English Language Arts — Grade 6

Using reference materials

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.1

In this lesson for grade 6, students gain an understanding of how classified ads are used to search for jobs.

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

By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.

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.

Story shackles: Linking students to written text

Chain your students to reading a given text critically! Story Shackles is an imaginative and stimulating way for students to acquire the ability to retell events of a story or text, sequence the action or happenings in a story, or to simply summarize the plot, main ideas with supporting details, or general information of a story or text.

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

By Kim Rector.

Sticky-note discussions

Sticky-notes discussions are fun, add variety to reading, and allow students to respond to the written text immediately. They are easy to implement in all content areas. Sticky-note discussions are effective when used individually, in a small or large group, or a combination of settings.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–8 English Language Arts)

By Kim Rector.

Puzzled papers: Using the computer to arrange paragraphs in a paper

Students use the cut and paste commands in a word processing program to rearrange paragraphs in a paper, according to logical progression in writing.

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

By Sally Watts.

Literature biography project

For this project, students will learn to develop the various processes used in researching and writing a biographical research paper, including brainstorming, note taking, outlining, creating a bibliography, and writing the final draft. This project is designed to act as an independent study geared toward AG or Level 3 and Level 4 students, but each step in the research process can also be taught directly to students in the classroom.

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

By Sandra Dail.

Interpreting Diaries of the American South

Students will read diaries of individuals who lived in the American South from 1865-1917. After reading these diaries the students will use a visual means of displaying their interpretation. Visual presentations will be one of the following: shadow box, poster, PowerPoint using drawings done by the student, brochure, or presenting an item that would have been used during the time that their diary was written.

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

By Rhonda Sneeden.

Fact and opinion in the real world

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.8

This lesson for grade 6 will help students understand the differences between fact and opinion based on career-related examples.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.

Ecuador: A study of population

In this lesson, students will create population pyramid graphs and analyze photographs to investigate population in Ecuador. Students will draw on this analysis to make predictions about how population issues will affect Ecuador's future. The lesson plan is designed to be adapted to the study of various countries.

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

By Eric Eaton.

Ecuador: A land of climate diversity

In this lesson, students will create climate graphs and analyze photographs to investigate the various types of climate in Ecuador and the interactions between climate and human culture. The lesson plan is designed to be adapted to the study of various countries.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science and Social Studies)

By Eric Eaton.

Details and sequencing

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.7

This lesson for grade six will introduce students to careers in environmental protection as it teaches them to identify details and sequence in a non-fiction reading passage.

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

By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.

Cut and paste paragraphs: Editing paragraphs on the computer

Students use the cut and paste commands of any word processing program to rearrange sentences in three different paragraphs, according to chronological order, spatial order, and order of importance.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Computer/Technology Skills and English Language Arts)

By Sally Watts.

Comparing and contrasting careers

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.9

This lesson for grade six will help students understand comparing and contrasting. Students will conduct career surveys with adults and will use the results to create Venn diagrams.

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

By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.

Cause and effect in the workplace

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.10

This lesson for grade 6 will help students understand cause and effect and how these concepts apply to the workplace.

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

By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.

Career research and acrostic poetry

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.6

In this lesson for grade 6, each student will research a chosen career and will use the information to create an acrostic poem.

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

By Holly Grout, Deborah Smith, and Natalie Summers.Adapted by Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.

Resources on the web

You know the movie is coming—Now what?

After exploring cinematic terms, students read a literary work with director's eyes and then try to predict what elements would be present in the film version of the book. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Where in the world would you like to live?

Students compare thematic maps of the continents and the world as a whole to determine where they would like to live. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic

Where Do Your Possessions Come From?

Students learn about the Earth's natural resources and the ways that people use these resources. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic

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

Viking voyagers: Navigating online content area reading

In this lesson that focuses on Viking culture, students implement before-, during-, and after-reading strategies to support their comprehension while navigating websites and a Viking Quest. The teacher activates prior knowledge by asking students what they... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink