English Language Arts

Teaching Figurative Language – Similes, Metaphors, Onomatopoeia

February 28, 2021

Engage, English Language Arts, Learn, Plan

figurative language, metaphors, onomatopoeia, similes, writing with figurative language

How do you teach figurative language? It’s easy! First, use clear definitions and examples. Second, add a little practice. Soon your students will be ready to apply what they know.…

Biography Lesson Plans for Upper Elementary Genre Study

February 21, 2021

Brenda Kovich

Engage, English Language Arts, Plan

biography lesson plans, biography unit

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Three weeks of biography lesson plans help you plan your genre study. Kids read biographies. Then they respond with graphic organizers, templates, and crafts. For the grand finale, students participate…

Wax Museum Project Ideas for Upper Elementary Kids

February 14, 2021

Brenda Kovich

Dive In, Engage, English Language Arts, Plan

Biography, biography activity, biography project, biography unit, history project, living history, living history project, living wax museum, wax museum, wax museum project

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Host a wax museum in your classroom! First, pinpoint a group of people. Second, set guidelines. Third, ask kids to research and select 10 memorable events. From their timelines, students…

Scaffolding Argumentative Writing: One- to Five-Paragraph Essays

January 17, 2021

Brenda Kovich

Engage, English Language Arts, Plan

argumentative writing, opinion writing, persuasive writing, scaffolding writing

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Argumentative writing in third, fourth, and fifth grades moves from one to five – or even six – paragraphs. Teaching specific structures and strategies scaffolds with ease. (more…)

Teaching the Five-Paragraph Essay with an Example

January 10, 2021

Brenda Kovich

Engage, English Language Arts, Learn

five-paragraph essay, fourth grade

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The five-paragraph essay provides a strong, well-structured text. What’s more? It’s easy to compose. All you need is a good organizer and an example. (more…)

Teaching Persuasive Writing – Organize, Elaborate, Improve!

January 3, 2021

Brenda Kovich

Engage, English Language Arts, Plan

fourth grade, opinion writing, persuasive writing, third grade

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Teaching persuasive writing to third or fourth graders? Begin with a simple graphic organizer. Then elaborate, improve word choice, add transitions, and vary sentences. Before you know it, kids writing…

Writing Constructed Response with Text Evidence – Hamburger Style!

December 28, 2020

Brenda Kovich

Engage, English Language Arts, Learn

fifth grade, finding main idea, fourth grade, informational text, summarizing, summarizing nonfiction, summarizing nonfiction text, third grade

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Constructed response is easy to teach with this hamburger craft. First, kids find text evidence. Second, they write it as detail sentences. Then they answer the question and write a…

Mystery Elements | Genre Study Vocabulary for Kids

December 14, 2020

Brenda Kovich

Engage, English Language Arts

elements of mystery, mystery elements, mystery genre stufy

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As with other genres, mystery elements include characters, setting, and plot. Let’s take a look at the vocabulary kids need to know. (more…)

Fingerprinting Activities for Kids – Detective Work & Art Projects

November 29, 2020

Brenda Kovich

Engage, English Language Arts, Science

fingerprinting, fingerprinting activities, fingerprints for kids, fun fingerprint projects

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Fingerprinting activities bring fun to the classroom! Kids love studying dactyloscopy, or the science of identifying fingerprints. Recording their own prints, analyzing others, and even some creative art projects will…

Invisible Ink Recipes for Kids | Classroom Detective Activities

November 22, 2020

Brenda Kovich

Engage, English Language Arts, Science

detective activities, invisible ink, mystery activities, spy activities for kids

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Add invisible ink to your mystery or detective unit. Kids love it! These tested recipes are fun and easy. (more…)

English Language Arts

Teaching Figurative Language – Similes, Metaphors, Onomatopoeia

Biography Lesson Plans for Upper Elementary Genre Study

Wax Museum Project Ideas for Upper Elementary Kids

Scaffolding Argumentative Writing: One- to Five-Paragraph Essays

Teaching the Five-Paragraph Essay with an Example

Teaching Persuasive Writing – Organize, Elaborate, Improve!

Writing Constructed Response with Text Evidence – Hamburger Style!

Mystery Elements | Genre Study Vocabulary for Kids

Fingerprinting Activities for Kids – Detective Work & Art Projects

Invisible Ink Recipes for Kids | Classroom Detective Activities

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Brenda Kovich

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