English I

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.

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.

Heaven or Groundhog Day?

This unit is designed to appeal to adolescents with its non-print text base, the movie Groundhog Day. The pre-viewing activities prepare students for the allusions in the movie and include cultural literacy. The teacher can pick and choose from the activities to apply the concept of personal growth. The teacher may select from activities for science, workplace ethics, music, computer competency, and English language arts. The teacher may modify any of the attachments to suit the students' needs and interests.

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

By David Melton and Julia Millush.

Essays of definition: Lively writing through professional models

This lesson examines a professional model of a definition paper and asks students to analyze and imitate the structures of using anecdotes and cause and effect to elaborate an essay of definition.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Margaret Ryan.

Defining risk: A search for theme in Fahrenheit 451

Students explore their understanding of the notion of risk in relation to their own experiences and in response to a variety of quotes. This exercise serves as a springboard to themes in the novel Fahrenheit 451.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Leatha Fields-Carey.

Cause and effect writing: What it looks like and who reads it

Students examine the causes and effects presented in a brochure called “Ozone: The Good and the Bad.” They also examine the language of the brochure with regard to audience appropriateness. Students then write their own brochures examine their classmates' brochures for cause and effect and for audience appropriateness.

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

By Michelle Roberts.

Resources on the web

Teaching the epic through ghost stories

In this lesson, students connect to epic storytellers by sharing their own oral tales of ghosts and goblins and monsters. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Teaching plot structure through short stories

After viewing a PowerPoint presentation on plot structure, students use an online graphic organizer to identify the significant events that shape the structure of several short stories. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

So what do you think? Writing a review

After examining samples of movie, music, restaurant, and book reviews, students devise guidelines for writing interesting and informative reviews. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

A significant influence: Describing an important teacher in your life

In this lesson, students write tributes to teachers or mentors who have made profound differences in their lives. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Pygmies: Getting right to the point

This Xpeditions lesson engages students in research about the Pygmies of Africa are and what their lives are like and challenges them to synthesize information by developing a brief written summary. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic

The peace journey: Using process drama in the classroom

In this lesson, students respond to an imaginary advertisement, role-play, and work in small groups to develop a visual map as they explore the notion of peace. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Outside in: Finding a character's heart through art

In this lesson, students explore the idea of alienation by examining Edward Hopper's art and Raymond Carver's fiction. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Novel news: Broadcast coverage of character, conflict, resolution, and setting

In this lesson, which is a twist on readers' theater, students are challenged to prepare original news programs based on incidents in a recent reading. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Naming in a digital world: Creating a safe persona on the Internet

This ReadWriteThink lesson explores the issues involved in building digital personas through e-mail addresses, screen names, and online profiles. Students analyze the underlying connotations of names in digital and non-digital settings and synthesize their... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Computer/Technology Skills and English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Literary scrapbooks online: An electronic reader-response project

This lesson leads students to reflect on and respond to literature by creating an online scrapbook. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Identifying and understanding the fallacies used in advertising

Students examine the fallacies that they encounter daily through exposure to advertising. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Id, ego, and superego in Dr. Seuss's “Cat in the Hat”

In this lesson, students explore plot, theme, characterization, and psychoanalytical criticism using The Cat in the Hat. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Geography and history in songs

Students look at some historical paintings on the Internet and describe the things the paintings reveal about the places depicted in the paintings. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: 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 English Language Arts and Information Skills)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE