Students observe how language features vary when shifting from an informal to a formal style or vice versa. By engaging in style shifting in both speech and writing, students become aware of how we all change language styles depending on the contexts in which we are speaking or writing.
Style-Shifting: Examining and Using Formal and Informal Language Styles
Grades
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Captioning the Civil Rights Movement: Reading the Images, Writing the Words
2 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Teachers guide students to carefully view images from the Civil Rights Movement and write captions that accurately describe the images and/or their probable purposes.
Grades
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Highlighting Out-of-School Language Expertise with Pop Culture Dictionaries
6 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students compose dictionary entries for words and phrases from pop culture texts (e.g., television shows, movies, lyrics, YouTube videos), connecting their definitions to their personal use of the terms.
Grades
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"Three Stones Back": Using Informational Text to Enhance Understanding of Ball Don't Lie
8 - 11
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students engage in a close reading of a passage from Matt de la Pena's novel Ball Don't Lie before researching important background information to assess the accuracy of the claims made by a character.
Grades
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Understanding Irony
8 - 10
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
This lesson enables students to define the three types of irony, identify and differentiate among examples of the types of irony, and demonstrate their understanding of each type.
Grades
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A Picture IS Worth a Thousand Words: Using Infographics to Illustrate How-to Writing
7 - 10
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students write step-by-step instructions on topics of their own choosing. Then using Piktochart, students create their own infographics to illustrate their instructions.
Grades
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Picture This: Combining Infographics and Argumentative Writing
7 - 10
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
After researching topics that the students have chosen, students write argumentative essays. Then, using Piktochart, students create their own infographics to illustrate their research.
Grades
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"Blind Date with a Book": Creating Lifelong Readers
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
This multi-lesson learning project encourages students to read engaging texts at their grade level and also works to promote habitual, independent reading in all students.
Grades
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Picture This: Using Instagram to Report
4 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
After taking a field trip that students document using mobile app Instagram, students become new reporters as they use the interactive Printing Press to tell about their experiences.
Grades
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Aim for the Heart: Using Haiku to Identify Theme
7 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Using haiku, students focus on themes in literature and demonstrate their understanding of an author's message. Writing haiku to accompany an analytical paper hones analytical skills and fosters creative expression.
Grades
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For Argument's Sake: Playing "Devil's Advocate" with Nonfiction Texts
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students learn how to play "devil's advocate" by evaluating sports reforms, reading an engaging non-fiction article, and participating in a town hall meeting in which they represent the interests of various stakeholders to generate debate and develop critical thinking skills.
Grades
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Summarizing with Haikus
6 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Using the Haiku Poem App or the Haiku Poem Interactive, students summarize papers they have written using the traditional format of a haiku.
Grades
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Learning about Clouds with Haikus
4 - 6
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Using a mobile app or Interactive activity, students write haikus describing various types of clouds that they have studied.
Grades
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From Quantitative to Qualitative: Writing Descriptions of Data From Tables
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students develop quantitative reasoning and critical thinking by analyzing descriptions tables for content, language, and organization with a particular focus on verb tense selection, and then writing descriptions of tables themselves.
Grades
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Getting Graphic with Alternative Energy Sources
7 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
After researching alternative sources of energy, students create online comic books to present their information.
Grades
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Fashion Fun with Fossil Fuels
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
After researching specific fossil fuel issues, students create their own clothing brands that express their opinions about the issues and then share their information and clothing line using either PowerPoint or Prezi.
Grades
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Developing Aesthetic Criteria: Using Music to Move Beyond Like/Dislike with Poetry
9 - 10
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
In this lesson, students develop the cognitive tool of criteria development for discussing the aesthetics of poetry and music.
Grades
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A-B-C: It's Easy as 1-2-3 to Make Math Alphabet Books
4 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Using the Alphabet Organizer app, students create alphabet books to review math terms.
Grades
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Persuade Me in Five Slides! Creating Persuasive Digital Stories
6 - 12
Lesson Plan
After students write persuasive essays, use this lesson to challenge them to summarize their essays concisely by creating five-slide presentations.
Grades
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Making the Cut: Revising Memoirs by Detecting Clutter and Confusion
6 - 10
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students improve a slide show by removing pictures. Their reasons for cutting pictures are translated into revision guidelines for cutting unnecessary words and sections from their rough drafts.