English Language Arts — Grade 6

Resources on the web

Folktale frenzy: WebQuest writing

Students design WebQuests in order to teach their peers about the subgenres that fall under the heading of “folktale.” (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Focusing reader response through vocabulary analysis

After reading The Hobbit, students compile a list of words associated with details about the novel. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Finding the science behind science fiction through paired readings

In this lesson, students explore the genre of science fiction, while learning more about the science integrated into the plot of the story using nonfiction texts and resources. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Finding figurative language in “The Phantom Tollbooth”

This lesson provides hands-on differentiated instruction by guiding students to search for the literal definitions of figurative language using the Internet. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Fairy tale autobiographies

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students will work in groups to read and analyze fairy tales, brainstorm for events in their lives that could be changed into fairy tales, and develop setting, characters, and plot for their fairy tale. Students will... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

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)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

An exploration of text sets: Supporting all readers

Introduces text sets to support readers of a range of abilities and experience. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

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)

Provided by: 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)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Critical literacy: Point of view

Students learn to look at texts from different viewpoints. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

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

Choose your own adventure: A Hypertext writing experience

In this lesson students create original “Choose Your Own Adventure” stories and using web-authoring software, develop their own Internet sites with the parts of the story hyperlinked to each other. After a review of setting, character development,... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Childhood Remembrances: Life and Art Intersect in Nikki Giovanni's "Nikki-Rosa"

Adapted from Carol Jago's Nikki Giovanni in the Classroom, this ReadWriteThink lesson invites students to explore what Jago calls the place "where life and art intersect." Students complete a close reading of Giovanni's poem "Nikki-Rosa" and then... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

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: 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

Biography project: Research and class presentation

Students brainstorm about famous people and each selects one to research by reading a biography and doing Internet research. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 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