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Writing Organizers
Eight graphic organizers to choose from? That's right! Each of these organizers relates to writing or reading. From narrowing a writing topic, to responding to literature, to planning a writing project, you'll find many purposes for...
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Idea Organizer
In this idea organizer worksheet, students complete an outline for their essay by filling in their topic, topic sentence, four subtopics, and three ideas supporting the subtopic.
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Narrowing a Topic Worksheet
In this narrowing a topic worksheet, students complete a chart in which they begin with a broad topic and narrow it down to a subtopic that interests them. Students then create a topic statement for their subtopic.
Virginia Department of Education
Researching and Narrowing Topics
Internet research is becoming more common, so why not conduct an online research project in your classroom? Use this resource to get you and your class started. The lesson includes basic instructions and a list of questions to help...
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The 5 Paragraph Essay
The value in this PowerPoint about the five-paragraph expository essay comes from the clear explanations and specific examples provided to illustrate each aspect; however, a complete, model essay is not included. Beware the typos!
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African Americans in the Civil War
Students examine the contributions of African American soldiers during the Civil War. In pairs, they complete Civil War timeline worksheets. They use character cards to assume the identities of African Americans and determine whether or...
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Whose History Is It Anyway? Patterns in History
Read and examine primary source material in order to analyze, synthesize, and debate information about the Great Depression. Critical analysts research various source materials related to the Great Depression. They work in teams to...
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Novel Topics Research Unit
Seventh graders use a variety of research tools to locate information about a topic that is included in a novel that they are reading. They work with a partner to research the topic, record bibliographic information, and to complete a...
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The Gold Rush
Fourth graders practice researching the Gold Rush. In this research lesson, 4th graders take the Gold Rush and break it into smaller topics they can research. They fill in a graphic organizer to organize their topic and subtopic.
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Speaking and Listening Skills
Build oral fluency with your English language learners. They use the topic of vacations or holidays to practice posing questions and creating answers. A long list of subtopics is included here. Consider breaking your class into pairs and...
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Concrete Research
Young scholars explore concrete. In this physical science and computer research activity, students work in groups to answer specific questions about concrete. Each group of young scholars completes a different worksheet with a...
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Become an Expert
Students practice their researching techniques by preparing a presentation with little notice. In this information research lesson, students utilize the Internet to research one of several subtopics concerning panthers....
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Mystery Research Unit
Seventh graders participate in a "Solve the Media Center Mystery" using the directions that are included in the lesson. They role play as detectives as complete the activity and choose a research topic. They develop questions that they...
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Duck, Duck, Goose or Swan?
Learners study the waterfowl of a wetland. They use Venn diagram to compare and contrast the duck, goose and swan. They research the waterfowl using the Internet. They create a timeline and slideshow of the life of a duck, goose, or swan...
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Play With a Purpose
Students consider toys as more than items for playing, compare and contrast inventors and toys they created, and discuss purpose of specific toys, including whether toy was created for education, financial success, or both.
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How Hard Were the Times? Investigating the Meaning and Significance of the Great Depression
Students examine causes and effects of Great Depression and its significance on twentieth-century life, analyze value of various types of historical information, specifically primary sources, and relate events, issues, problems, and...
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The Art of Protesting
Young scholars view various images to examine different types of protest Americans have used throughout history, and explore ways in which protest can produce change for better or worse.
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The Hunger Games
Enjoy this exciting novel with your students, and bring the games to life in your classroom!
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Biography Research Unit
Sixth graders work with the library media specialist as they listen to biography booktalks. They choose a biography and conduct further research on the subject of the biography. Finally, they prepare a videotape on the life of the person...
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Civil War Diaries
Fifth graders examine excerpts from a diary of a Confederate soldier and his experiences in a Union prison camp. After receiving character cards, they write diary entries from the perspectives of their Civil War identity. As an...
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Tolerance: Words that Hurt/Words that Heal
Students "role-play" the part of a person who says unkind things and are photographed while doing so. They then act out a story about making friends. They practice saying kind things and are photographed. Word bubbles are added...
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Face to Face with the Great Depression
Learners develop an analytical perspective of how historians record, preserve, and interpret data. For this US history lesson students read and interpret personal accounts of the Great Depression. They discuss how interpretation affects...
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Outlining for Beginners
Students examine the standard form of an outline by viewing several examples. They practice categorizing information and then create a simple outline.
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Advanced Conversation
Students in an adult ESL program review what they know about the AIDS epidemic. After reading an article, they complete a survey on the epidemic of AIDS in Africa and identify the discrimination that occurs. They complete a quiz and...