Students locate a sample restaurant review in a newspaper or magazine. They examine the review to find the opinion of the reviewer and discuss reviews that convey mixed opinions. They compose an original review in a similar style to...

In this DNA activity, students access a website to determine the information that was used to understand DNA replication. Students compare the difference between observations and opinions. This activity has 7 short answer questions and 1...

Students read the story, The True Story Of The 3 Little Pigs and discuss the voting process. In this public opinion lesson plan, students review the original story of the three little pigs and then read the wolf's version of the...

Poor Cinna, the poet. His dream of “things unlucky” certainly comes true as the mob tears him apart, at first because they mistake him for Cinna, the conspirator, and then continue to “tear him to pieces for his bad verses.” As part of...

Fourth graders sort and classify wood.  In this sorting tree products lesson, 4th graders sort and classify tree parts and pieces of wood, both natural and manufactured according to their properties. 

Students research child labor using Internet resources. They present the information in a creative writing piece and post it on Chalkboard.

Students read various pieces of literature by Nathaniel Hawthorne to recognize the difference between a narrator and author. Students in small groups report on the narrative point of view represented in a story they have read.

Students explore race issues that exist in the police force and in police actions through sharing opinions and researching and presenting related statistical and historical information.

Young scholars research victims of the Holocaust, then create pieces of art to depict the suffering of the Holocaust victims.

Students research the Titanic using fiction, nonfiction, images, and Internet based resources. They determine if it is appropriate to raise and save the Titanic and its artifacts before planning and writing an opinion piece which defends...

Students read and discuss Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart. Students are guided to analyze the text through consideration of the author's use of 6 literary devices. Students also evaluate the text according to their personal...

Young scholars use poetic devices to discuss political issues. In this cultural diversity lesson plan, students listen to the president's State of the Union address and write poetic pieces that express their opinions about issues the...

Students are introduced to media literacy and deconstruction. They analyze the media's use of gender roles and body image. They voice their opinions about media messages and how to change them.

Students use different pieces of art and critique them. Using worksheets, they analyze the historical and cultural context of the art and the methods in which the artist used. They discuss their responses as a class and use them to...

Students use pieces of Andy Warhol's art to write critiques. Using different points of view, they answer discussion questions and share them with the class. They also interpret the art from a historian and artist point of view. They...

Students examine the use of sources and their quotes in news writing. They determine the reasons specific persons are used as sources and why their opinions are relevant to the article. In groups, they identify sources in articles and...

Fifth graders examine the role of the Gutenberg press and its effect on society. Using this information, they write a persuasive paper discussing which form of copying is easier to mass produce. They share their opinions with the class...

Students explore acrostic poems. In this interactive poetry lesson, students visit the ReadWriteThink.org website to view characteristics and samples of acrostic poems. Students develop acrostic poems by using the interactive site.

What does the author believe about his topic? Why did he write in the first place? Challenge your class to figure out the answers to these questions as they read through informational texts. The resource provides a breakdown of the...

A variation of the Walkabout Review process, carousel brainstorming directs groups to rotate through a series of stations posting ideas on the topic or question posted at each stop. 

Draw back the curtain, add a spot of joy to your class, and let learners be lessoned by a close reading exercise that models how to develop an interpretation based on evidence drawn from a text. Robert Browning’s dramatic monologue “My...

Analyze various excerpts from Hamlet and read articles to develop an argument about his sanity. Middle and high schoolers write an argument essay defending whether or not they believe Hamlet is insane. You could modify this assignment...

Use this instructional activity to reinforce the importance of a strong thesis statement. After viewing samples, middle schoolers identify the three parts to a thesis. Additionally, they create their own thesis including and labeling the...

Combining descriptive and expository writing skills, middle schoolers create a character sketch about someone they know well. They use a graphic organizer to help them discuss a model character sketch and organize/write one of their own....