English Language Arts — Grade 6

To market, to market: Photograph analysis

In this lesson, students analyze photos of markets from around the world to gain an understanding of the similarities and differences between geographically distant places, to learn about the economic and cultural significance of markets, and to improve visual literacy skills.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Eric Eaton.

Threads through South America: Weaving in Ecuador

This lesson for grade six takes a look at the weaving and textiles created in the Andes of Ecuador in and near the town of Otavalo. In addition to learning about Ecuadorian weaving, students may also create their own woven artifact.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

By Eric Eaton.

Seven directions: Making connections between literature and American Indian history

This middle school lesson uses picture books to integrate American Indian culture and belief systems with language and visual arts.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

By Edie McDowell.

Pattern writing using nouns and adjectives

In this lesson plan, students will think and write creatively using nouns and adjectives. They will experience all phases of the writing process.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

By Susan S. Craver.

Majestic peaks: Mountains of North Carolina and Ecuador

In this lesson for grade six, students analyze two photographs: one of the mountains of Ecuador and one of the mountains of Western North Carolina. Students then analyze the two photographs together to gain an understanding of the two regions' similarities and differences.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Eric Eaton.

Legends: Dramatic story telling

In Teaching about North Carolina American Indians, page 5.1

Introduction The act of storytelling makes learning exciting. Participating in a dramatic presentation of American Indian Legends allows class members to create, learn, and teach. Learning Outcomes Students will select an American...

Format: lesson plan (grade 4, 6, and 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Linda Tabor.

An integrated poetry unit

My students have always disliked poetry. The different ways in which this lesson approaches poetry and the connection it makes to their "March Madness" studies seems to make poetry more enjoyable, fun, and relevant for my students. In order to integrate with the sixth grade math and social studies teachers, I teach this unit during the ACC tournament to coincide with the "March Madness" unit that is covered in the math classes.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

By Nancy Guthrie.

Flying high with hot air balloons!

This lesson is written for the Novice High Second Language Student. This lesson uses the historical fiction book, The Big Balloon Race by Eleanor Coerr, to reinforce basic vocabulary, introduce new vocabulary while tying into many community sponsored hot air balloon events held in the fall.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts and English Language Development)

By Barbara Boal.

Figurative language: Metaphor

This lesson is a part of a unit on poetry and figurative language. It is designed to teach students the characteristics of metaphor within the context of poetry.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

By Nancy Meyers.

Feel in the blanks

The following lesson is designed to function as a review of beginning, middle, and end and an introduction to individualized imagination, creativity, and perspective as it relates to the development of dialogue (i.e. improvisation).

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

By Lei Knight.

Autobiographical expression

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.2

This lesson for grade 6 introduces students to the theory of multiple intelligences. Students consider what their personal strengths are according to this theory.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)

By Ruth Roberts.Adapted by Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.

The Great Gilly Hopkins: Characterization and prediction

In the final chapters of the novel, Gilly's grandmother learns she has a granddaughter and decides to take Gilly out of foster care. Many of my classroom readers are often dismayed by this unexpected conflict and its outcome. In this lesson, the classroom becomes a courtroom where students predict the outcome of this conflict.

This activity can be used at the end of the novel, but I like to use it after reading chapters 10 and 11 so students can compare the courtroom decision to the end of the novel.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

By Emily Vann.

Resources on the web

Writing alternative plots for Robert C. O'Brien's “Z for Zachariah”

In this lesson that concludes a class reading of Robert C. O'Brien's Z for Zachariah, students pick a part of the story where Ann makes a critical decision, and they rewrite the remaining portion of the plot. After reading... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Writing a flashback and flash-forward story using movies and texts as models

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students are introduced to examples of flashbacks and flash-forwards through the film The Sandlot and/or illustrated books. Students learn to incorporate details, description, characterization,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Weaving the Threads: Integrating Poetry Annotation and Web Technology

This lesson from ReadWriteThink engages students in meaningful research using poetry as a focal point. Students identify words and phrases in a poem by a Native American and in the process, learn about Native American culture and history. Students create... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Wartime poetry: Working with similes

Students view photographs of children evacuated from Britain during World War II in this lesson that introduces similes. Students choose one character from the photo and describe how that child might have felt. Maintaining the character persona, students... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using QARs to develop comprehension and reflective reading habits

This ReadWriteThink lesson provides a foundation for building reflective reading habits, which enable students to develop higher-level comprehension strategies. Students are introduced to a variety of question-answer relationships (QARs) in an effort to... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using picture books to explore identity, stereotyping and discrimination

Using I Can Hear the Sun by Patricia Polacco, The Woman Who Outshone the Sun from a poem by Alejandro Cruz Martinez, and The Secret Footprints by Julia Alvarez,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using classic poetry to challenge and enrich students' writing

Students learn to read and analyze classic poetry and then write original pieces in this lesson. After looking closely at and discussing each poem collectively, students work together to create an open-ended writing prompt or “link” to stimulate... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using children's literature to develop classroom community

This lesson introduces students to the concept of collaborative learning with an activity based on Shel Silverstein's poem, “What's in the Sack?”. After developing a foundation for group and partner work, students explore children's literature... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink