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!

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)

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.

Puzzled papers: Using the computer to arrange paragraphs in a paper

Students use the cut and paste commands in a word processing program to rearrange paragraphs in a paper, according to logical progression in writing.

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

By Sally Watts.

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

For this 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. This project is designed to act as an independent study geared toward AG or Level 3 and Level 4 students, but each step in the research process can also be taught directly to students in the classroom.

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.

Interpreting Diaries of the American South

Students will read diaries of individuals who lived in the American South from 1865-1917. After reading these diaries the students will use a visual means of displaying their interpretation. Visual presentations will be one of the following: shadow box, poster, PowerPoint using drawings done by the student, brochure, or presenting an item that would have been used during the time that their diary was written.

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

By Rhonda Sneeden.

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 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 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.

Cut and paste paragraphs: Editing paragraphs on the computer

Students use the cut and paste commands of any word processing program to rearrange sentences in three different paragraphs, according to chronological order, spatial order, and order of importance.

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

By Sally Watts.

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 7 English Language Arts)

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

Asian, African, or Australian inventors & inventions

The lesson integrates both Social Studies and Language Arts in a research and a creative writing component. The student will further understand inventors or inventions from Asia, Africa, and Australia, the focused continents in the 7th grade Social Studies curriculum, as well as have the opportunity to develop his/her writing, reading, and oral communication skills. The project also incorporates mathematics with an emphasis on percentages and graphing.

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

By Jeff Rachlin and Melissa Reid.

Resources on the web

You know the movie is coming—Now what?

After exploring cinematic terms, students read a literary work with director's eyes and then try to predict what elements would be present in the film version of the book. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Where in the world would you like to live?

Students compare thematic maps of the continents and the world as a whole to determine where they would like to live. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic

Where Do Your Possessions Come From?

Students learn about the Earth's natural resources and the ways that people use these resources. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic