English Language Arts — Grade 7

We read every day!

Students will, through observation outside of the classroom, gather and bring to class five items that exhibit different sources of information comprised of more complex vocabulary.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts and Information Skills)

To market, to market: Photograph analysis

In this lesson, students analyze photos of markets from around the world to gain an understanding of the similarities and differences between geographically distant places, to learn about the economic and cultural significance of markets, and to improve visual literacy skills.

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

By Eric Eaton.

Teaching point-of-view

Students will learn point of view by comparing and contrasting the views of slaves and a doctor in The People Could Fly retold by Virginia Hamilton and The Passing Cloud -- The Southern Negro by David Morrill. I strongly suggest the teacher previews The Passing Cloud -- The Southern Negro by David Morrill. The entire text is not needed in order for students to form an opinion or to learn point of view. Some students and parents may find the language offensive. I found the text interesting because it allows students to actually read the historical views of some people who lived in the area during the 1800's and early 1900's.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)

By Angela Strother.

Seven directions: Making connections between literature and American Indian history

This middle school lesson uses picture books to integrate American Indian culture and belief systems with language and visual arts.

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

By Edie McDowell.

Picturing Vietnam

This lesson plan is intended to introduce students to Vietnam’s geography, climate, culture, history, natural history, arts, economics, and government. Students will view a collection of documentary photographs and use these for making logical observations, drawing conclusions, and as a basis for creative writing.

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

By Edie McDowell.

Issues, we've all got them: Language arts/visual arts integration

Students will learn how to deal positively with social issues important in their lives through personal investigation of social issues addressed in literature and art.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and English Language Development)

By Runell Carpenter.

Feel in the blanks

The following lesson is designed to function as a review of beginning, middle, and end and an introduction to individualized imagination, creativity, and perspective as it relates to the development of dialogue (i.e. improvisation).

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

By Lei Knight.

Bio-Poem introductions

Bio-Poems can be used at the beginning of school as an opening activity for the first week of school. They can also be used anytime throughout the year when introductions are necessary (e.g. change of semester class, new students, etc.). In this lesson students will use the writing process as well as computer word processing skills. This activity ensures success and builds self-esteem.

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

By Linda Taylor.

Resources on the web

Writing alternative plots for Robert C. O'Brien's “Z for Zachariah”

In this lesson that concludes a class reading of Robert C. O'Brien's Z for Zachariah, students pick a part of the story where Ann makes a critical decision, and they rewrite the remaining portion of the plot. After reading... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Writing a flashback and flash-forward story using movies and texts as models

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students are introduced to examples of flashbacks and flash-forwards through the film The Sandlot and/or illustrated books. Students learn to incorporate details, description, characterization,... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

What masks reveal

Students explore the cultural significance of masks by investigating the role they play in ceremonies and on special occasions in societies from widely separated regions of the world. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Endowment for the Humanities

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

Wartime poetry: Working with similes

Students view photographs of children evacuated from Britain during World War II in this lesson that introduces similes. Students choose one character from the photo and describe how that child might have felt. Maintaining the character persona, students... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using the four-square strategy to define and identify poetic terms

This lesson from ReadWriteThink helps young students understand poetry. Through the exploration of various poetry websites, students define terms and write poems using alliteration, assonance, simile, and rhyme. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Using QARs to develop comprehension and reflective reading habits

This ReadWriteThink lesson provides a foundation for building reflective reading habits, which enable students to develop higher-level comprehension strategies. Students are introduced to a variety of question-answer relationships (QARs) in an effort to... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using picture books to explore identity, stereotyping and discrimination

Using I Can Hear the Sun by Patricia Polacco, The Woman Who Outshone the Sun from a poem by Alejandro Cruz Martinez, and The Secret Footprints by Julia Alvarez,... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using classic poetry to challenge and enrich students' writing

Students learn to read and analyze classic poetry and then write original pieces in this lesson. After looking closely at and discussing each poem collectively, students work together to create an open-ended writing prompt or “link” to stimulate... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using children's literature to develop classroom community

This lesson introduces students to the concept of collaborative learning with an activity based on Shel Silverstein's poem, “What's in the Sack?”. After developing a foundation for group and partner work, students explore children's literature... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Traveling the road to freedom through research and historical fiction

Students learn about and discuss slavery and the Underground Railroad in this lesson that explores historical fiction and webquests. Once students have brainstormed characteristics of historical fiction, the teacher reviews characterization and explains... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Through the eyes of a refugee

This lesson asks students to analyze the “Afghanistan, Land in Crisis” map (available in print and online) to determine how the physical geography of this region affects the lifestyles of the individuals who live there. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic