LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

English Language Arts — Grade 6

Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.

Objective 6.01. Demonstrate an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:

  • using a variety of sentence types correctly, punctuating them properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
  • using appropriate subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
  • demonstrating the different roles of the different parts of speech in sentence construction.
  • using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and correct case.
  • using phrases and clauses correctly (e.g., prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses).
  • determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words by using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffices) of words.
  • extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
  • exploring the role and use of dialects and of standard English to appreciate appropriate usage in different contexts.
  • developing an awareness of language conventions and usage during oral presentations.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Which word is it?
Students will determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using Context Clues, a dictionary, and structural analysis within a game format.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
By Donna Harkey.
Pattern writing using nouns and adjectives
In this lesson plan, students will think and write creatively using nouns and adjectives. They will experience all phases of the writing process.
Format: lesson plan (grade 3 and 6 English Language Arts)
By Susan S. Craver.
Grammar and editing
In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.4
In this lesson for grade six, students will learn about the conventions of grammar and will learn how to write and edit a business letter.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)
By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.
The ABCs of the Three Little Pigs
This lesson uses a familiar fairy tale to teach writing. It is designed to emphasize using varied sentence patterns in writing.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 English Language Arts)
By Penny Canipe.

Resources on the web

You can't spell the word "prefix" without a prefix
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students learn in a cooperative setting to identify, define, and construct words with prefixes. First, students guess at initial meanings and spellings of words. They then correct misspellings using spelling strategies developed... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Using word webs to teach synonyms for commonly used words
This ReadWriteThink lesson uses word webs as a tool to expose students to synonyms for common words, to help students choose synonyms that are appropriate for a given context, and to encourage students to use more descriptive words in written and oral language.... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Using a word journal to create a personal dictionary
Students create word journals as a strategy for examining unfamiliar vocabulary in literature. After engaging students in a class discussion about how they typically learn new words, the teacher introduces them to a new way of learning vocabulary by organizing... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
She did what? Revising for connotation
Students examine the simple sentence, “She walked into the room,” in an activity that helps to increase use of specific words and connotation in writing. After students act out ways that a person in the sentence might enter the room, the teacher... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Reading and writing workshop: "Freak The Mighty"
This lesson plan from ReadWriteThink is a novel study of Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. The lesson includes the modeling and practicing of specific reading comprehension strategies, vocabulary and word study, a figurative language activity,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Internalization of vocabulary through the use of a word map
This ReadWriteThink lesson provides students with a concrete way to learn vocabulary. The instruction is interactive, provides practice with words, and develops both definitional and contextual knowledge through two agents—purposeful sequencing of... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Folktale frenzy: WebQuest writing
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students design WebQuests in order to teach their peers about the subgenres that fall under the heading of “folktale.” Each group writes tasks that focus on answering an essential question, detailed processes... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)
Provided by: IRA/NCTE
Flip-a-chip: Examining affixes and roots to build vocabulary
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students are introduced to the Flip-a-Chip activity and have an opportunity to build their own packets. Each packet contains word parts that are printed on poker chips. Students write paragraphs leaving blanks for the four... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Finding figurative language in “The Phantom Tollbooth”
After reading the first two chapters of The Phantom Tollbooth, students are introduced to figurative language through a brief PowerPoint presentation. Once they understand how authors use figurative language in novels, students... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Every punctuation mark matters: A mini-lesson on semicolons
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s “Letter from Birmingham Jail"” demonstrates that even the smallest punctuation mark signals a stylistic decision, distinguishing one writer from another and enabling an author to move an audience. In this mini-lesson,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Entering history: Nikki Giovanni and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Students study the social impact of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech by reading Nikki Giovanni’s poem “The Funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr.”. Students complete a close reading of the text of King's speech and... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Choosing, chatting, and collecting: Vocabulary self-collection strategy
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students are introduced to the vocabulary self-collection strategy, using an online Shakespeare text as an example. This strategy involves having students choose the words they want to learn, chat about their rationale... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Character clash: A mini-lesson on paragraphing and dialogue
When writing dialogue in their stories, student writers often forget to indent paragraphs to indicate a change of speaker, which can create problems in understanding. This ReadWriteThink mini-lesson asks students to look closely at their writing, marking... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Biography project: Research and class presentation
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students brainstorm about famous people and each selects one to research by reading a biography and doing Internet research. Students then create a graphic organizer (a web) to teach the class about the person's life.... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
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
Avalanche, Aztek, or Bravada? A connotation mini-lesson
In this mini-lesson, students examine the connotation of words by applying knowledge to popular car names. After the teacher introduces the definition of connotation, students are engaged in a discussion about the meanings of car names in the 1960s and... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink