English I

Resources on the web

Environmental issues in the polar regions

Students will learn about how environmental problems affect the polar regions. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Draft letters: Improving student writing through critical thinking

This lesson challenges students to think critically about their writing on a specific assignment before submitting their work to a reader. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Discovering traditional sonnet forms

Students explore the traditional form of sonnets and write original poems in the manner of well–known poets. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Discovering poetic form and structure using concrete poems

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students are introduced to the genre of concrete poetry, and encouraged to explore the relationship between the structure and meaning of a poem. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Discovering a passion for poetry with Langston Hughes

In this lesson, students explore contemporary youth poetry as well as the poetry of Langston Hughes, placing the poems in their historical context. They go on to create their own poems that communicate a personal view on a current world issue. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Decoding the dystopian characteristics of Macintosh's "1984" commercial

Students explore the dystopian characteristics and symbols presented in Macintosh's “1984” commercial and analyze the comments that it makes about contemporary society. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Decoding “The Matrix”: Exploring dystopian characteristics through film

In this lesson, students are introduced to the definition and characteristics of a dystopian work by watching video clips from The Matrix and other dystopian films. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Choosing the best verb: An active and passive voice mini-lesson

In this lesson, students look at the use of passive and active voice. Students explore verb choice in a variety of online resources then draw conclusions about verb use which they can apply to their own writing. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Become a character: Adjectives, character traits, and perspective

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students “become” one of the major characters in a book and describe themselves and other characters, using lists of accurate, powerful adjectives. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Audio listening practices: Exploring personal experiences with audio texts

In this lesson designed to develop students’ involvement with media literacy, students keep a daily diary that records how and when they listen to radio, music (e.g., songs on MP3 players, podcasting), and other streaming media or archived broadcasts. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–11 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Analyzing the purpose and meaning of political cartoons

In this lesson, students evaluate political cartoons for their meaning, message, and persuasiveness. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 and 11 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

The age poem: Building a community of trust

Students create an “age poem” to explore childhood memories. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts)

Provided by: Rethinking Schools Online

“You're the Top!” Pop culture then and now

In an exploration of Cole Porter's song, “You're the Top!,” students write about present-day pop culture and learn about pop culture of the past. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–11 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE