English Language Arts — Grade 7

When will I ever use this in real life?

In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.8

In this lesson for grade seven, students research careers and determine how people with these occupations use English, math, and science skills.

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

By Jen Presley.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.

We read every day!

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

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

Story shackles: Linking students to written text

Chain your students to reading a given text critically! Story Shackles is an imaginative and stimulating way for students to acquire the ability to retell events of a story or text, sequence the action or happenings in a story, or to simply summarize the plot, main ideas with supporting details, or general information of a story or text.

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

By Kim Rector.

Sticky-note discussions

Sticky-notes discussions are fun, add variety to reading, and allow students to respond to the written text immediately. They are easy to implement in all content areas. Sticky-note discussions are effective when used individually, in a small or large group, or a combination of settings.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–8 English Language Arts)

By Kim Rector.

Problem-solving careers

In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.7

In this lesson for grade seven, students analyze information about various careers to determine how people in those occupations use problem-solving skills.

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

By Jen Presley.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.

Literature biography project

Students will learn to develop the various processes used in researching and writing a biographical research paper, including brainstorming, note taking, outlining, creating a bibliography, and writing the final draft.

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

By Sandra Dail.

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.

Interdisciplinary Integrated Unit on DNA/Genetics Part C: Language Arts

The third lesson of an interdisciplinary integrated unit on DNA and genetics, focusing on language arts. The first two lessons in the unit focus on science and math.

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

By Jane Lentz, Jimmy White, Marlene Smith, and Tori Goldrick.

I, the basket: Writing a first-person story as an inanimate object

In this interdisciplinary lesson for grade seven, students explore the first-person point of view through children's literature and images of Nepal. Students exhibit their understanding of first-person narrative by writing a children's story from the perspective of an inanimate object.

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

By Edie McDowell.

Grandparent interview

Students will interview a grandparent and write a news article based upon their interview. They will also do research on historical events to develop questions to be asked during the interview.

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

By Jim Carson.

Employment applications and resumés

In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.4

In this lesson for grade seven, students will discuss the parts of a job application and resumé. Students will complete an application and resumé for either a medical job or a construction job, and will compare and contrast the application materials needed for each of the two kinds of jobs.

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

By Anissia Jenkins.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.

Decisions, decisions: A career exploration

In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.10

In this lesson for grade seven, students complete personality profiles to explore career options, then conduct internet research to learn about specific careers. Students write evaluative essays about the careers they choose.

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

By Jen Presley.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.

Customer service jobs: Building skills for the future

In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.9

In this lesson for grade seven, students will research customer service jobs and determine what skills translate to good customer service. The lesson will conclude with a discussion of how these skills might apply in future careers.

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

By Jen Presley.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.

Resources on the web

Writing free verse in the "voice" of Cesar Chavez

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students familiarize themselves with the characteristics of free verse and write a free verse poem using written material about labor activist Cesar Chavez. Students take notes about experiences that helped shape the life... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

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

Viking voyagers: Navigating online content area reading

In this lesson that focuses on Viking culture, students implement before-, during-, and after-reading strategies to support their comprehension while navigating websites and a Viking Quest. The teacher activates prior knowledge by asking students what they... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Using the check and line method to enhance reading comprehension

This ReadWriteThink lesson is intended to uncover the underlying principle that careful monitoring of textual reading assignments can significantly increase comprehension and retention of the information. The check and line method described in this lesson... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Travel brochures: Highlighting the setting of a story

In this lesson, students are introduced to the element of setting in a piece of literature. While reading a novel or short story, students identify the textual descriptions of setting and then conduct research on that place. After studying examples of professional... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Timelines and texts: Motivating students to read nonfiction

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students use an historical timeline and their prior knowledge to predict when specific inventions were produced and explain their reasons for placing an invention in a particular year. During a paired thinking and sharing... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Story character homepage

This lesson from ReadWriteThink presents a project for literature circles or class novels to develop understanding of a character. In groups students will look at examples of homepages on the Internet, note what elements most contain, and use them as models... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink