LEARN NC

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

English Language Arts — Grade 7

Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of application of grammar and language usage.

Objective 6.01. Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:

  • using a variety of sentences correctly, punctuating them properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
  • using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
  • applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
  • using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and correct case.
  • using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation (e.g., prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses).
  • determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.
  • extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
  • determining when and where dialects and standard/nonstandard English usage are appropriate.
  • applying language conventions and usage during oral presentations.
  • choosing language that is precise, engaging, and well suited to the topic and audience.
  • experimenting with figurative language and speech patterns.

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

Which word is it?
Students will determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using Context Clues, a dictionary, and structural analysis within a game format.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
By Donna Harkey.
Rest in peace, dead words!
“Dead words,” by my definition, are words students “use to death” in their writing samples. As Language Arts teachers, we can generate a list of such words a mile long. Examples would include: pretty, nice, bad, a lot, and good. This cooperative learning activity is designed to eliminate those repetitious words by providing students with a word bank/wall they can refer to when given a writing assignment.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)
By Cynthia Cook.
Learn new words using context
With guided practice students will use context clues to determine meaning of unfamiliar words in short passages. When students have completed the practice activities, they will read a newspaper or magazine article, picking out unfamiliar words and using context clues to decide what the word means. As a group activity they will share the article, the words, and their meanings with the class.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4–8 English Language Arts)
By Betty DeLuca.
Job interviews: Focus on details
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.5
In this lesson for grade seven, students will develop questions and answers for hypothetical job interviews, and will perform job interview skits for the class.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Anissia Jenkins.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.
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.
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.
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.
Dear Juana: Editing a letter
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.3
In this lesson for grade seven, students will discuss the importance of proofreading and editing in various careers. The teacher will model proofreading and editing a sample letter, and then the students will write and peer-edit their own letters.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Anissia Jenkins.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.
Career vocabulary
In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.1
In this lesson for grade seven, students will become familiar with vocabulary related to careers.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)
By Anissia Jenkins.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.
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.
The ABCs of the Three Little Pigs
This lesson uses a familiar fairy tale to teach writing. It is designed to emphasize using varied sentence patterns in writing.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
By Penny Canipe.

Resources on the web

You Can't Spell the Word "Prefix" Without a Prefix
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students learn in a cooperative setting to identify, define, and construct words with prefixes. First, students guess at initial meanings and spellings of words. They then correct misspellings using spelling strategies developed... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Using word webs to teach synonyms for commonly used words
This ReadWriteThink lesson uses word webs as a tool to expose students to synonyms for common words, to help students choose synonyms that are appropriate for a given context, and to encourage students to use more descriptive words in written and oral language.... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Using a word journal to create a personal dictionary
Students create word journals as a strategy for examining unfamiliar vocabulary in literature. After engaging students in a class discussion about how they typically learn new words, the teacher introduces them to a new way of learning vocabulary by organizing... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
She did what? Revising for connotation
Students examine the simple sentence, “She walked into the room,” in an activity that helps to increase use of specific words and connotation in writing. After students act out ways that a person in the sentence might enter the room, the teacher... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Reading and Writing Workshop: "Freak The Mighty"
This lesson plan from ReadWriteThink is a novel study of Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. The lesson includes the modeling and practicing of specific reading comprehension strategies, vocabulary and word study, a figurative language activity,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Lonely as a cloud: Using poetry to understand similes
As the teacher reads the poem, “Willow and Ginkgo,” students illustrate what is being described and compare their drawings in small groups. Students identify similes in the poem and learn to use similes as a poetic device for description in... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Internalization of vocabulary through the use of a word map
This ReadWriteThink lesson provides students with a concrete way to learn vocabulary. The instruction is interactive, provides practice with words, and develops both definitional and contextual knowledge through two agents—purposeful sequencing of... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Flip-a-chip: Examining affixes and roots to build vocabulary
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students are introduced to the Flip-a-Chip activity and have an opportunity to build their own packets. Each packet contains word parts that are printed on poker chips. Students write paragraphs leaving blanks for the four... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Finding figurative language in “The Phantom Tollbooth”
After reading the first two chapters of The Phantom Tollbooth, students are introduced to figurative language through a brief PowerPoint presentation. Once they understand how authors use figurative language in novels, students... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink