Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning

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Lisa Loughlin

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Cooking With Colons

Using Colons To Enhance Writing

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

In this lesson, students explore the rules of colons and how they can be used to enhance their writing style. They begin the lesson by determining which colon rules are true and which are false. Next, they practice their new knowledge of the colon rules and read an article about the Iroquois’ “Three... Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson
Cooking With Colons

Using Colons To Enhance Writing

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

Subject Subject

  • English/Language Arts

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 9.5.W.8, 11.5.W.7
More
Time Frame
Blackbirds In Little Rock: Exploring the History behind the Music

The Civil Rights Movement

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

In this lesson, students learn about the Little Rock Nine, other monumental moments from the Civil Rights Movement, and their impact on music culture. By examining the historical inspiration behind Beyoncé’s rendition of the song "Blackbird," students analyze a speaker’s impact on the meaning of a text,... Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

Subject Subject

  • English/Language Arts, Music History, Social Studies

Course Course

  • A.P. Language and Composition, AP US History, Composition, U.S. History

Tag Related

  • Civil Rights Movement

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • M.CN.2 , I.M.CN.2 , AD.M.CN.2 , USH.7.1, USH.7.1B, USH.7.1B1, USH.7.1B3, 9.3.R.1, 9.3.R.2, 9.3.W.2
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Time Frame
Semicolons in Wonderland: Pigs, Pepper, & Punctuation

Exploring semicolon rules and the ways they enhance writing style

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

In this lesson, students explore the rules of semicolons and the ways they can be used to enhance their writing styles. They begin the lesson by identifying (non) examples of semicolon use to hypothesize about the grammatical rules being displayed. Using AI (Artificial Intelligence), students critique... Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson
Semicolons in Wonderland: Pigs, Pepper, & Punctuation

Exploring semicolon rules and the ways they enhance writing style

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

Subject Subject

  • English/Language Arts

Course Course

  • A.P. Language and Composition, A.P. Literature and Composition, Composition, Creative Writing

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 9.5.W.11, PUN 502, PUN 604
More 2-3 class periods
Time Frame 125
Reframing the Argument

Examining Argument Through a New Lens

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - Secondary

This lesson uses Lawrence Kohlberg's Heinz Dilemma to teach students how to create an effective argument using evidence and logical reasoning. Content is introduced with an anticipation guide and class discussion. Students then read and respond to the Heinz Dilemma and analyze four claims, then create... Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson
Reframing the Argument

Examining Argument Through a New Lens

Tag Related

  • Argument Writing, Individual Career Academic Plan (ICAP)

Subject Subject

  • English/Language Arts

Course Course

  • A.P. Language and Composition

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - Secondary

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 9.1.L.1, 9.1.S.2, 9.2.W.3
More 1-2 periods
Time Frame 90 minutes
In the Kingdom of Night, Part 2

A Call to Action

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

This lesson revisits Elie Wiesel's Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech from "In the Kingdom of Night, Part 1" lesson, but this time with a focus on analyzing what makes it a good speech. Students examine the calls to action in three speeches relating to the Holocaust. Students create a list of what... Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

Subject Subject

  • English/Language Arts

Course Course

  • World Literature

Tag Related

  • Holocaust

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 9.1.L.2, 9.1.S.1, 10.1.L.2, 10.1.S.3
More 4-5 class periods
Time Frame 200-215 minutes
In the Kingdom of Night, Part 1

Exploring the Role of Neutrality in the Holocaust

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

In this lesson, students will look at the question of neutrality through the lens of the Holocaust. Students will explore articles from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's website, read an excerpt from Elie Wiesel's book, "Night," and read Elie Wiesel's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech while synthesizing... Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson
In the Kingdom of Night, Part 1

Exploring the Role of Neutrality in the Holocaust

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

Subject Subject

  • English/Language Arts

Course Course

  • World Literature

Tag Related

  • Holocaust

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 9.2.R.1, 9.2.W.1, 9.3.W.3, 10.2.R.1, 10.3.W.2
More 2-3 class periods
Time Frame 105-125 minutes
Celebrating Diwali

Exploring the Festival of Lights Through Expository Writing

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 8th - 10th

In this lesson, students explore the celebration of Diwali while practicing expository writing skills. Students read and summarize the various legends of Diwali and the significance of each day of the festival. Next, students create anchor charts for each day using symbols, images, and their paraphrased... Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson
Celebrating Diwali

Exploring the Festival of Lights Through Expository Writing

Subject Subject

  • English/Language Arts

Course Course

  • World Literature

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 8th - 10th

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 10.2.R.1, 10.3.W.2
More
Time Frame
When the Hurly-Burly's Done

Examining Intrinsic & Extrinsic Motivation Through Character Analysis in Macbeth

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

In this lesson, students explore what intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are and the characters' motivations in William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Students create visual and written representations of their assigned character's motivations. Students end the lesson by writing a scholarly essay about the... Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson
When the Hurly-Burly's Done

Examining Intrinsic & Extrinsic Motivation Through Character Analysis in Macbeth

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

Subject Subject

  • English/Language Arts

Course Course

  • A.P. Language and Composition, British Literature, World Literature

Tag Related

  • Shakespeare

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 9.2.W.1, 9.3.R.3, 9.3.W.2
More 6 class periods
Time Frame 255 minutes
Native Symbols in the Modern World

Examining Symbolism in Native American Poetry and Art

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 10th - 12th

In this lesson, students examine symbolism in Native regalia, poems, and art and gain a better understanding of what symbolism looks like in a real-world context. Throughout the lesson, students research and discuss Native authors, tribes, and artists. After reading and annotating a poem, students create... Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson
Native Symbols in the Modern World

Examining Symbolism in Native American Poetry and Art

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 10th - 12th

Subject Subject

  • English/Language Arts

Course Course

  • A.P. Language and Composition, A.P. Literature and Composition

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 10.7.W.2, 11.3.R.1, 11.3.R.4, 12.7.R.1
More 2-3 Class Periods
Time Frame 60-120 Minutes
There's No Place Like Home

Analyzing Imagery In Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains"

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 10th - 12th

In this lesson, students discuss smart houses and the impact of smart technology in society in small-group and whole-class discussions. Students then read Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains" and analyze the imagery throughout before writing a brief literary analysis. Next, students watch an... Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson
There's No Place Like Home

Analyzing Imagery In Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains"

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 10th - 12th

Subject Subject

  • English/Language Arts

Course Course

  • A.P. Literature and Composition, American Literature

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 10.3.R.4, 10.3.W.3
More
Time Frame