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Character Analysis Lifeboat Game
By Beth Hammett
Students create avatars with this 22 page handout is based on character traits and character flaws. Students debate for a seat on a lifeboat to survive a luxury cruise shipwreck. Uses social skills combined with ELA skills to practice compare and contrast, fact-based arguments and persuasion. Includes:
Directions
Character Trait List with Definition
Character Flaw List with Definition
12 Male Avatars
12 Female Avatars
Lifeboat Scenario
Group Chart with Note Taking section
Character Reflection Sheet
Extra Resources
Optional Writing, Project, and Video Assignments
Excellent for small/whole group, whether at-risk/GT/AP, that uses character traits and fact-based evidence/proof to practice decision making processes and expository writings.
By Beth Hammett
Homographs can be confusing, so try this interactive 26 slide presentation that comes with:
Introduction to homographs
Definition
Examples
32 homograph sentences with visuals for group learning activities
30 Homograph Bingo sheets with Definitions sheet and Sentences
Homograph passage practice
Writing activity
Peer Workshopping component
Media Resources
Meets ELA CCSS and state guidelines. Great fun for ELL/ESL, introduction or assessment, mini-lesson, flipped classrooms, and active learning, project based classes.
By Beth Hammett
Using journal writing in the classroom takes know-how. This 41-page booklet takes teachers through the basics and introduces a model for successful journal writing. The how-to journal writing guide includes seven chapters: Just the Facts, How to Start Writing, Prompts, Student Examples, Assessing and Grading, What if..., and Resources. It makes journal writing enjoyable and easy for teachers and students. A great resource with student examples for teachers who want to use journal writing but are not sure where to begin or what to do. Beth Hammett's other works include: Natalie: Diary of a Senior Year, Developmental Writing Workshop, and educational articles for NADE, TCTELA, NCTE, and more. Join Beth at: www.bethhammett.blogspot.com
Presidents Dinner Party Writing Activity
By Beth Hammett
What better way to introduce and teach research skills than with a historical based dinner party with United States Presidents? This 28 page handout focuses on research skills, such as citations, details, dialogue/text evidence, main idea, sources, paraphrasing, summarizing, topic/theme. It includes: Scoring Rubric Directions Party Invitations to make 22 Caricature Presidents Speech Bubbles Tables Sources and Citations sheets Extra Optional Projects Resources Supplemental Resources Have fun researching historical documents then creating dinner party conversations with this complete introduction to research unit.
By Beth Hammett
Are commas alien to your students? Are there not enough or too many commas? This 31 slide presentation uses a color-coded approach combined with peer workshopping and comprehension checks. The mini-lesson presentation addresses and includes: Research slide Extra Resources with practices Comma Comprehension Checks Commas in a List and Series FANBOYS Appositives Directly Speaking to a Person Dependent Clauses Adverbs and Transitions Parenthetical Expressions Adjectives Dates Cities/States Can be used as individual mini-lessons or as review. Provides peer workshopping component and comprehension checks to increase comma skills and usage. Interactive approach is easy to follow and is self-explanatory. Meets Common Core Standards.
By Beth Hammett
What is multigenre writing, and how can you use it in your classroom? This Common Core, across-curriculum, interactive presentation includes: Fact-based/non-fiction or fictional Defining: "Multi" and "Genre" Student examples of multigenre projects Interactive small group activity for introducing multigenre Research and extra resources on multigenres 2 levels of assignments: lower and upper Brainstorming Topics chart Find Your Topic graphic organizer Multigenre list for choosing types of writings Peer Workshopping guide Supplemental Resources Works Cited Ready to use with students, and a great way to re-visit an old topic or to revive research essays, whether using non-fiction or fiction. Can be used to introduce topics or as assessment for unit or research for any discipline.. Multigenre activities are engaging, educational, meaningful, and fun.
Earth Day Poems and Tales: Books to Make and Write
By Beth Hammett
Celebrate Earth Day with 40 pages of Earth Day related images for writing fact-based poems and prose.
Includes:
5 title pages
Directions with optional activities
30 Earth Day graphics (earth, recycle, alternative energy, pollution, and more!)
5 The End pages
Great for Civics, Government, Social Studies, and meets ELA standards.
Use as:
Individual poems/prose writings
On-demand writing
Practice concepts/skills from mini-lessons
Practice peer workshopping strategies
Publishing opportunities
Celebration of Earth Day
See Educator Helper's other Earth Day products!
Free weekly handout at www.bethhammett.blogspot.com
Galveston Immigration (Texas History Comic Coloring Book)
By Beth Hammett
An overview of Galveston as the Gateway to America during 1845-1924. Follow immigrants from Europe to Galveston in dangerous conditions over rough seas as they enter the Port of Galveston to start their new lives. 23 pages of comic book style coloring frames; 11 of these pages are blank for students to write their immigration stories. Includes "Fact" box on each of the pages. Fun, engaging, and educational approach to learning about immigration through the Port of Galveston in 1845. Use for introducing skills or for assessment of knowledge.
Writing Prompts for Grades 3-8
By Beth Hammett
40 prompts to help students with on-demand writing. Each handout has a black and white image to color that is non-fiction, real life related. Factual, lined page, story starters for critical thinking, assessment-style, standardized writing practice. Topics include: In my future, I see... Some people say I'm a dreamer... The road of life has many obstacles... The root system of a tree is as complicated as... Home represents... If I could soar like a bird... To walk a mile in another's shoes... The world's future is.... One of the biggest exaggerations I've heard or told was... I have a place in my heart for... Gossip spreads like wildfire. An example of this is... My friends are as unique as leaves on a tree... plus so many more fact-based prompts... Full page lined writing handout for 2 sided copying Copy and handout to students for on-demand, non-fiction writing practice, diagnostic testing, assessment practice, peer workshopping practice, and more. Meets Common Core and State ELA Standards for writing.
By Beth Hammett
45 pages of critical thinking activities and lesson plans for ELA or history classes that focus on Benjamin Franklin's life and accomplishments. Includes: Directions for all projects Franklin's Life: Early, Middle, Late Years Quick Facts Timeline Project (Prior Knowledge) Quotable Quotes and Analysis Activity Activities (Analysis) A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words Newspaper Activity(Description) How Franklin Changed (Compare/Contrast with Venn Diagram) Franklin's Inventions (Persuasive with format) Franklin's World (Research/Poetry) Eulogy (writing) Epitaph Word Search Crossword Puzzle with Answers Maze Acrostic Poem Writing a Ballad Writing a Myth Party Invitation Creation with Guest List & Menu Decorate a Birthday Cake Matching Activity Phases of Life (Symbolism) Links to more resources: videos, handouts, vocabulary, etc... Links to free public domain works to download/preview Uses CCSS and NWP guidelines for fiction and non-fiction writing. Can be used for introducing Franklin and time period, for comprehension, and as assessment. Great for GT, Pre-AP, homeschool, literacy centers, ELA, ELL/ESL, social studies, and history.
Magazine Covers Writing Activities
By Beth Hammett
13 magazine-like covers/handouts designed to help students master CCSS genre study elements for non-fiction texts. After studying real magazine covers, have students choose their favorite topic and fill-in the information. Color the images for great classroom displays! Includes directions and suggestions for use and connections for Common Core subjects. Magazine covers handouts include: Animals, Games, Gardening, History, Math, Music, Reader, Science, Sports, Technology, Writer, Blank Form Can be used for inferencing, main ideas, paraphrases,spelling, summaries, titles, vocabulary, and more...
Semi-Colons, Colons, Dashes, Hyphens (Writing)
By Beth Hammett
Introduce Semi-Colons, Colons, Dashes, and Hyphens with this 14 slide presentation. Includes: definitions examples practice sentences peer workshopping component comprehension checkpoint & answers extra resources This PowerPoint gives students everything they need to successfully use each of the "Other Punctuation Marks" within their essays! Easy to read and follow with color-coded examples. Can be used for ELL/GT/AP and flipped classrooms. Meets CCSS guidelines.
Introductions and Conclusions Writing
By Beth Hammett
An interactive introduction to writing beginnings/endings and conclusions/introductions. The presentation uses a peer workshopping approach to writing beginnings and endings. Includes: Techniques to "hook" readers: Action Description Dialog Emotion Quotation Setting Examples of each Techniques to write successful conclusions. Ambiguous Circular Humor Moral Quote Restate thesis: Examples of all techniques Word Search that includes all terminologies (project and solve as a group or use as individual handouts) Uses peer workshopping and group read-arounds to complete the activites. Easy for students to follow and easy to implement in the classroom.
Inferencing and Journalism Writing Activities
By Beth Hammett
Become a news reporter and write your own daily column with these 22 inferencing, journalism writing activities. Newspaper format and great graphics are easy for students to work with. Uses writing process and peer workshopping strategies. Comes with two blank templates for creative fun and one lined page for extra writing space. Includes optional media and technology projects for differentiated classrooms. Excellent for use with relationship words, time order, fact vs. opinion, and more...Meets CCSS.
Spelling Confused Words A-I Game and Puzzles with Activities
By Beth Hammett
15 Commonly Confused Words A-I with engaging activities for students to learn. Includes:
A-I game with fill-in-the-blank, definitions, make your own
sentences/slides (individual/groups & competitive play)
2 Crossword puzzles with Commonly Confused Words
2 Word Searches with Commonly Confused Words
All answer sheets included
Directions and Suggestions with Extensions
Words used are:
1. accept except
2. aloud allowed
3. bare bear4. brake break
5. coarse course6. council counsel
7. desert dessert
8. dose doze
9. envelope envelop
10. forbear forebear
11. grisly grizzly
12. glance glimpse
13. hair hare
14. hole whole
15. ingenious ingenuous
Students will have fun learning these Commonly Confused Words.
Write a Halloween Story with Word Bank/Coloring Images (Gr. 3 and up)
By Beth Hammett
16 Halloween coloring images with holiday word banks that include: Cats Bats Dracula Frankenstein Ghosts Pirate Pumpkins Trick or Treat Witches Zombies and more... Includes Suggestions For Use sheet and template to create your own vocabulary word bank. Upper levels can use for poetry and contest writing. Fun way to assess writing skills in an ELA classroom. Grab a blanket and flashlight, turn on the lighted pumpkin, and have a classroom read-around of Halloween stories!
By Beth Hammett
Students make their own fact based or fictional Thanksgiving Storybooks then bind and share. These ready to use handout sheets are loaded with holiday graphics that include:
4 Title pages to color
4 The End pages to color
6 Coloring Frames with Speech Bubbles
16 Coloring Frames with Writing Spaces
Instructions for Use and binding with Optional Extensions (media)
32 slides of Thanksgiving fun that allows students to create their own books to share with classmates, families, and friends. Can be used as assessment for grammar/writing skills, as fact-based only stories, or as creative writing assignments.
By Beth Hammett
Students produce personal narratives from memories with this 21 page guide that used the writing process. Includes: Attributes/Characteristics of Narrative Essay Overview of Writing Process Creating life maps (with student examples) Narrowing topics--prewriting stage with examples Narrative writing examples Online Reading: Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge Peer workshopping with guided questions: Revision and Editing Final Essay Stage Publishing/Sharing Scoring Rubric Extra Resources The 21 page guide is self-explanatory. It includes interactive writing activities along with using the writing process and peer workshopping strategies to teach narrative writing. Weblink to the online narrative book Gordon Wilfred McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox (by Screen Actors Guild) is excellent! Engaging and fun lesson that meets CCSS.
By Beth Hammett
Common Core approach to Persuasive writing using step-by-step instructions for students. Includes 20 pages of: Definition Persuasive vs. Argumentative Whole/small group and individual activities Ethical Writers Examples of Thesis/Topic Sentences/Details/Facts... Using Figurative Language Outlines Peer Workshopping Persuasive Scoring Rubric (Revision friendly to master skills) Extra Resources: video presentations, handouts, and ESL links Easy to follow and use with students in grades 4 and up. Meets CCSS Opinion and Argument Writing requirements.
Dairy Month (June) Activities and Handouts
By Beth Hammett
June is Dairy Month, so get students learning about cows with these fourteen activities for group or individuals that use critical thinking skills. Includes: Coloring handouts (2) KWL chart Calendar to fill in with dates & dairy items; star the items Maze Poem or Story writing Milkman United States' map activity Cow or Dairy Facts Decorate the Cow Skull List as many dairy items as possible Graph to chart Cow Confusion true or false activity Thumbprint cows (to use with inkpad) Know and label the parts of a cow For use with science or social studies units. Can be used for assessment and with differentiated classes. Meets CCSS.