LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

About this resource

Appropriate grades
6–8
Subjects
English language arts (writing), thinking skills (research skills)
Provider
IRA/NCTE

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This lesson from ReadWriteThink uses the informational power of the Internet for a prewriting activity. Through various Internet sites, students gather information about the history and celebration practices associated with Veterans Day. Following the prewriting activity, students write content-rich poems that honor our veterans.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Computer Technology Skills (2005)

Grade 6

  • Goal 3: The learner will use a variety of technologies to access, analyze, interpret, synthesize, apply, and communicate information.
    • Objective 3.13: Use evaluation tools to select Internet resources and information for content and usefulness in content area assignments. Strand - Telecommunications/Internet

Grade 7

  • Goal 3: The learner will use a variety of technologies to access, analyze, interpret, synthesize, apply, and communicate information.
    • Objective 3.11: Use evaluation tools to select Internet resources and information for content and usefulness in content area assignments. Strand - Telecommunications/Internet

Grade 8

  • Goal 3: Select and use a variety of technology tools to collect, analyze, and present information. Strand - Societal/Ethical Issues
    • Objective 3.10: Use evaluation tools to select Internet resources and information for content and usefulness in content area assignments. Strand - Telecommunications/Internet

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 6

  • Goal 2: The learner will explore and analyze information from a variety of sources.
    • Objective 2.01: Explore informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understand of what is read, heard, and/or viewed.
      • studying the characteristics of informational works.
      • restating and summarizing information.
      • determining the importance and accuracy of information.
      • making connections between works, self and related topics/information.
      • comparing and/or contrasting information.
      • drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
      • generating questions.
  • Goal 3: The learner will examine the foundations of argument.
    • Objective 3.01: Explore argumentative works that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding what is read, heard, and/or viewed.
      • analyzing the characteristics of argumentative works.
      • determining the importance of author's word choice and focus.
      • summarizing the author's purpose and stance.
      • making connections between works, self and related topics.
      • drawing inferences.
      • responding to public documents (such as but not limited to editorials and school and community policies).
      • distinguishing between fact and opinion.
  • Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
    • Objective 5.02: Study the characteristics of literary genres (fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry) through:
      • reading a variety of literature and other text (e.g., novels, autobiographies, myths, essays, magazines, plays, pattern poems, blank verse).
      • interpreting what impact genre-specific characteristics have on the meaning of the work.
      • exploring how the author's choice and use of a genre shapes the meaning of the literary work.
      • exploring what impact literary elements have on the meaning of the text such as the influence of setting or the problem and its resolution.
  • Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
    • Objective 6.01: Demonstrate an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
      • using a variety of sentence types correctly, punctuating them properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
      • using appropriate subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
      • demonstrating the different roles of the different parts of speech in sentence construction.
      • using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and correct case.
      • using phrases and clauses correctly (e.g., prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses).
      • determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words by using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffices) of words.
      • extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
      • exploring the role and use of dialects and of standard English to appreciate appropriate usage in different contexts.
      • developing an awareness of language conventions and usage during oral presentations.
    • Objective 6.02: Identify and edit errors in spoken and written English by:
      • reviewing and using common spelling rules, applying common spelling patterns, and developing and mastering an individualized list of words that are commonly misspelled.
      • applying proofreading symbols when editing.
      • producing final drafts that demonstrate accurate spelling and the correct use of punctuation and capitalization.
      • developing an awareness of errors in everyday speech.

Grade 7

  • Goal 2: The learner will synthesize and use information from a variety of sources.
    • Objective 2.01: Respond to informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
      • analyzing the characteristics of informational works.
      • summarizing information.
      • determining the importance of information.
      • making connections to related topics/information.
      • drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
      • generating questions.
  • Goal 3: The learner will refine the understanding and use of argument.
    • Objective 3.01: Analyze a variety of public documents that establish a position or point of view by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and /or viewed.
      • identifying the arguments and positions stated or implied and the evidence used to support them.
      • recognizing bias, emotional factors, and/or semantic slanting.
      • examining the effectiveness of style, tone, and use of language.
      • summarizing the author's purpose and stance.
      • examining the importance and impact of establishing a position or point-of-view.
      • making connections between works, self and related topics.
      • drawing inferences.
      • responding to public documents (such as but not limited to editorials, reviews, local/state/national policies/issues).
  • Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
    • Objective 5.02: Study the characteristics of literary genres (fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry) through:
      • reading a variety of literature and other text (e.g., mysteries, novels, science fiction, historical documents, newspapers, skits, lyric poems).
      • analyzing what effect genre specific characteristics have on the meaning of the work.
      • analyzing how the author's choice and use of a genre shapes the meaning of the literary work.
      • analyzing what impact literary elements have on the meaning of the text such as the influence of setting on the problem and its resolution.
  • Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of application of grammar and language usage.
    • Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
      • using a variety of sentences correctly, punctuating them properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
      • using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
      • applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
      • using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and correct case.
      • using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation (e.g., prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses).
      • determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.
      • extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
      • determining when and where dialects and standard/nonstandard English usage are appropriate.
      • applying language conventions and usage during oral presentations.
      • choosing language that is precise, engaging, and well suited to the topic and audience.
      • experimenting with figurative language and speech patterns.
    • Objective 6.02: Continue to identify and edit errors in spoken and written English by:
      • using common spelling rules, applying common spelling patterns, and developing and mastering an individualized list of words that are commonly misspelled.
      • mastering proofreading symbols for editing.
      • producing final drafts/presentations that demonstrate accurate spelling and the correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and format.
      • listening to and monitoring self to correct errors.

Grade 8

  • Goal 2: The learner will use and evaluate information from a variety of sources.
    • Objective 2.01: Analyze and evaluate informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
      • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
      • recognizing the characteristics of informational materials.
      • summarizing information.
      • determining the importance of information.
      • making connections to related topics/information.
      • drawing inferences.
      • generating questions.
      • extending ideas.
  • Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
    • Objective 5.02: Study the characteristics of literary genres (fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry) through:
      • reading a variety of literature and other text (e.g., young adult novels, short stories, biographies, plays, free verse, narrative poems).
      • evaluating what impact genre-specific characteristics have on the meaning of the text.
      • evaluating how the author's choice and use of a genre shapes the meaning of the literary work.
      • evaluating what impact literary elements have on the meaning of the text.
  • Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
    • Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
      • using a variety of sentence types, punctuating properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
      • using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
      • applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
      • using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and case.
      • using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation (e.g. prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses.)
      • determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.
      • extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
      • evaluating the use and power of dialects in standard/nonstandard English usage.
      • applying correct language conventions and usage during formal oral presentations.
    • Objective 6.02: Continue to identify and edit errors in spoken and written English by:
      • using correct spelling of words appropriate in difficulty for eighth graders and refining mastery of an individualized list of commonly misspelled words.
      • producing final drafts/presentations that demonstrate accurate spelling and the correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and format.
      • self correcting errors in everyday speech.
      • independently practicing formal oral presentations.