LEARN NC

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

English Language Arts — Grade 7

Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.

Objective 5.01. Increase fluency, comprehension, and insight through a meaningful and comprehensive reading program by:

  • using effective reading strategies to match type of text.
  • reading self-selected literature and other materials of individual interest.
  • reading literature and other materials selected by the teacher.
  • assuming an active role in teacher-student conferences.
  • engaging in small group discussions.
  • taking an active role in whole class seminars.
  • analyzing the effects on texts of such literary devices as figuarative language, dialogue, flashback, allusion, and irony.
  • analyzing the effects of such elements as plot, theme, point of view, characterization, mood, and style.
  • analyzing themes and central ideas in literature and other texts in relation to personal issues/experiences.
  • extending understanding by creating products for different purposes, different audiences and within various contexts.
  • analyzing the connections of relationships between and among characters, ideas, concepts, and/or experiences.

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

Teaching point of view
In this lesson plans, students compare and contrast a folktale and a 1903 primary source account in order to gain an understanding of point of view.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)
By Angela Strother.
Seeing two poems
This lesson will teach students how to actively read a poem and identify poetic devices.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts)
By Karyn A. Gloden.
Poetry through music: "Smooth"
This lesson draws students into a study of poetry, using Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas' "Smooth" as an entry point.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts and English Language Development)
By Andrea Belletti.
Poetry from prose: A different kind of "book report"
Students use a word-processing program to write a poem that summarizes important themes or events central to the plot of a novel. Once the poem is proofread, students type the poem according to specific directions. They then print their work and illustrate over or around the writing for an illustrated "book report." Students incorporate details from the novel in their writing and in their illustrations of their poems. In this way, students focus on the themes or events in the novel that appeal to them most -- the ones they feel are most important to the novel's meaning.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
By Sally Watts.
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.
Elements of a fable
In this lesson students will examine the elements of a fable. Students will use their understanding of fable elements to create an original fable and present it in dramatic form. This lesson includes modifications and alternative assessments for Advanced Limited English Proficient students.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts and English Language Development)
By Kate Boyce.
Birds of a feather, an interdisciplinary unit: Language Arts wing
This lesson, which features Mark Twain's “Jim Baker's Blue-jay Yarn,” is part of an interdisciplinary unit on birds that contains math/science and language arts components. In the language arts wing, students will explore dialects and personification through this very entertaining tall tale full of the antics of talking blue-jays.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts and English Language Development)
By Janet Fore.
A Christmas Carol chronology
Christmas Carol Chronology, based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, provides students with an opportunity to develop comprehension by listing plot developments and arranging them sequentially. This lesson begins with cooperative learning groups and ends with an individual manipulative activity of cutting and pasting strips of events in chronological order.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
By Judy Gibbs.

Resources on the web

You know the movie is coming—Now what?
In this lesson, students study cinematic terms and determine how the film version of the book would be created. This lesson uses Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl as an example; however, the activities can be... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
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
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
The world of Haiku
In this lesson, students explore the traditions and conventions of haiku, comparing this classic form of Japanese poetry to a related genre of Japanese visual art and composing haiku of their own. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)
Provided by: EDSITEment
Why do we remember Revere? Paul Revere's ride in history and literature
This EDSITEment lesson contains four activities for students to examine how the historical Paul Revere's ride differs from the account in Longfellow's poem, then reflect on why this event is so significant in American cultural history. The activities involve... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provided by: EDSITEment
What am I? Teaching poetry through riddles
Riddles are an excellent vehicle for introducing students to poetry and poetry writing. In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students explore, analyze, and discuss how metaphor, simile, and metonymy are used in riddle poems. They will use metaphor, simile, and... (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
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 and Social Studies)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Using THIEVES to preview nonfiction texts
This ReadWriteThink lesson supports middle-school students' exploration of the process of previewing textbook chapters and other nonfiction texts before reading them. Online resources are included for the teacher and provide background information on previewing... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 English Language Arts and Information Skills)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Using the four-square strategy to define and identify poetic terms
This lesson from ReadWriteThink helps young students understand poetry. Use of the four-square strategy offers the student a systematic structure for defining poetic terms. Through the exploration of various poetry websites, students define alliteration,... (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