English Language Arts — Grade 7

Resources on the web

Modeling reading and analysis processes with the works of Edgar Allan Poe

Students explore reading strategies using the think-aloud process as they investigate connections between the life and writings of Edgar Allan Poe. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Memories Matter: "The Giver" and Descriptive Writing Memoirs

Students read The Giver by Lois Lowry, as well as short biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs in order to understand the differences between them. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Leading to great places in the middle school classroom

This mini-lesson examines types of leads in prominent young adult literature and challenges students to search for great leads and then write original examples. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

In the poet's shoes: Performing poetry and building meaning

In this lesson, students participate in a webquest that challenges them to analyze a variety of poets and their poetry by reading and listening to their work. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Imagine that! Playing with genre through newspapers and short stories

Introduce students to one form of expository writing: news briefs and articles. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Focusing reader response through vocabulary analysis

After reading The Hobbit, students compile a list of words associated with details about the novel. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Finding the science behind science fiction through paired readings

In this lesson, students explore the genre of science fiction, while learning more about the science integrated into the plot of the story using nonfiction texts and resources. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Finding figurative language in “The Phantom Tollbooth”

This lesson provides hands-on differentiated instruction by guiding students to search for the literal definitions of figurative language using the Internet. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Fairy tale autobiographies

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students will work in groups to read and analyze fairy tales, brainstorm for events in their lives that could be changed into fairy tales, and develop setting, characters, and plot for their fairy tale. Students will... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Expository escapade-Detective's handbook

In this lesson, students combine reading the detective fiction genre with expository writing. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Everyone loves a mystery: A genre study

Students examine story elements and vocabulary associated with mystery stories. They then create story frames, write their own original mystery stories, and publish them online. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Critical literacy: Point of view

Students learn to look at texts from different viewpoints. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Cosmic oranges: Observation and inquiry through descriptive writing and art

This lesson employs scientific observation, descriptive writing, sketching, reading, investigation, and poetry writing to train students to use their senses and focus their attention. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Cooking up descriptive language: Designing restaurant menus

In this lesson students explore the genre of menus by analyzing existing menus from local restaurants and creating their own original menus. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Choose your own adventure: A Hypertext writing experience

In this lesson students create original “Choose Your Own Adventure” stories and using web-authoring software, develop their own Internet sites with the parts of the story hyperlinked to each other. After a review of setting, character development,... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Childhood Remembrances: Life and Art Intersect in Nikki Giovanni's "Nikki-Rosa"

Adapted from Carol Jago's Nikki Giovanni in the Classroom, this ReadWriteThink lesson invites students to explore what Jago calls the place "where life and art intersect." Students complete a close reading of Giovanni's poem "Nikki-Rosa" and then... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Book reviews, annotation, and web technology

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students will write a group book review, taking notes in their journals throughout the reading and discussion process; write short research papers as annotations for their reviews; and post them to the Web, demonstrating... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Book report alternative: Summary, symbol, and analysis in bookmarks

Students practice summarizing, recognizing symbols, and writing reviews—all while writing for an authentic audience. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Book report alternative: Creating a childhood for a character

In this lesson, students examine the character traits of an adult character in a book they have read, create a childhood for the character, and describe that childhood in the form of a short story, journal entry, or time capsule letter. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Ancient Egypt: Stories and myths

In this Xpeditions lesson, students examine stories and myths about ancient Egypt through time. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 and 7 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic