English Language Arts — Grade 6

Resources on the web

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

Comparing Electronic and Print Texts About the Civil War Soldier

What is the best way for students to find the information they need when completing research? Is there a difference between looking for information in print and online texts? This lesson has students explore the answers to these questions by responding to... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

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

Building reading comprehension through think-alouds

Introduces the think-aloud strategy to students. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Breaking barriers, building bridges: Critical discussion of social issues

Students are challenged to confront and discuss issues of injustice and intolerance by reading a variety of texts, from young adult literature to picture books. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Book report alternative: Character and author business cards

Students make business cards for characters and authors. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 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

The Big, Bad Wolf . . . is this a fact?

This ReadWriteThink lesson combines the nonfiction works of Seymour Simon with teacher modeling, discussion groups, and student-created multimedia presentations to increase comprehension, vocabulary, and research skills, and boost students' willingness... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Beyond the story: A Dickens of a party

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students are invited to attend a 19th Century party as a character from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. To play their roles, students must understand the values and customs that Dickens' characters represented... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

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

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