Picture This: Combining Infographics and Argumentative Writing

OVERVIEW Students need to practice all types of writing, and oftentimes argumentative writing is ignored in favor of persuasive writing. In fact, students may not even understand there is a difference between these two types of writing. In this lesson, students examine the differences between argumentative writing and persuasive writing. After choosing topics that interest them, students conduct research which becomes the foundation for their argumentative essays.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Understanding Character: The Life of Percy Julian

In this blended lesson supporting literacy skills, students watch video dramatizations of Percy Julian's struggles with racism and how he refused to let it limit his possibilities in life. Students develop their literacy skills as they explore an English language arts focus on understanding character. During this process, they read informational text, learn and practice vocabulary words, and explore content through videos and interactive activities. This resource is part of the Inspiring Middle School Literacy Collection.

Material Type: Interactive

UNC Athletes Caught in Academic Fraud

Investigate the academic fraud that affected thousands of UNC students and athletes with this video and educational materials from PBS NewsHour from October 23, 2014.

Material Type: Reading

A Refresher on Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe, an American icon, is celebrated for his life and work. This lesson will delve deeper into his early life, his macabre short stories, his poem "The Raven," and his mysterious death in Baltimore in 1849.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Sarah Markel

Verbal Irony

At face value, the lines between verbal irony, sarcasm, and compliments can be blurry. After all, the phrase 'That looks nice' could be all three depending on the circumstances. In the final of a three part series on irony, Christopher Warner gets into the irony you may use most often and most casually: verbal irony.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Christopher Warner

Theme and Situational Irony-"The Interlopers" by Saki

"The Interlopers" by Saki (H.H. Munroe) is a story that portrays the theme of hatred resulting in tragedy. This story also has several examples of situational irony which is the contrast between what is said or expected and what actually happens.  Three examples of irony will be discussed and how they are significant to the theme.  The examples are:1.  The men die over something unimportant.2.  The struggle for land ownership ends in a tragedy when nature takes their lives.3.  The long running feud ended, but no one in the village/town could learn of that as both men died.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Dr. Diane Schnoebelen-Kramer

The Holocaust and The Diary of Anne Frank (by playwrights Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett)

This lesson focuses on the twelve-year period from 1933-1945 in which Jews faced restrictions, were imprisoned, worked as slaves, and were starved, tortured, and murdered.  Six million Jews died during the Holocaust.  They will also read the play The Diary of Anne Frank which protrays a thirteen year old gilr's view of her daily life when she and her family went into hiding before being deported to a Nazi concentration camp.  Anne Frank was born to a Jewish family in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1929.  Her family immigrated to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, when she was four.  Anne had a happy childhood until 1940 when German forces invaded and occupied the Netherlands.  Anne and her family went into hiding in the attic above her father's business, where they lived for two years.  Students will review the elements of drama incuding dramatic structure such as characters, conflict, climax, and resoultion. They will also learn about dialogue and stage directions.  

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Dr. Diane Schnoebelen-Kramer