Virginina Department of Education
Planning Persuasive Writing
A nice starting exercise that organizes a learner’s persuasive writing assignment by issue, claim, and hard and soft evidence. Definitions of the terms aforementioned are provided, as well as the worksheet needed by the class. The...
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What It Means to Be an American Indian
Pupils analyze primary source documents and evaluate historical evidence to find consequences of the policies that were adopted from the 1830s to today regarding Native American Indians.
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Finding the dress code balance
Students write a persuasive essay, expressing their opinions of how the school dress code should be changed. Students investigate their own school's dress code, developing their own opinions of whether the dress code should be more or...
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Writing: Laying and Covering the Foundation
Your middle schoolers can become stronger writers with a lesson covering the basics. They compose effective thesis statements and introductions, discuss different ways to capture a reader's attention, and compare a poorly written...
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Design Explorations: Frieze Patterns
Students will explore frieze patterns. A frieze pattern is a mathematical concept to classify designs on two-dimensional surfaces, which are repetitive in one direction, based on the symmetries in the pattern. They will explore examples...
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Packet
Readers of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are directed to complete two projects as a part of their study of Mark Twain’s novel. Individuals craft an organized notebook containing all their work during the study, and they research...
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Various Questions III
In English, we use the phrase used to to express an action that happened in the past. Use this online, interactive quiz to help learners develop understanding of this phrase and how to use it. There are 20 sentences provided here, and...
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The Art of Persuasion-Analysis of Argument
Analyze advertising techniques in order to pinpoint persuasive strategies that writers use. These same techniques are then examined in persuasive speeches. You will have to find your own advertisements, but speeches are included. Finish...
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Games Children Play: Then and Now
Second graders examine primary documents to discover similarities and differences in life today and life before. In this toys then and now activity, 2nd graders complete a graphic organizer to show how things have changed or stayed the...
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Writing to Photography/Photography to Writing
Students improve their' writing by incorporating photography into descriptive and narrative writing exercises. They write descriptions of various professional photographic collections. Later they use their own and other classmates'.
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It's Just a Game?
Students consider their attitudes toward concrete and abstract violence in the media before developing hypotheses that assess the effect of gender and age on people's attitudes toward such violence and designing a survey to test those...
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Soulfully Remembered
Students study about the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead to explore another culture's attitude towards death. They create collages reflecting the interests of and memories about someone who has passed away.
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Treatments for Characters' Problems
Students research treatments for problems associated with specific characters. In this online research lesson, students use kid-friendly search engines to find information that will help a character from Charlie and the Chocolate...
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Harriet Tubman Integrated Unit
Learners organize facts about Harriet Tubman. In this writing instructional activity, students research Harriet Tubman, sort facts about her into two categories, and use the information they have found to write about her life in complete...
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The Uncertain Future of Kosovo
Students investigate the ongoing peace process in Kosovo through thorough discussion of the underlying issues of the Kosovo conflict and the evolving resolution.
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The Musculoskeletal System The Muscoskeleton System
Students research the Internet on physical fitness and sports. In this physical fitness report lesson students write a report on an athlete of their choice.
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Homeschooling Chronicles - Middle School Years
Teaching middle school for the first time was a rude awakening and a pleasant surprise.
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Cultural Capital
Students research the adaptation and acculturation of immigrant groups in the United States. They create culture capsules aimed at preserving the cultural heritage of new peoples in American society.
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2003: A Space Tragedy
Students examine the facts and logistics connected to the space shuttle Columbia tragedy and present at a teach-in on the incident. February 3, 2003)
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Do You Dread the Spread?
Students explore the increased reports of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China. They hold a mock emergency health summit to address concerns and possible solutions on behalf of the affected countries and international health...
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Masking the Truth
Students explore the artistic and social significance of African masks. They create their own masks that reflect an important aspect of moving in their lives.
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All Rights Reserved?
Students explore, through discussion, research, dramatic skits, and writing, the debate over genetic ownership of biological products and evaluate the economic viewpoints of the countries and companies involved.
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Armchair Travelers
Learners consider how other countries and cultures influence furniture and home furnishings. They create a design plan for a particular room using the influences of a particular country.
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Over-the-Counter Culture
Learners explore the changing consumer habits of Americans of various socioeconomic classes. They examine the exact costs of products, services and interest rates mentioned in the article and reflect on their own spending habits and...