English Language Arts — Grade 6

Resources on the web

Creating character: Concluding lesson

In this concluding lesson, students evaluate and synthesize concepts of character education they learned in previous lessons. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Citizenship

In this lesson from the Shoah Foundation Institute, students explore the concept of citizenship while listening to the perspectives of Holocaust survivors. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Cosmic oranges: Observation and inquiry through descriptive writing and art

This lesson employs scientific observation, descriptive writing, sketching, reading, investigation, and poetry writing to train students to use their senses and focus their attention. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Cooking up descriptive language: Designing restaurant menus

In this lesson students explore the genre of menus by analyzing existing menus from local restaurants and creating their own original menus. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Clues from the Black Sea

Students discuss the scientific method and define “theory” and “hypothesis.” (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic

Children of war

Explores the realities and effects of war on children by examining diaries, journals, and letters written by children during times of war. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Book report alternative: Creating a childhood for a character

In this lesson, students examine the character traits of an adult character in a book they have read, create a childhood for the character, and describe that childhood in the form of a short story, journal entry, or time capsule letter. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Book report alternative: Comic strips and cartoon squares

This lesson incorporates student handouts and a comic creator interactive to encourage student creativity and expression. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Book report alternative: A character's letter to the editor

In this lesson, students choose a character from a novel they have read and consider the significant beliefs and feelings of that character to identify an issue or situation that would encourage that character to try to persuade the audience of other characters... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Avalanche, Aztek, or Bravada? A connotation mini-lesson

In this lesson that introduces connotation in literature, students examine familiar car names (such as Avalanche, Aztek, Bravada, Suburban or Vue) for underlying meaning. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Alliteration in Headline Poems

Introduces students to the term alliteration. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Adopt a lot

Students identify a place in the community that needs to be improved and develop a plan to renew the area. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic

ABC bookmaking builds vocabulary in the content areas

Engages and motivates students in building content area vocabulary through the creation of ABC books. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE