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Lesson Plan

Grades

6 - 8

Lesson Plan Type

Standard Lesson

Estimated Time

Six 50-Minute Sessions

Lesson Author

Publisher

Featured Resources From Theory to Practice
OVERVIEW

In this lesson, students learn basic principles of rhetorical situations. Using online editorials featuring opinions about local and national issues, they learn to recognize the issue, the intended audience, and the author's purpose. Students explore to the rich source material from online editorials, identifying and explaining what devices writers use and how effectively they use them. Moving from analyzing editorials to writing their own develops students' rhetorical skills and at the same time, prepares them to be informed citizens.
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FEATURED RESOURCES
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Sample Editorials Handout: Students analyze these editorials for effective use of rhetorical devices.

Rhetorical Situation online video: Show this video as part of a discussion of how speaker, topic, and audience work together in the rhetorical stituation.

Rhetorical Devices Handout: Use this list of devices to introduce students to the strategies of rhetoric and as a tool for analyzing the effectiveness of a persuasive piece.

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
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To become informed citizens, students must learn to think critically and "read" the world around them. Non-fiction texts such as news editorials can aid students' abilities to break down and understand real-life rhetorical situations. Stephen B. Heller writes: "A natural byproduct of reading rhetorically is that students become enabled to enter into contemporary conversations about relevant issues" (14). Once students understand the strategies writers use to address an audience and the subject, they can better situate themselves as participants in that dialogue and prepare to engage in civic-minded conversations with their peers. As Heller contends, "Understanding the how enables students to apply the skills of reading rhetorically to their own arguments" (15).

Heller, Stephen B. "Timely or Timeless? The Merits of Teaching Nonfiction." English Journal 105.4 (2016): 13-16.

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Developing Citizenship Through Rhetorical Analysis - ReadWriteThink

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In this lesson, students learn basic principles of rhetorical situations. Using online editorials featuring opinions about local and national issues, they learn to recognize the issue, the intended audience, and the author's purpose. Online editorials provide a rich source of rhetorical material for students to draw from as they identify and explain what devices writers use and how effectively they use them.

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My teacherspayteachers page with ELA Resources

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My teacherspayteachers page with ELA Resources

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Polk teachers, you can simply request an item and I will provide it to you at no cost!

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Browse over 20 educational resources created by Lit4Life in the official Teachers Pay Teachers store.

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Here are a bunch of free reading comprehension worksheets. These will help students master reading skills. You can print, edit, or complete these worksheets online. Try the nonfiction or short story reading worksheets to cover general reading skills. Or focus on specific reading skills like making predictions.

Nonfiction Passages with Questions

Chess

Chess has been played for hundreds of years. This test covers some basics of the game of kings. This test is for earlier readers, but the multiple-choice and long response questions are rigorous and aligned with Common Core State Standards. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 1-5.

TV

Where would American culture be without TV? Television has impacted society in profound ways. Modern streaming options may be taking over living rooms today, but TV has played a significant role in culture since its creation. Learn about its history and answer multiple-choice and long response questions in this reading test. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 1-5.

Seat Belts

Wearing your seat belt is such a simple thing, but it can save your life. Find out why in this short persuasive text, and then answer Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. This is more great practice for standardized tests. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.

Tetris

There's a reason why Tetris is the most popular video game of all time. Learn about this classic game and then answer multiple-choice and long response questions in this fun and exciting reading practice test. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6

The Coliseum

The Coliseum is one of the world's most recognizable images. Learn about its rich and interesting history and then answer multiple-choice and extended response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.

The Pony Express

The Pony Express was the fastest way to get mail from California to the rest of the nation in the early 1860s. The exciting nature of the enterprise has earned the Pony Express a place in American folklore. Learn about the Pony Express in this text and answer multiple-choice and extended response questions based on the passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.

Wintertime

Wintertime can be rough. Getting through the wintertime is harder on some species than on others. Learn about how different animals survive the winter and then answer multiple-choice and long response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6

Y2K

Computers control so many aspects of our lives. As a society, we depend on them in many regards. What if these systems went down? This passage explains the Y2K bug to readers. Students answer multiple-choice and extended response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

Money

Money is a great way to get students' attention. This passage summarizes the origins and evolution of money. Readers answer multiple-choice and long-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

Redwoods and Arms Races

Redwoods are known for being the largest trees in the world. Why do they grow so tall? How does that affect their lives? How does that connect to human activity? Learn more by reading this interesting text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

The Cobra Effect

Our actions can have far reaching consequences. Sometimes these consequences can surprise us. Learn about a phenomenon known as the cobra effect and answer comprehension and inference questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

Black Friday

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday. It is the most notorious shopping day of the year. Learn about this cultural phenomenon in this short text and then answer multiple-choice and long response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

The Act of Reading

This is a reading passage about reading. Isn't that meta? The passage questions why so many students work so hard to get out of reading assignments in this short persuasive piece. Of course, this activity includes multiple-choice and extended-response questions after the passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are some of nature's most interesting creatures. Students will learn about these remarkable creatures while answering multiple-choice and extended response questions in this activity. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7

The Dodo

The dodo is probably the world's most popular and well known extinct animal. Learn more about these fascinating creatures and their disappearance in this short text. Answer multiple-choice and long response questions to sharpen skills. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Phishing

Computer hackers are scary, but learning about their attacks can help to keep you safe. This text teaches readers about a common attack, and how to protect against it. It covers reading skills like main idea, author's purpose, and making inferences. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Diamonds

Diamonds are not only beautiful, they are the hardest material on Earth. They also come in many colors. Find out why in this informative passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Child Inventors

You don't have to be big to make a big discovery. This short reading passage about child inventors will inspire your students. It will also give them practice with nonfiction reading skills. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Honey Badgers

Did you know that honey badgers can sleep off cobra venom? It's true. Though small in size, the honey badger is renowned for its fighting spirit. Learn how they fight off much larger animals in this reading passage. Then answer Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended response questions, so that you can run up on a standardized test like a honey badger! Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Carnivorous Plants

Plants are known for sitting still, but some plants are devious killers. Learn more about the amazing world of carnivorous plants with this short text. Then answer CCSS aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8

Hyperinflation

Paper money is a funny thing. The only value it really has is given to it by society. This value can change rapidly under certain conditions. Learn more about hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic (Germany) after World War I in this interesting short passage. Then answer Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Koko

Koko is one special gorilla. Not only can she communicate in sign language, but her Facebook page has more Likes than mine. Learn about this unique creature in this short nonfiction passage and then answer multiple-choice and extended-response questions. All questions are aligned with Common Core State Standards. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Worst Game Ever

E.T. for the Atari has been widely condemned as the worst game ever. Learn why while answering reading comprehension questions in this awesome nonfiction reading test. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8

"A Mystery of Heroism"

This is a thoughtful yet simply written piece set during a battle in the American Civil War. Crane, while capturing the terror and foolishness of war, dispels a heroic myth. WARNING: This text contains graphic descriptions of a violent battle. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.

All Nonfiction Passages

Short Stories with Questions

"The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger"

From the man who imagined the Land of Oz comes a short story about peer pressure and testing one's morals. Students will like reading about these memorable characters and they should find the ironic outcome to be humorous. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

"The Tell-Tale Heart"

This is one of Poe's more accessible works. When I teach this text, I tend to play up the insanity of the narrator. It makes for a pretty good hook. This is also a good text to study when discussing the reliability of the narrator. Warning: This text contains a murder and may be unsuitable for some audiences. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9

"The Gift of the Magi"

This is probably O. Henry's best known work. It is the classic Christmas tale of a young couple who sacrifice their most valued treasures for one another. It is a story that sticks with readers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

"The Cat That Walked by Himself"

Written in the style of a folktale, this Kipling classic explains the origins of the domestic cat. This fun and cleverly written tale was borrowed from Kipling's Just So Stories. It is a great tale to study when discussing folkloric traits. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

"The Lottery Ticket"

A wise man once said, "Mo'money; mo'problems." This Chekhov classic brings those harsh words to life. The story is about a married couple who have a close encounter with a winning lottery ticket. This story helps to remind readers about what's really important in life. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

"The Ransom of Red Chief"

This is the classic O. Henry tale of a pair of kidnappers who find themselves at the mercy of their hostage. It's hard to read this one without laughing out loud at least a few times. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

"A Respectable Woman"

A houseguest causes tension and excitement in a married woman's home. As with some of Chopin's other texts, this story deals with issues of infidelity, or at least the implications of such; however, if you are working with a mature group of students, this story is worth studying. Still, BE SURE TO READ THIS STORY FIRST BEFORE ASSIGNING IT. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.

"A Piece of Steak"

This is the tale of a boxer who has come to the twilight of his career. The narrator follows him from his home to the ring, and readers learn about the passage from youth to wisdom. The resolution is unforgettable. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.

All Short Stories

Inferences Worksheets

Inferences Worksheet 1

Looking for a worksheet on making inferences? Check this out. Students read the short passages and then answer the inferential questions. Then they explain their answers by referencing details from the text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8

Inferences Worksheet 2

Here is another worksheet on making inferences. Students read the passages and answer inferential questions. Then they support their answers with evidence from the text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7

Inferences Worksheet 3

Here's another inference worksheet to give students practice with this challenging reading skill. Students will read the passages, answer the questions, and support their answers with textual evidence. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

All Inferences Worksheets

Main Idea Worksheets

Main Idea Lesson 1

Here is an animated PowerPoint lesson on main idea. The slideshow explains main idea and how to identify it in a text. There is also a practice activity at the end of the lesson with five practice problems.

Main Idea Worksheet 1

Here is a double-sided main idea worksheet. Students read seven original nonfiction passages and summarize the main idea of each passage. Also, students must think of a title for each passage that relates to the main idea of the text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.

Main Idea Worksheet 2

Here is another double-sided main idea worksheet. This worksheet features six more original nonfiction passages for your students to analyze. Students read the passages, disregard nonessential information, express the main idea, and think of a title for each passage related to the main idea. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.

Main Idea Worksheet 3

Here is yet another double-sided main idea worksheet. This one is themed around robots and robotic technologies. Students practice identifying main ideas and coming up with appropriate titles for each passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10

Main Idea Worksheet 4

Here is one more double-sided main idea worksheet. Students read seven passages about money and systems of exchange. They summarize each paragraph, state the main idea, and think of an appropriate title for the passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9

Main Idea Worksheet 5

Here's another great activity to help students master main idea. Learn about some of the greatest scientists in human history while reviewing main idea. Read the passages, identify the main idea, and create appropriate titles for each passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.

All Main Idea Worksheets

Theme Worksheets

Theme Worksheet 1

Are you looking for an engaging activity to help your students review or practice identifying themes in short stories? Good news! You've found one here. In this worksheet students will practice identifying themes in five short stories. Students will read each story, determine the theme, and explain their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Theme Worksheet 2

Here's another engaging activity to help students practice identifying themes in short stories. In this worksheet students will read five original short story passages and determine the theme or message of the story. Also, they will explain how they got their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

Theme Worksheet 3

Here's yet another theme worksheet to help your students master this challenging skill. Students read the short stories and extract the message. Then they support their answers with textual evidence. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

All Theme Worksheets

Story Structure Worksheets

"The Breakaway"

Here's an activity to help students review plot and story structure. Students will read a motivational story about an athlete who sustains an injury and has to find another way to succeed. Then they will analyze and identify structural elements of the story. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.

"When Gertrude Grew Great"

Students read a motivational story and identify the story structure parts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This activity includes a skill sheet that tests students' understanding of other reading skills as well. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

"The Phone Call"

Still looking for more worksheets about story structure and plot? Here's one more! This story is about a young man who overcomes an internal problem created by negligent family member. Students read the story and then complete a reading skill sheet that includes an analysis of the narrative structure. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

All Story Structure Worksheets

Characterization Worksheets

Characterization Worksheet 1

Here is a worksheet to help students practice characterizations. Students read ten short examples of character interactions. They identify an indirect character trait in each and explain their answers by referencing the text.

Characterization Worksheet 2

Here is another worksheet to help students practice identifying characterizations. Students read ten short passages. They identify an implied character trait in each. Then they explain their answers using text.

Characterization Worksheet 3

Here is yet another characterization worksheet to give students ample practice with this core reading skill. This worksheet has got another ten more problems. Students must identify characters' traits based on their actions in each. Then they explain their answers using text. This worksheet is great for homework or class work.

All Characterization Worksheets

Setting Worksheets

Setting Worksheet 1

Looking for a worksheet to help students practice identifying setting? In this double-sided worksheet, students read short stories. They determine the setting based on textual details and explain their answers. It has five passages and ten problems. This worksheet gives students great practice with determining story settings. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.

Setting Worksheet 2

Here is another worksheet that will give students practice with identifying and describing settings in stories. This worksheet has five short passages and ten questions. Students read each passage and determine the setting based on textual clues. Then they explain their answers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.

Setting Worksheet 3

Here is one more setting worksheet. This one has five passages and ten problems. Students determine the setting of each passage based on textual clues and explain their responses. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 1-5.

All Setting Worksheets

Summary Worksheets

Summarizing Worksheet 1

Here is a worksheet to help students practice summarizing. Read four nonfiction paragraphs about trains, highlight or underline important information, and write a title for the passage related to its main idea. Then create a summary.

Summarizing Worksheet 2

My students loved reading these four nonfiction passages about ninjas. In this summarizing worksheet, students read the passages, summarize the content, and express the main idea of each passage.

Summarizing Worksheet 3

Here's another activity to give your students practice summarzing nonfiction texts. Students read a long passage about the lost colony of Roanoke, highlight or underline important information, and summarize each paragraph.

All Summary Worksheets

Making Predictions Worksheets

Making Predictions Worksheet 1

Looking for worksheets on making predictions? Here's one with ten practice problems. Students read short passages, determine what will happen next, and support their predictions with evidence. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.

Making Predictions Worksheet 2

Here is another worksheet on making predictions. This one has five reading passages and ten questions. Students read the passages, predict what will happen next, and support their predictions with textual evidence. What more could you ask for in a prediction worksheet? Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

Making Predictions Worksheet 3

Looking to give your student more practice with making predictions in stories? Here's another double-sided prediction worksheet! Students read the passages, predict what will occur next, support their answers with text. This is great practice. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.

All Prediction Worksheets

These activities will help students master reading skills.

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Sometimes, ancillary lessons can become more interesting than the main assignment. Activities we devise to keep students engaged after finishing "the real work" end up re-energizing our learning space.

That's just what happened in my classroom the other week with a Six Word Memoir activity. The main lesson was a start-of-the-year project called Dream Scenes, in which students use our favorite web comics site to create a personal story that centers on their aspirations for their lives in the years ahead.

I love this future-focused project because it allows me to know more about my students and their dreams. It opens up all manner of interesting conversations and provides the first steps into using technology with writing and publication.

Here is an example of a Dream Scene that, as a teacher and writer, is right up my alley:

Very short stories with lots of punch

Students typically complete the Dream Scenes project at different times over a few class periods, so I always have one or two extension activities within our comic site ready for them. This year, I introduced the concept of the Six Word Memoir, sharing out a few examples and discussing the virtues of editing and concise writing. Using six words narrows your frame of vision. Make every word count.

I assumed my students would enjoy the activity, particularly within the comic site. What I didn't expect was the level of energy that emerged as the kids dove into the concept, creating a wide range of Six Word Memoirs that nicely complemented the Dream Scene project. Their six words provided as much insight into the self-perceptions and identities of my students as anything else we have done.

And students were eagerly invested in the Six Word Memoirs, which pack a lot of punch in a short amount of writing. I suspect, too, that the entry point is low for all of my young writers, including those who are already showing signs of struggle. This was a writing piece they could take on, and they did, with gusto.

Some helpful resources

If you are looking for ways to include Six Word Memoirs in your classroom, you don't need to use comics (although the art and visual element gives the project another degree of polish). Check out the Smith Magazine Six Word Memoir collection and writing ideas. Some of the shared collections are aimed at young people, particularly middle and high school students.

Online, the National Writing Project folks even created a remixable template in Mozilla's Webmaker suite of free tools that students can play around with to make a Six Word Memoir (and learn a thing or two about html coding).

What's your Six Word Memoir?

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On November 2, 1983, Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday when Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law. But this day was a long time in the making and only became a reality after a 15-year campaign to officially celebrate King's legacy nationwide.

Martin Luther King Jr. day is a perfect opportunity to teach about Dr. King's legacy and role in the civil rights movement-and Flocabulary's I Have A Dream speech analysis FREE lesson plan is a great place to start. King was a prolific speaker and writer who left behind a treasure trove of speeches, sermons, letters, and essays that served as a window into King's mind and evolving views. These primary sources are ideal for in-class analysis from both a content and style perspective. In this blog post, you will find a lesson inviting students to connect style and content while analyzing King's legendary I Have A Dream speech. Students will then incorporate some of King's language and rhetorical moves into their writing as they outline their vision for the world.
New to Flocabulary? Sign up for an account to access these resources for free.
Celebrate Black History Month with a rap-writing student contest

In honor of Black History Month, we're inviting students to be the researchers, lyricists, and rappers. Every February, we host a student rap contest where students select a significant Black historical figure to write a rap about. The winning students will have their lyrics turned into a Flocabulary video lesson, be featured in the video for classes nationwide to see, and sit in with our writers, rappers, and editors to get an inside look into the video creation process! This contest is the perfect opportunity to empower student voice, choice, ad creativity. Click below to learn more about the content, practice culturally responsive teaching, and elevate student voices in your classroom.

How did Martin Luther King Day become a national holiday?

The first appeal to honor King with a holiday came just four days after his assassination in April 1968. Michigan Congressman John Conyers proposed a bill to create a new federal holiday, but it was largely ignored. John Conyers Jr., one of the few Black members of Congress, persisted, reintroducing the bill every year alongside the Congressional Black Caucus until 1979. It was during that year, on what would have been King's 50th birthday, that the bill finally came to a vote in the House. Despite a petition with 300,000 signatures in favor of the holiday and the support of President Jimmy Carter, the bill was rejected.

As the '70s gave way to the early '80s, public support for the holiday grew as the Congressional Black Caucus collected more than 6 million signatures and Stevie Wonder released a hit song, "Happy Birthday," about King. By the 20th anniversary of King's I Have a Dream speech, the bill made it back to the floor for a vote. This time the bill passed with a 78-22 vote; Reagan immediately signed the bill into law.

Although the first federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated in 1986, it took nearly 15 more years for the holiday to become official in all 50 states. Several southern states later combined Martin Luther King Jr. Day with holidays celebrating Confederate general Robert E. Lee. In other states, like Arizona, debates about whether to celebrate MLK Day went back and forth for years before finally being settled. By 2000, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. was recognized in every state. Today, the holiday is fully ingrained in American life-and a perfect opportunity to invite students to review King's legacy and analyze his words in the classroom.

Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?

Martin Luther King Jr. was a minister and civil rights leader born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in the Jim Crow South, attending segregated schools throughout his childhood. The son of a minister, he decided to follow in his father's footsteps. He graduated from Morehouse College and then studied theology in Pennsylvania before earning a doctorate in theology from Boston University. In 1955, shortly after King was hired as a pastor in Montgomery, Alabama, the Montgomery Bus Boycotts were sparked by Rosa Parks. King helped organize the 381-day boycott-a jumping-off point for his life as a public figure and civil rights activist. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, King began promoting and organizing nonviolent protests across the United States. He traveled more than 6 million miles, leading marches, boycotts, and sit-ins to draw attention to widespread racial injustice in the United States.

By August 1963, King had become one of the most prominent civil rights leaders in the United States. At the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, he delivered his famous I Have A Dream speech to a crowd of 250,000 people, outlining his vision of racial equality in the United States and the world. In 1964, King became the youngest person to win a Nobel Peace Prize. His work helped pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act, ending segregation in public places and outlawing discrimination in hiring. King also played a part in the 1965 march in Selma, Alabama, that garnered support for voting rights for Black Americans and helped lead to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s later years

In the latter half of the 1960s, King's tactics were increasingly questioned by a younger, more radical wing of the civil rights movement. They believed he was too accommodating to those in power in the United States. Still, King continued his work as an activist, fighting racism, opposing the Vietnam War, and advocating for poor Americans. In 1968, while visiting Memphis, Tennessee, to support striking city workers, King was shot and killed on the balcony of his hotel room. Following his death at the age of 39, King's reputation grew. To this day, he is remembered for his critical role in the civil rights movement and his eloquent, clear-eyed speeches and letters. Each year, on the third Monday of January, we celebrate his legacy and consider his impact on American society.

Bringing Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy into the classroom

One of the best ways to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. is to revisit his most famous speeches and letters. Primary sources like these are a terrific opportunity for students to not only bear witness to a historical figure's words and ideas firsthand but also to analyze the content and style of a speech or piece of writing. The following speech analysis assignment will guide students through closely analyzing King's most famous address.

In this I Have A Dream speech analysis lesson, students will experience both the text and audio of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have A Dream speech while learning about King's key contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. They'll define and explain keywords and phrases from the speech, including examples of figurative language. The lesson culminates with students writing their original lyrics about their dreams for the world using language from King's speech and their own figurative language.

I Have A Dream Speech Analysis Lesson Plan

Lesson plan information

Time: Two class periods:

Grade level: Recommended for Grades 3 to 8

Standards Alignment: This speech analysis assignment is aligned to these CCSS standards and all 50 state standards. Find the alignment to your state standards.

Objectives

In Flocabulary's I Have A Dream speech analysis lesson, students will be able to...

Describe key events in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and King's major contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

Explain the meaning of keywords and phrases in King's I Have a Dream speech, including examples of figurative language.

Write an original rap about a personal dream for the world using quotations from King's speech and original figurative language.

Class and student output

Class discussion about King's life and contributions to the Civil Rights Movement

I Have A Dream speech analysis focusing on word choice, allusion, and figurative language

Original raps or poetry about personal dreams for the world that include quotations from King's speech and original figurative language

Sequence

Day 1

1. Play the Martin Luther King Jr. Flocabulary video. Turn on Discuss Mode and play the video again. Discuss Mode will ask questions that check for understanding and prompt discussion about King's life and contributions.

2. After discussing the final Discussion Mode prompt, click pause on the video (around 2:55). This is right before the extended clip of the I Have a Dream speech. Pass out the Martin Luther King Jr. printable activity, which includes excerpts from the I Have a Dream speech on the first page. Give students an I Have A Dream speech summary to provide additional context.

3. Press play on the video to re-watch the clips from the speech. Students can follow along in the text. (NOTE: The video clip starts on the 5th paragraph down on the page. The clip skips a few sentences provided in the text.)

4. As you watch, point out the lines from the song "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and the spiritual "Free at Last" that King quotes toward the end of the speech. As a class, discuss why King may have included lines from other texts in his speech.

5. As a class or in groups, complete the top part of page 2 of the activity. Ask for suggestions of words or phrases from the speech that stood out to students. Using context clues, generate definitions or explanations of these words and phrases.

6. Review the meaning of figurative language, which means something other than its literal meaning and expresses ideas in vivid and imaginative ways. As a class or in groups, complete the bottom part of page 2 of the activity, explaining the meaning of some of King's figurative language.

7. As a class, discuss why King may have used figurative language in his speech. What does this add to the speech?

8. Tell students that tomorrow, they will follow King's lead by writing their own lyrics about their dreams for the United States or the world. They can start brainstorming what they'd like to write their rhymes about.

Day 2

1. Start by playing the Martin Luther King Jr. video again to refresh students' memories of the I Have a Dream speech.

2. Have students individually complete page 3 of the activity. Students should first write their dream at the top. They should then return to the text of King's speech and their I Have A Dream Speech analysis from day one to identify words or phrases they'd like to include in their raps, just as King included quotations from other texts. These should be words and phrases that relate to their dream somehow. Encourage students to feel free to choose words and phrases other than the ones you defined as a class.

3. Have students develop at least one example of figurative language to include in their lyrics. They can start by writing a line with literal language and then brainstorm how to revise this line using a simile, metaphor, personification, or another literary device.

4. Have students write at least six lines explaining their dream and what needs to be done to achieve it. They should include the words/phrases and figurative language they identified. Students can use Lyric Lab to write their lyrics or help them develop rhymes. If you or your students haven't used Lyric Lab before, click "Lyric Lab" on the left panel next to the video on the lesson page.

5. Invite students to share their lyrics with the class. Have students identify the quotations from King's speech and the examples of figurative language in each other's songs.

Wrap-Up & Extensions

1. Replay the clips of King's speech in the video, and ask students why they think certain images and video clips were chosen to go along with the speech. Have students imagine the song they wrote will have images added to it. Ask students to brainstorm the types of images they would include.

2. Have students complete the Read and Respond activity accompanying the video. In Read and Respond, students will read passages of informational text, including one that provides an "I Have A Speech Dream summary and context for the speech, to learn more about King's life and achievements, and they'll answer text-dependent questions about these passages.

Use Flocabulary to teach beyond the I Have A Dream speech
New to Flocabulary? Sign up for an account to access these resources!
The lesson above focuses on I Have A Dream, but King's prowess as a public speaker goes well beyond his most famous address-and his speeches resonate on more days than Martin Luther King Jr. Day. If your class enjoyed experiencing, analyzing, and reacting to King's words, this list of King's most memorable speeches will provide ample material for further viewing and analysis.

And for those classes that want to go deeper into the civil rights movement, be sure to check out Flocabulary's videos on Civil Rights, the Voting Rights Act & Selma, Fannie Lou Hamer, Malcolm X, John Lewis, Yuri Kochiyama, and Jackie Robinson.

Sources:

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I Have a Dream Speech Analysis: Lesson Plan & Video

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Teach about Dr. King's legacy and civil rights with an engaging lesson plan covering the famous speech analysis and summary of I Have A Dream.

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also theme, inference, tone, etc.

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Ereading Worksheets provides teachers, parents, and motivated students with high-quality reading worksheets, activities, and resources aligned with Common Core State Standards. This website uses a skill focused approach where each activity targets a specific skill set, but you can also browse the reading worksheets by grade level.

The resources on this website cover a broad range of reading, writing, and language arts skills. And this site has a growing collection of online reading activities. Everything on here is free for home and classroom use. I am committed to expanding and improving the content on this site and making it easy to access for learners around the world. Subscribe now to receive emails about new content and big updates to this site.

Some of the Useful Pages on this Site:

Reading Resources

Figurative Language Resources

Language Arts Resources

Writing Resources

This site is a labor of love. It has grown tremendously over the years, and I am still working diligently to continue to update and improve this website.

Send comments, questions, corrections, or feedback to mortonteaches@gmail.com or post in the comments below. I'm just one person, but I try my best to reply to vistors, meet requests, and offer help when I can. Thanks for visiting!

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Ereading Worksheets | Free Reading Activities & Resources

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Ereading Worksheets provides teachers, parents, and motivated students with high-quality reading worksheets, activities, and resources aligned with Common Core State Standards . This website uses a skill focused approach where each activity targets a specific skill set, but you can also browse the reading worksheets by grade level.

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ELA.W.9-10.1a

Common core State Standards

ELA: English Language Arts

W: Writing Standards 6-12

9-10: 9th & 10th Grades

1a:
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts,
using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

a. Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or
opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear
relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each
while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that
anticipates the audience's knowledge level and concerns.

c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text,
create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons,
between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.

d. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to
the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.

e. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports
the argument presented.

Download Common Core State Standards (PDF 1.2 MB)

|

ELA.W.9-10.1b

Common core State Standards

ELA: English Language Arts

W: Writing Standards 6-12

9-10: 9th & 10th Grades

1b:
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts,
using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

a. Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or
opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear
relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each
while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that
anticipates the audience's knowledge level and concerns.

c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text,
create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons,
between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.

d. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to
the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.

e. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports
the argument presented.

Download Common Core State Standards (PDF 1.2 MB)

Thought starters

1. What strategies encourage higher student engagement and individual participation?

2. In what ways do sentence stems help students learn to respectfully express ideas?

3. How might you use a Socratic seminar with the content you are currently teaching?

School Details

High School for Arts, Imagination and Inquiry
122 Amsterdam Avenue
New York NY 10023

Data Provided By:

Teachers

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Socratic Seminar: Supporting Claims and Counterclaims

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High school students work in teams to develop claims and anticipate counter-claims given topics about governmental control and oppression related to their reading of Persepolis. Prior to the debate, students discuss their claims and evidence supporting these claims within their teams and also anticipate counterclaims. Each team member takes notes and prepares to either debate for their team or document interesting arguments that occur during the spoken debate.

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We published an updated version of this list, "401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing," as well as a companion piece, "650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing." We also now have a PDF of these 200 prompts.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and get five new Student Opinion questions delivered to you every week.

What issues do you care most about? What topics do you find yourself discussing most passionately, whether online, at the dinner table, in the classroom or with your friends?

Our annual Student Editorial Contest invites you to write an evidence-based persuasive piece on an issue that matters to you. To help jump-start your brainstorming, we have gathered a list of 200 writing prompts from our daily Student Opinion feature that invite you to take a stand.

Though you won't be limited to these topics for the contest, you'll see that our list touches on every aspect of modern life, from politics to sports, culture, education and technology. We hope the range inspires you, and we hope the fact that each question links to at least one related Times article gives you a starting point for finding evidence.

So skim the list below to think about the topic you'd most like to take on.

For more information, here are links to our spring 2014 editorial-writing contest, a list of winners from that contest and a related lesson plan on argumentative writing.
Education

1. Is Cheating Getting Worse?

2. Should Students Be Able to Grade Their Teachers?

3. Does Your School Hand Out Too Many A's?

4. Should Middle School Students Be Drug Tested?

5. Should Reading and Math Be Taught in Gym Class Too?

6. How Seriously Should We Take Standardized Tests?

7. How Well Do You Think Standardized Tests Measure Your Abilities?

8. Do You Spend Too Much Time Preparing for Standardized Tests?

9. Should Schools Offer Cash Bonuses for Good Test Scores?

10. Should We Rethink How Long Students Spend in High School?

11. Do Schools Provide Students With Enough Opportunities to Be Creative?

12. What Are You Really Learning at School?

13. How Important Is Arts Education?

14. Does Gym Help Students Perform Better in All Their Classes?

15. Who Should Be Able to See Students' Records?

16. Are Children of Illegal Immigrants Entitled to a Public Education?

17. What Is the Right Amount of Group Work in School?

18. Is Your School Day Too Short?

19. Do You Think a Longer School Calendar Is a Good Idea?

20. Should the Dropout Age Be Raised?

21. Should Students Be Allowed to Skip Senior Year of High School?

22. How Does Your School Deal With Students Who Misbehave?

23. Should Schools Be Allowed to Use Corporal Punishment?

24. How Big a Problem Is Bullying or Cyberbullying in Your School or Community?

25. How Should Schools Address Bullying?

26. Should Schools Put Tracking Devices in Students' ID Cards?

27. What Do You Think of Grouping Students by Ability in Schools?

28. Do We Need a New Way to Teach Math?

29. Does Class Size Matter?

30. Should All Students Get Equal Space in a Yearbook?

31. Is Prom Worth It?

32. How Important Are Parent-Teacher Conferences?

33. Should All Children Be Able to Go to Preschool?

34. Should Colleges Use Admissions Criteria Other Than SAT Scores and Grades?

35. What Criteria Should Be Used in Awarding Scholarships for College?

36. Do You Support Affirmative Action?

37. Do College Rankings Matter?

38. How Necessary Is a College Education?

39. Should Engineers Pay Less for College Than English Majors?
Technology and Social Media
40. Are the Web Filters at Your School Too Restrictive?

41. Does Technology Make Us More Alone?

42. Are You Distracted by Technology?

43. Do Apps Help You or Just Waste Your Time?

44. Do You Spend Too Much Time on Smart Phones Playing 'Stupid Games'?

45. Has Facebook Lost Its Edge?

46. Does Facebook Ever Make You Feel Bad?

47. Should What You Say on Facebook Be Grounds for Getting Fired?

48. Should People Be Allowed to Obscure Their Identities Online?

49. What Should the Punishment Be for Acts of Cyberbullying?

50. Is Online Learning as Good as Face-to-Face Learning?

51. Do Your Teachers Use Technology Well?

52. Should Tablet Computers Become the Primary Way Students Learn in Class?

53. Can Cellphones Be Educational Tools?

54. Should Computer Games Be Used for Classroom Instruction?

55. How Young Is Too Young for an iPhone?

56. Should Companies Collect Information About You?

57. Would You Trade Your Paper Books for Digital Versions?

58. Are Digital Photographs Too Plentiful to Be Meaningful?

59. Do You Worry We Are Filming Too Much?

60. Would You Want a Pair of Google's Computer Glasses?

61. How Would You Feel About a Computer Grading Your Essays?

62. What Role Will Robots Play in Our Future?

63. How Many Text Messages Are Too Many?

64. How Much Do You Trust Online Reviews?
Arts and Media: TV, Music, Video Games and Literature
65. Why Do We Like to Watch Rich People on TV and in the Movies?

66. Do TV Shows Like '16 and Pregnant' Promote or Discourage Teenage Pregnancy?

67. Does TV Capture the Diversity of America Yet?

68. Is TV Too White?

69. Is TV Stronger Than Ever, or Becoming Obsolete?

70. Does Reality TV Promote Dangerous Stereotypes?

71. What Current Musicians Do You Think Will Stand the Test of Time?

72. What Artists or Bands of Today Are Destined for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

73. What Musician, Actor or Author Should Be a Superstar, but Hasn't Quite Made It Yet?

74. Will Musical Training Make You More Successful?

75. Should Video Games Be Considered a Sport?

76. Should Stores Sell Violent Video Games to Minors?

77. Can a Video Game Be a Work of Art?

78. Do Violent Video Games Make People More Violent in Real Life?

79. When Should You Feel Guilty for Killing Zombies?

80. What Game Would You Like to Redesign?

81. What Were the Best Movies You Saw in the Past Year?

82. To What Writer Would You Award a Prize?

83. Do You Prefer Your Children's Book Characters Obedient or Contrary?

84. Where Is the Line Between Truth and Fiction?

85. Can Graffiti Ever Be Considered Art?

86. Do We Need Art in Our Lives?

87. What Makes a Good Commercial?

88. Why Did a Cheerios Ad Attract So Many Angry Comments Online?

89. Does Pop Culture Deserve Serious Study?
Gender Issues
90. Do Parents Have Different Hopes and Standards for Their Sons Than for Their Daughters?

91. Is School Designed More for Girls Than Boys?

92. Is There Too Much Pressure on Girls to Have 'Perfect' Bodies?

93. How Much Pressure Do Boys Face to Have the Perfect Body?

94. Do Photoshopped Images Make You Feel Bad About Your Own Looks?

95. Is It O.K. for Men and Boys to Comment on Women and Girls on the Street?

96. What Should We Do to Fight Sexual Violence Against Young Women?

97. How Do You Feel About Rihanna and Chris Brown Getting Back Together?

98. Do Fraternities Promote Misogyny?

99. Why Aren't There More Girls in Leadership Roles?

100. Why Aren't More Girls Choosing to Pursue Careers in Math and Science?

101. Should Women Be Allowed to Fight on the Front Lines Alongside Men?

102. Do You Believe in Equal Rights for Women and Men?

103. Are Women Better at Compromising and Collaborating?

104. Do Boys Have Less Intense Friendships Than Girls?
Sports and Athletics
105. If Football Is So Dangerous to Players, Should We Be Watching It?

106. Should Parents Let Their Children Play Football?

107. Should College Football Players Get Paid?

108. When Do Pranks Cross the Line to Become Bullying?

109. Has Baseball Lost Its Cool?

110. Are Some Youth Sports Too Intense?

111. Is It Offensive for Sports Teams to Use Native American Names and Mascots?

112. Where Should Colleges and Sports Teams Draw the Line in Selling Naming Rights?

113. Should Colleges Fund Wellness Programs Instead of Sports?

114. Is Cheerleading a Sport?

115. How Big a Deal Is It That an N.B.A. Player Came Out as Gay?

116. Should There Be Stricter Rules About How Coaches Treat Their Players?

117. Should Athletes Who Dope Have to Forfeit Their Titles and Medals?

118. Should Sports Betting Be Legal Everywhere?

119. Should Home-Schoolers Be Allowed to Play Public School Sports?

120. Would You Want a Bike Share Program for Your Community?
Politics and the Legal System
121. What Local Problems Do You Think Your Mayor Should Try to Solve?

122. If You Were Governor of Your State, How Would You Spend a Budget Surplus?

123. When Is the Use of Military Force Justified?

124. What Is More Important: Our Privacy or National Security?

125. California Notice

126. Should the U.S. Be Spying on Its Friends?

127. Do You Trust Your Government?

128. What Do You Think of the Police Tactic of Stop-and-Frisk?

129. Do Rich People Get Off Easier When They Break the Law?

130. Should Rich People Have to Pay More Taxes?

131. Do Laws That Ban Offensive Words Make the World a Better Place?

132. Is It Principled, or Irresponsible, for Politicians to Threaten a Shutdown?

133. Do Leaders Have Moral Obligations?

134. Do Great Leaders Have to Be Outgoing?

135. How Should We Prevent Future Mass Shootings?

136. Should Guns Be Permitted on College Campuses?

137. Would You Feel Safer With Armed Guards Patrolling Your School?

138. What Is Your Relationship With Guns?

139. Do You Support or Oppose the Death Penalty?

140. When Should Juvenile Offenders Receive Life Sentences?
Parenting and Childhood
141. Do We Give Children Too Many Trophies?

142. When Do You Become an Adult?

143. When Should You Be Able to Buy Cigarettes, Drink Alcohol, Vote, Drive and Fight in Wars?

144. Should the Morning-After Pill Be Sold Over the Counter to People Under 17?

145. Should Birth Control Pills Be Available to Teenage Girls Without a Prescription?

146. Is Modern Culture Ruining Childhood?

147. Are Adults Hurting Young Children by Pushing Them to Achieve?

148. How, and by Whom, Should Children Be Taught Appropriate Behavior?

149. What Can Older People Learn From Your Generation?

150. Do 'Shame and Blame' Work to Change Teenage Behavior?

151. How Should Children Be Taught About Puberty and Sex?

152. Is Dating a Thing of the Past?

153. How Should Parents Handle a Bad Report Card?

154. Should Children Be Allowed to Wear Whatever They Want?

155. How Should Educators and Legislators Deal With Minors Who 'Sext'?

156. Do You Think Child Stars Have It Rough?
Health and Nutrition
157. Is Smoking Still a Problem Among Teenagers?

158. Are Antismoking Ads Effective?

159. Is Drinking and Driving Still a Problem for Teenagers?

160. Do You Think a Healthier School Lunch Program Is a Lost Cause?

161. How Concerned Are You About Where Your Food Comes From?

162. Is It Ethical to Eat Meat?

163. Do You Prefer Your Tacos 'Authentic' or 'Appropriated'?

164. Should the Government Limit the Size of Sugary Drinks?

165. Should Marijuana Be Legal?

166. Should Students Be Required to Take Drug Tests?
Personal Character and Morality Questions
167. Do Bystanders Have a Responsibility to Intervene When There is Trouble?

168. Should You Care About the Health and Safety of Those Making Your Clothing?

169. Can Money Buy You Happiness?

170. Does Buying and Accumulating More and More Stuff Make Us Happier?

171. Are We Losing the Art of Listening?

172. Do People Complain Too Much?

173. Can Kindness Become Cool?

174. Which Is More Important: Talent or Hard Work?

175. How Important Is Keeping Your Cool?

176. When Should You Compromise?

177. Is Your Generation More Self-Centered Than Earlier Generations?

178. Can You Be Good Without God?

179. Have Curse Words Become So Common They Have Lost Their Shock Value?

180. What Words or Phrases Should Be Retired in 2014?

181. What Words or Phrases Do You Think Are Overused?

182. Should Couples Live Together Before Marriage?

183. How Important Do You Think It Is to Marry Someone With the Same Religion?

184. How Long Is It O.K. to Linger in a Cafe or Restaurant?

185. Does Keeping a Messy Desk Make People More Creative?

186. How Important Is Keeping a Clean House?
Science
187. Should Scientists Try to Help People Beat Old Age So We Can Live Longer Lives?

188. Given Unlimited Resources, What Scientific or Medical Problem Would You Investigate?

189. When Is It O.K. to Replace Human Limbs With Technology?

190. Do You Think Life Exists - or Has Ever Existed - Somewhere Besides Earth?

191. Should Fertilized Eggs Be Given Legal 'Personhood'?

192. How Concerned Are You About Climate Change?
Other Questions
193. Is It Wrong for a Newspaper to Publish a Front-Page Photo of a Man About to Die?

194. What Causes Should Philanthropic Groups Finance?

195. Should Charities Focus More on America?

196. Should the Private Lives of Famous People Be Off Limits?

197. Did a Newspaper Act Irresponsibly by Publishing the Addresses of Gun Owners?

198. Would You Rather Work From Home or in an Office?

199. What Time Should Black Friday Sales Start?

200. Do You Shop at Locally Owned Businesses?

201. How Much Does Your Neighborhood Define Who You Are?

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We published an updated version of this list, "401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing," as well as a companion piece, "650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing." We also now have a PDF of these 200 prompts. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and get five new Student Opinion questions delivered to you every week.

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DOGO News - Kids news articles! Kids current events; plus kids news on science, sports, and more!

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DOGO News has fun articles for kids on current events, science, sports, and more! There are also lots of stories, pictures, videos, games and the DOGO news map for kids! Add your comments, read reviews of cool websites, and more!

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Costa's Level of Questioning Packet of Goodies!!

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Costa's Level of Questioning Packet of Goodies!!

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7th Grade Literature Textbook

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Interactive Notebook Activities for Reading

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Interactive Notebook Activities for Reading