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Spooky Analysis
Focus on building suspense as well as evaluating web sites through creative writing. After introducing the idea of suspense and holding a discussion, class members complete a WebQuest, during which they find inspiration for their own...
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Halloween Tales
At the beginning of this Halloween lesson, learners generate a list of spooky characters and words that they will use when creating their original stories. Teams of 3-4 members create the stories together. The lesson includes a handy...
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Writing: A Lesson Plan on Beginnings
Young scholars rewrite the beginning of a story. In this writing lesson, students read stories from Spooky South by S.E. Schlosser in order to gain exposure to different ways to begin a story. Then, young scholars chose one of the three...
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Spooky Story
Second graders write a Halloween story. In this combined technology and writing lesson, 2nd graders create a Halloween picture using KidPix, insert it into Microsoft Word, and then write a story to correspond with the picture.
August House
Anansi And Turtle Go To Dinner
That tricky Anansi! Join him and Turtle in the story Anansi and Turtle Go to Dinner by Bobby and Sherry Norfolk, based on the African folktale. Kids answer comprehension questions and sing songs about spiders before creating spider webs...
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"All Day Nightmare"
Students read an "All Day Nightmare" by R.L. Stine. They use the interactive book to choose the plot at the end of each chapter. They also complete an open-ended story.
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Introduce Vocabulary: It's Pumpkin Time (Hall)
Looking for a Halloween-themed vocabulary lesson? Study words in context using Zoe Hall's story It's Pumpkin Time, an excellent informational text for budding readers. The spooky suggested words are: buds, gather, hollow,...
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The Tell-Tale Heart
Bring Edgar Allan Poe's spooky story to life! After reading the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart," middle and high schoolers identify the theme, character traits, irony, and other story concepts. During pre-reading, they take notes,...
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Haunting Music
Students discover music that was inspired by the spooky and bizarre. In this music of Hector Berlioz and Camille Saint-Saens lesson, students identify elements of music and listen to the Symphonie Fantastique and Danse Macabre. Students...
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"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe
In this "The Tell-Tale Heart" worksheet, students write an essay about how Edgar Allan Poe keeps the reader in suspense. The worksheet helps students construct the essay through eleven different scaffolding steps.
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Scary Stuff!
Fourth graders interview community members for a "newspaper". They design a business brochure, write a disappearing ghost story, and experiment with mono-printing. They experiment with a variety of materials, tools, equipment, and...
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Number the Stars, Lesson 3
Students consider how an author creates a feeling of suspense in a reader's mind. They analyze characters in the story. Students make a character map for Peter. They discuss how suspense unfolds in the novel Number the Stars.
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Pumpkin Carving for K-2 Students
Students carve pumpkins, draw pictures and label layers of a seed, and write steps needed to carve pumpkin.
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Introduce Vocabulary: The Grouchy Ladybug
Students explore language arts by reading a children's book in class. In this vocabulary identification lesson, students read the book The Grouchy Ladybug and answer study questions about the story. Students define a list of vocabulary...
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Oh My Gosh, It's a Bosch
Students explore the art of Hieronymous Bosch. In this surreal art lesson, students look at paintings by the Dutch painter and then follow the provided steps to create their own surreal piece inspired by his works.
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Night of the Twisters Figurative Language
In this reading worksheet, learners read and learn about writers' use of figurative language to create vivid pictures with words. Students are directed to specific pages in The Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman and answer 20 questions...
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Look Around You
Students make predictions about a book they are reading and use their background knowledge to make inferences. In this predictions lesson plan, students complete a worksheet that they are given.
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Creating an Interesting Setting
In this setting worksheet, students fill out a chart for seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting, and hearing in a setting. Students complete 20 boxes total in the chart.
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Monsters
Students explore the idea of 'monsters' in society. In this character instructional activity, students define what a monster is, what purpose they serve and why they are necessary. They will go on the read Beowulf and Grendel and design...
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Bones and Muscles
Third graders are introduced to bones as the body's means of support and protection. They research bone facts and conduct an experiment with chicken bones. They identify and observe involuntary muscles at work.
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Pumpkin Carving for K-2 Students
Learners engage in a variety of pumpkin activities. This lesson is especially rich for ESL students, who probably have little experience with this holiday and custom.