English I

George Washington and Frederick Douglass letters: Recognizing point of view and bias

This lesson uses two letters written by famous individuals. Frederick Douglass, a well-known former slave who became a leader of the American abolition movement, escaped from slavery in Maryland to freedom in New York in 1838. George Washington was a large slaveholder in Virginia (as well as the first president of the United States).

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

By Karen Cobb Carroll, Ph.D., and and NBCT.

Identifying RAFT elements in writing prompts and assignments

Student will read writing prompts and practice identifying RAFT elements: role of writer, audience, writing format, and topic. This is the first lesson in a series of three based upon LEARN NC's 9th grade writing exemplars.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Kim Bowen.

Introduction to Animal Farm

This lesson introduces students to Orwell's Animal Farm. They will summarize and reflect on reading and connect the novel to life in a meaningful way.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Teachers Connect.

Oral History through Personal Narratives

Students apply their knowledge of story elements to art and literature of the 1950s by developing a story, comprehending someone else's story, and diagramming the five elements of plot. Students will then create, revise, edit, and publish their own personal narrative.

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

By Mary Magee.

Romeo! Why Do You Have to Be a Doggone Montague?

Students will interpret and comprehend Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Act 2, Scene 2 (the balcony scene) through translating the original text and preparing a dramatic presentation of the scene for the class.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Amanda Rowland.

Understanding the Elements of a Story

Students will read a story, understand the elements of the story, analyze characters, and complete research about good and evil.

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

By Abha Bhatnagar and Meera Madan.

Using RAFT to determine how to write an informational essay

Students will use RAFT as a tool to determine how to write an informational essay. They will also design a graphic organizer for the assignment as well as compose a rough draft. This is the second lesson in a series of three based on the LEARN NC 9th grade writing exemplars.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Kim Bowen.

Lesson plans on the web

“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)

Provider: 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)

Provider: Rethinking Schools Online

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)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Analyzing the stylistic choices of political cartoonists

In this lesson, students learn terminology that describes comics and political (or editorial) cartoons and discuss how the cartoonists' choices influence the messages that they communicate. (Learn more)

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

Provider: 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)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Building Vietnam War scavenger hunts through web-based inquiry

After reading a book about the Vietnam War, students, working in small groups, adopt the perspective of members of a group involved in the war (e.g., soldier, nurse, doctor, photojournalist, TV reporter) and conduct Internet research to explore how that particular group was affected. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Computer Technology Skills)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Copyright infringement or not? The debate over downloading music

In this lesson, students investigate the controversial topic of downloading music from the Internet as part of a persuasive debate unit. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provider: 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)

Provider: 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)

Provider: 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)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

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)

Provider: National Geographic

Exploring cross-age tutoring activities with Lewis and Clark

Students use the book How We Crossed the West by Rosalyn Schanzer, along with interactive activities and websites, to explore the events of the Lewis and Clark expedition. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Exploring language and identity: Amy Tan's Mother Tongue and beyond

Students examine Amy Tan's “Mother Tongue” and produce personal narratives that examine language and identity issues. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE