Standard Course of Study :: English Language Arts

Goal 4

The learner will use critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate print and non-print materials.

Determine the purpose of the author or creator by:

monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
exploring any bias, apparent or hidden messages, emotional factors, or propaganda techniques.
identifying and exploring the underlying assumptions of the author/creator.
analyzing the effects of the author's craft on the reader/viewer/listener.

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Finding hidden messages in advertising: In this lesson for grade six, students will look for hidden messages in magazine advertisements and will create their own ads with hidden messages.; Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts); By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.

How do I look to you?: In this lesson, students will evaluate public service posters and a grooming pamphlet to determine if and how propaganda was used to improve the health of children, and define acceptable appearances for young women in the 1930s.; Format: lesson plan (grade 5–8 and 11 English Language Arts); By Loretta Wilson.

Alphabiography project: Totally you: In this lesson, students write alphabiographies recording an event, person, object, or feeling associated with each letter of the alphabet after reading Totally Joe by James Howe. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 English Language Arts); Provider: IRA/NCTE

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); Provider: IRA/NCTE

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 and Theatre Arts Education); Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Cinderella folk tales: Variations in plot and setting: Students compare and contrast several versions of Cinderella stories told around the world to find differences and similarities in plot and setting. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 5 English Language Arts); Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities

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); Provider: National Geographic

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 Guidance, Social Studies, and English Language Arts); By USC Shoah Foundation Institute.; Provider: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

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 Guidance, Social Studies, and English Language Arts); By USC Shoah Foundation Institute.; Provider: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Perseverance: In this lesson, students listen to the perspectives of three women who discuss the character trait of perseverance. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Guidance, Social Studies, and English Language Arts); By USC Shoah Foundation Institute.; Provider: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Respect: In this lesson, students explore the concept of "respect" by listening and viewing testimonials from Holocaust survivors. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Guidance, Social Studies, and English Language Arts); By USC Shoah Foundation Institute.; Provider: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Responsibility: In this lesson, students explore the concept of "responsibility," by watching video archives from the Shoah Foundation Institute, which focuses on Holocaust survivors. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Guidance, Social Studies, and English Language Arts); By USC Shoah Foundation Institute.; Provider: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Justice and Fairness: In this lesson, students explore the concepts of justice and fairness while viewing visual histories from Holocaust survivors. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Guidance, Social Studies, and English Language Arts); By USC Shoah Foundation Institute.; Provider: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Critical media literacy: TV programs: Helps student critically analyze popular television programs. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts); Provider: IRA/NCTE

A directed listening-thinking activity for The Tell-Tale Heart: Students participate in a Directed Listening-Thinking Activity (DLTA), in which they listen to the story “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts); Provider: IRA/NCTE

Don't be fooled by a photograph: Students will discuss how a photograph conveys information, and how changing that photograph can change its message. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 5–10 Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Social Studies); Provider: National Geographic

Doodle splash: Using graphics to discuss literature: Students keep a doodle journal while reading short stories by a common author. In small groups, students combine their doodles into a graphic representation of the text that they present to the class while discussing their story. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts); Provider: IRA/NCTE

Entering history: Nikki Giovanni and Martin Luther King, Jr.: Students read Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in conjunction with Nikki Giovanni’s poem “The Funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr.” in order to better understand the speech and the impact it had on observers like Giovanni during the Civil Rights movement and Americans today. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts); Provider: IRA/NCTE

Exploring author's voice using Jane Addams Award-winning books: This lesson uses Jane Addams Award-winning books to explore author's voice and style. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts); Provider: IRA/NCTE

Expository escapade-Detective's handbook: In this lesson, students combine reading the detective fiction genre with expository writing. (Learn more); Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts); Provider: IRA/NCTE