Curated OER
Creative Writing: Haiku
Haikus by Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki are used as models for a brief lecture on the importance of poetry in Japan's history and the structure of this poetic form. Students then go on a nature walk, record impressions, and return to the...
Curated OER
Animal Diaries
Students read Diary of a Worm by Foreen Cronin. In this journal writing activity, students research an animal and write a diary by their animal. Students apply the research they've completed in their writings. Students share their...
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Do the Write Thing
Students take stands on issues that matter to them. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, discuss the act of advocating for others, and write letters of support for issues they...
Curated OER
The Annotated Bibliography
Pupils put sources into correct Modern Language Association (MLA)bibliographic format, and evaluate accuracy of information and research value of two articles through short written annotated bibliography for each.
Curated OER
Writing a Bibliography
High schoolers edit a bibliography. For this three part writing lesson, students edit and revise a first draft of a bibliography.
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Pizza Biography
A biography writing lesson with a tasty twist! Kids create a "visual biography" in which each pizza slice represents a paragraph, and toppings represent supporting details. They learn research techniques, note-taking skills, and how to...
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War Story Documentary
Students research and create an aspect of a war. They practice on writing a bibliography and essays.
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Bibliography of Mexico
Young scholars compile bibliographies on Mexico. In this global studies lesson, students investigate appropriate sources regarding Mexico and use the EasyBib web site to create an APA or MLA formatted bibliography.
Curated OER
It's Your Birthday! Expository Writing Unit 2
Students create an expository essay. In this writing activity Students are assigned a country and must conduct research surrounding a historic event that occurred in that country at the time of their birth.
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Science Fiction Stories
Students write a story. In this genre activity, students read a science fiction story and discuss its characteristics. Students brainstorm a list of things that if scientifically changed would alter the way we live our lives. Students...
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Out of Old England in the 1630s-Flat Me Project
Students write letters to penpals. In this geography/literacy lesson, students become penpals with a classroom in England to learn about customs and society across the ocean. Flat Stanley by Will Holton is read aloud, and students...
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Inquiring Minds: News and Philanthropy
Students study newspaper articles and rewrite events from literature into news stories about kindness. In this news article lesson, students read sentences from newspaper articles and identify the purpose of the article. Students...
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The Important Thing About Reading
Third through fifth graders discover the importance of reading and plan a service project to provide books to children. First, they read the book The Important Book and then they brainstorm about the importance of reading. Afterward,...
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Writing a Resume
Ninth graders research a future career and write a resume for the job. In this job skills lesson, 9th graders work in groups to identify future job skills and duties. Students then write a resume for the job.
Curated OER
Animal Diaries
Launch this lesson with Doreen Cronin's Diary of a Worm! Discuss the format and content of a diary, and ask learners if they've ever kept a diary before. Then, after an introductory discussion, have learners choose an insect or another...
EngageNY
Resource Materials and Gathering Information: Reading Another “Choice” Text from the Research Folder
Look it up. Scholars use a dictionary and thesaurus to verify the meaning of the research vocabulary words they defined in the previous activity. They then use sticky notes to write a synonym for each word. Finally, individuals choose a...
Curated OER
Salvaged Pages: Writing as a Response to Literature
High schoolers discuss the topic of the Holocaust. Before reading and discussing Elie Wiesel's "Night", they complete an activity giving them a different perspective on the event. They read diaries and journal entries of children and...
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Sample Lesson on Taking Notes
Have your middle schoolers define the terms outline, summary, paraphrase, plagiarism, citation, reference, and bibliography. They identify the main ideas, topic sentence, supporting ideas in technical writing and create note cards using...
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Summarizing Key Information
Imagine the surprise when small groups present their Evidence Charts to the class and discover that each group has studied a different version of the Cinderella story. Irish, Ojibwa, Egyptian, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Mexican, and...
Curated OER
Final Steps - From Cinderella Project
Young scholars culminate a service project associated with a Cinderella study. In this service project lesson, students write letters to thank donors and sponsoring organizations for their donations of shoes. They practice their...
Curated OER
The Civil War
Students explore the Civil War. Using computer technology, they create informational flash cards about the Civil War. Students use artwork to depict Civil War activities. They examine topics such as battles, leaders, tactics, prisoner of...
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Civil War Research Project
Give your WWI study collaborative energy using a group research project. Groups are assigned one of the six main themes (included). Each group has an outline to guide research but will need an assignment guide. Consider supplementing the...
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Documentary-Style Research Projects
Show your pupils how to use guiding questions to help them focus their research into a topic. Using the framework provided by these questions, researchers explore a topic, collect interesting facts, and prepare a PowerPoint presentation...
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Quick Writes and RAFTs
Students explore Quick Writes and RAFTs in all academic areas. They review the 6+1 Traits of Writing, the purpose of quick writes and how they can be used in various content areas.