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What Makes Good Literary Writing?
Students conduct a literature study of John Steinbeck's classic "Of Mice And Men". They write in reflection of the author's influence upon 20th century literature. Students take apart the story to focus class discussion upon major themes...
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Writing a Historical Fiction Story
What is historical fiction? After explaining the difference to your learners, it's time to give each learner a try! With your support, encourage them to research, plan, and write their own historical fiction story. Don't forget to have a...
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The Time Machine - Layered Curriculum Study
Students complete three activities of their choice from a given list surrounding their study of H.G. Wells' novel, The Time Machine. They choose activities from each of the seven learning styles.
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Growing Pains of the Yearling
Fourth graders read The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
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Book Buddies
Students read a book and share a book review with an e-mail book buddy once a month. They word process the review, copy and paste into the e-mail for sharing.
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The Little Hungry Caterpillar
Students discuss "The Little Hungry Caterpillar." In this reading comprehension lesson plan, students make sock caterpillars used in retelling the story so as sequence the events accurately.
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Math: Odd Object Out
Students discover how to classify and categorize items by sorting various objects. As they sort the items, they explain how the items are alike. By repeating the sorting procedure several times, students determine there are numerous...
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Short Stories and Sitcoms
Middle schoolers compare 19th Century short stories to 20th Century sitcoms. They address seven questions as the watch a sitcom for homework and create a web to use for further comparison.
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Open Your Eyes Wide-Shut
Students improve their language skills through 11 activities. In this language skills lesson, students listen to picture books, answer questions about elements of a story, enhance their vocabulary and grammar skills, use 5 W questions,...
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Writing A Thanksgiving Day Story
Students write a Thanksgiving Day Story using some or all of the words included in the worksheet. These stories can be fiction or non-fiction (Personal Essays). They are graded on sentence structure, paragraph structure, grammar,...
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Storytelling
Students compose a story and tell it to the class. In this storytelling lesson, students work in small groups to create an illustrated story. Students are given a checklist of elements to include in the assignment. Students then create...
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Giving An Oral Book Report
Students study techniques used to give an oral book report. They read their book, plan their thoughts, and write their report. Students present their book report to the class.
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Peer Editing
Sudents read and critique three of their fellow classmates' science fiction short stories on three consecutive days for mechanics, short story elements, style, and informational elements.
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Design a Book Cover
Class members take on the role of graphic designer and craft a cover for a book they are reading. Individuals formulate a proposal outlining the images they will use to not only grab the interest of readers, but hint at the mood and...
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Focus On Figurative Language in Prose
Students examine the use of literary prose in the story, "Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed." In this literary prose lesson, students investigate the use of imagery, metaphor, and simile in the story. They tell how author's purpose is...
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Nature’s Fury—Myths and Drama
Fifth graders explore the elements of theatre. In this dramatic performances lesson, 5th graders discuss the structural elements of theatre and dramatize "The Origins of the Season," an explanation myth.
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ABBA - Lesson 4
Students discover a connection between the genres of popular music and musical theater. They find and discuss musicals written in many different musical styles.
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Are You Sure They Lived Happily Ever After?
Students listen to a read aloud of Jon Scieszka's, The Frog Prince. They predict what happens after the frog prince marries his princess.
Orange County Department of Education
Dear Mr. Henshaw
Fifth graders read Dear Mr. Henshaw and identify the character trait of self-respect as exhibited by Leigh throughout the story. They evaluate the author's use of letters to tell the story and discuss how the story would be different if...
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Symbol Beneath the Surface in "The Life You Save May Be Your Own"
Pupils identify the value of symbols in shorts stories and analyze Flannery O'Connor's use of symbolism. In this symbolism lesson, students complete a worksheet about symbols for cars. Pupils answer questions about Flannery O'Connor's...
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Let's Roll Robots!
Students write a story about robots. In this creative writing lesson, students read a story about robots, make their own robot, and write a story about their robot. In addition, the lesson plan suggests taking photos of the robots to add...
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A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Young scholars read and perform William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. In this Shakepeare play lesson, students read the script for the play and practice the simplified version of the play.
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Across Five Aprils/Civil War
Eighth graders study the Civil War novel, Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt. They review vocabulary and literary elements and write a "Brother Against Brother" essay about coming face to face with a brother in one of the battles of the...
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Making a Case for Beginning Wigh Suprasegmental Features in Pronunciation
Students explore the ways in which voice quality and intonation can convey meaning.