER
Students read about the history of negative political advertisements in U.S. elections. In this politics lesson, students view several ads for opposing candidates and analyze and discuss the content. Students write scripts for candidates...
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Themes of Courage
Eleventh graders create a PowerPoint presentation or a brochure in which they persuade an audience of their choice and why their solution is the best for the problem they tackled after studying the Vietnam War.
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Using "Four-Square"
Third graders use a four-square graphic organizer to help a third grade writer organize thoughts and clarify thinking to write a simple expository paragraph, a workshop summary paragraph.
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Using a Thesaurus
Students discover how to use a thesaurus. In this language arts instructional activity, students explore thesauruses as they look up words and write sentences for the new words they encounter.
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We Thank You, Veteran!
Fifth graders use information from videos, picture books, and relatives' military backgrounds to write a short or extended message of gratitude on a greeting card for local veterans.
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Critic's Choice
Third graders read three to five genres and choose one as a favorite. They write an essay persuading the class to read the genre. This lesson serves as a nice introduction to different styles of literature.
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Senior Scrapbook Assignment
Twelfth graders write creatively and reflectively on 20 different events or memories that shaped their senior year. They organize memorabilia into a scrapbook with 20 entries and create a cover that represents their senior year. They...
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Pinckney Benedict's "The Sutton Pie Safe" from Town Smokes
Students read Pinckney Benedict's "The Sutton Pie Safe" to learn about family symbols and social commentary. In this close reading lesson, students read four journal prompts for the story and answer the listed questions for each section.
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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.
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Tracking Down Meaning in Great Expectations
Fourth graders are assigned an unique theme, symbol, or character in Great Expectations. They becomes the class expert on that facet of the novel while learning the basic skills needed to write a research paper.
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The Atomic Bomb Dilemma
Students examine consequences of using atomic bomb in light of resulting peace, distinguish between fact and opinion and analyze sources to recognize bias and points of view, and assume role of reporter, critic, cabinet member, or...
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Seeking Civil Rights
Students explore the impact of the Plessy v. Ferguson case. In this social justice lesson plan, students examine the case, Jim Crow laws, and non-violent forms of protest. Students write essays to persuade the government regarding...
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The Space Race in the '50's
Students explore the impact of the space race. In this 1950's America lesson, students examine newspapers from the time period as well as Apollo mission episodes. Students then create journals from the perspectives of Apollo astronauts.