7th Grade English Language Arts Thematic Unit Plans

Explore themes of equity, disabilities, and resilience with this dynamic resource bundle designed for grades 5-8!

1. 18-Day Disabilities & Equity Unit (Grades 6+): This comprehensive unit includes engaging projects, thought-provoking essays, rigorous assessments, and Socratic seminars to help students explore visible and invisible disabilities, equity in schools, and societal challenges. Perfect for deepening understanding and fostering empathy in your classroom.
2. Out of My Mind Movie Guide and Activities (Grades 5+): Dive deeper into Sharon Draper’s Out of My Mind with this movie guide and activity pack! Students will analyze characters, themes, and key scenes while practicing critical thinking and reflection skills.

This bundle is ideal for educators looking to combine standards-aligned instruction with meaningful, real-world themes. Save time and inspire your students with these ready-to-use resources!

15 critical thinking group or individual Earth Day debates, discussions, and writing prompts. Includes visually stimulating graphics and thought provoking prompts, such as:

Earth's changes over the years

Alternative energy

Barren neighborhoods

Create a timeline

Compare and Contrast

Global Warming

Environmental Pollution

Invitation for Earth Day Celebration

Newspaper Advertisement writing for Earth Advocate

Water conservation

and more...

Excellent for assessment purposes or stimulating debates and discussions on Earth Day issues.

Halloween Sentence Stems

Use these 25 Halloween sentence stems / starters to get your students speaking or use them as writing prompts. These sentence starters fun at any level or age. Use these with primary or middle school students. I've included four completely different ways to use this resource. See the preview for more details.

This resource is included in my Halloween Bundle

Includes:

25 cards to print, cut out, and laminate: Use these no-prep speaking prompts year after year. This is a great way to enhance your program by practicing oral production during the month of October.

25 half page worksheets to use as writing prompts: These are meant for primary students as they include space to draw a picture and there is only space for a short paragraph. These are perfect for literacy centers.

25 full page worksheets to use as writing prompts: These are meant for middle school students. These prompts are a helpful way to "get started" when looking for something to write about.

25 sentence stem strips: Print and cut out the strips, punch holes in the spaces provided, and hook them together with a ring. Students can read the sentence stems and complete the sentences by using words they have learned to form the remainder of their sentences. Provide students with a set of stem strips that they can work on at their own pace. Unlike the writing prompts, these strips are meant to elicit short answers.

Other ways you can use these sentence stems:

✎ Daily 5 rotations

✎ Use in writing centres

✎ Fast finishers

✎ Tutoring sessions

✎ No prep sub materials

✎ Morning work / morning meetings

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LICENSING TERMS: This purchase includes a license for one teacher only for personal use in their classroom. Licenses are non-transferable, meaning they can not be passed from one teacher to another. No part of this resource is to be shared with colleagues or used by an entire grade level, school, or district without purchasing the proper number of licenses.

COPYRIGHT TERMS: This resource may not be uploaded to the internet in any form, including classroom/personal websites or network drives, unless the site is password protected and can only be accessed by students.

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**Now with newly added material!**

This resource features a growing bundle of all of our best-selling lesson plans, materials, and activities for your unit on Shakespeare. Resources perfectly complement any Shakespearean play and can be used to introduce the unit (like the Elizabethan Mini-Unit, Scavenger Hunt, and PowerPoint), throughout the unit (Bell Ringers, Sonnet Lesson Plan, and "Death Lines" Activity), as a review (Shakespeare Escape Room), and even to decorate your classroom (Quote Posters). Each product is thoughtfully crafted and inspires students to delve deeply into Shakespeare's life and works. Lessons have all been classroom-tested and allow for differentiation while encouraging optimal student engagement. You will not find tedious lists of comprehension questions and vocabulary words in this bundle; instead you will find materials that will make Shakespeare relevant in the eyes of your students and bring the Bard to life!

Included in this Bundle:

⭐ Elizabethan England Mini-Unit

This is a differentiated mini-unit on Elizabethan England to prepare students for studying Shakespeare's works! It can be used as an introduction to any of Shakespeare's plays. It begins with a day of research into Shakespeare's life and times, then asks students to create a group collage on their topic and ultimately perform a presentation of their findings.

⭐ Introduction to Shakespeare Powerpoint, Scavenger Hunt & Lesson Plan

This resource features everything you need to conduct the perfect introduction to William Shakespeare for your students. Shakespeare can be undeniably intimidating for students, particularly if they have never had experience with reading his work before, so this lesson aims to engage and show that the greatest writer of all time was actually a pretty cool guy. The powerpoint offers a brief glimpse into the life and times of William Shakespeare and takes about 30 minutes to run through while encouraging optimal student engagement. The scavenger hunt encourages active learning as students discover answers to the 21 important questions throughout the lesson about the man, the myth, the Bard himself. This lesson plan and accompanying materials can be used to introduce a unit on any of Shakespeare's plays.

⭐Shakespeare ESCAPE ROOM

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Shakespearean Escape Room. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task, but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game.

⭐ 25 Shakespeare Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

This resource features a set of 25 reader response journal prompts for use during your unit on Shakespeare. Each bell ringer is comprised of a Shakespearean quote from one of his plays or sonnets and a thoughtfully crafted question that encourages students to personally connect and appreciate the timelessness of his work. Prompts can be used as bell-ringers (most popular and mean the first 5 minutes of every class for more than a month are planned for you!), summarizers, stations, full class or small group discussion questions, for homework, sub plans, as a filler activity… the possibilities are endless!

⭐ Sonnet 130 Lesson Plan

In this creative and engaging lesson plan, students will analyze one of Shakespeare's most famous love sonnets about the notorious Dark Lady and create their own original poetry inspired by the Bard. This resource provides step-by-step instructions using a format of warm-up, explanation, application, and synthesis with the aim to engage students from beginning to end. A teacher cheat sheet is also included with full notes on Sonnet 130 so no preparation is needed.

⭐ Shakespeare Valentine's Day Lesson Plan

This full-length lesson plan revolves around Shakespeare's mastery of the English language with an emphasis on his knack for coming up with the most compassionate of compliments and scathing of insults. Through a non-intimidating approach, students will have the opportunity to do a little bit of acting and make connections to modern day as they explore Shakespeare's language of love and hate. I am always astounded by the level of maturity of the discussion that arises from this activity as students discuss what makes a compliment or insult particularly effective and from whom it means the most. This is sure to be a lesson that you will use again and again on February 14th.

⭐ Shakespeare's "Death Lines" Lesson Plan

In this full-length lesson plan, students will closely examine the final lines of Shakespearean characters before their deaths (if you know Shakespeare, there are quite a few!). Following a mini-lesson on the importance of these final words, students will take part in the classic game, Mafia, with a unique, Shakespearean twist. I invented the take on this game several years ago and it has become one of my students' and my favorite days of the whole school year. There is truly nothing like seeing students having a great time while studying Shakespeare. I am confident that your students will love it too!

⭐ Shakespeare Human Tic Tac Toe Review Game ~ newly added!

This resource features a lesson plan and materials for the Human Tic Tac Toe Review Game, an engaging and competitive way to review Shakespeare and the Globe Theater. Let's face it, review days can be boring for both teachers and students, so liven them up with this collaborative game. The resource includes not only a meticulously detailed lesson plan and set-up instructions, but 30 questions on Shakespeare's life, works, and the Globe. Besides simple set-up, very little preparation is needed for this lesson and if your students are like mine, they will ask for this form of review for every unit of study.

⭐ William Shakespeare Quote Posters

Make your classroom pop with this set of 25 beautifully-made posters featuring quotes from William Shakespeare. Each 7.5 x 7.5 (square) PDF poster contains a noteworthy quote from one of the Bard's plays imposed over a stunning photograph that will spruce up your ELA classroom. The square format is reminiscent of Instagram and makes for an eye-catching arrangement on your wall or bulletin board. I suggest laminating the posters and using them not just during your Shakespeare unit, but all year long.

⭐ Shakespeare's Epitaph Assignment - BONUS FILE!!

Students get the chance to create the epitaph for the gravestone of the most revered writer of all time. The activity encourages students to be thoughtful with their knowledge of William Shakespeare but also to be creative with their inscriptions. This can be done in or outside of class and also works as a no-prep emergency substitute plan. To be festive, I love to give this assignment on the anniversary of Shakespeare's actual death, April 23, but with the subject at hand, it also works well as a Halloween lesson plan.

By purchasing these great resources as a bundle, you save over 20% off the cover price of all materials!

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Bring the heartwarming and inspiring Disney+ adaptation of Out of My Mind into your classroom with this comprehensive movie guide and activity bundle. Perfect for grades 5-8, this resource engages students in thoughtful discussion, critical analysis, and creative reflection while exploring key themes of inclusion, perseverance, and advocacy.

What’s Included:

Pre-Watching Activities:

• Agree/Disagree/Justify Statements: Students reflect on key themes like inclusion, disability, and perseverance before viewing the movie.
• Author Investigation: Research questions about Sharon M. Draper’s life, career, and motivations for writing Out of My Mind.

During-Watching Questions:

• 3 Open-Ended Discussion Questions: Encourage critical thinking and active viewing, focusing on the film’s characters, themes, and key moments.

Post-Watching Reflection:

• Creative Reflection Choices: Students choose from a variety of activities, including:

• A personal essay exploring connections to Melody’s story.

• A diary entry written from the perspective of a character.

• A 6-panel brochure highlighting the movie’s plot, characters, and themes.

Skills Covered:

• Critical Thinking: Through open-ended questions and reflection activities.
• Research Skills: Investigating Sharon M. Draper’s life and work.
• Creative Expression: Writing diary entries, essays, or designing brochures.
• Empathy and Inclusion: Exploring themes that challenge perspectives and foster understanding.

Why Teachers Love It:

Engaging & Flexible: Perfect for a wide range of learners with multiple activity options.
Low Prep: Ready-to-use activities designed for easy implementation.
Standards-Aligned: Meets objectives in reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking.

Perfect For:

• Movie Companion Activities
• SEL Lessons on Inclusion and Perseverance
• Sub Plans or Flexible Learning Days
• Cross-Curricular Connections in ELA and Social Studies

This complete guide offers everything you need to turn Out of My Mind into a powerful teaching moment. Inspire your students to think deeply, reflect creatively, and grow in understanding with this must-have resource. Grab it today!

Additional resources with similar themes: 18-Day Disabilities & Equity Unit Grades 6+ Project, Essay, Assessments, Seminar

Overview of poetry includes 21 slides and starts at the beginning of time then finishes with 19TH century (for 20th century see Origins of Poetry 20th Century PowerPoint). Includes poets, social concepts (lifestyles, fashions, entertainment), links to readings and visuals, resources, photos of fashions and poets. A complete overview for students that can be broken down by time periods using the contents slide. Easy for students to follow and comprehend.

Happy Halloween Games and Activities BUNDLE - English - ESL

This is a bundle of games and activities for the month of October when you want to have some fun with Halloween. This bundle is 30% off.

Don't need everything in the bundle? Would you like to add non-related resources to your purchase? That's ok, you can still get 20% off your purchase of $20 or more with my Build Your Own English Bundle option! No sale items or other already discounted bundles can be included.

LICENSING TERMS: This purchase includes a license for one teacher only for personal use in their classroom. Licenses are non-transferable, meaning they can not be passed from one teacher to another. No part of this resource is to be shared with colleagues or used by an entire grade level, school, or district without purchasing the proper number of licenses.

COPYRIGHT TERMS: This resource may not be uploaded to the internet in any form, including classroom/personal websites or network drives, unless the site is password protected and can only be accessed by students.

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Want to get TeachShare credit to use on future purchases? Go to "My Purchases" and log in. Next to purchases there is a link to provide feedback. Click this link and you will be taken to a page where you can give a rating and leave a comment for the product. When you give feedback TPT gives you credits that you can use toward future purchases.

This is a differentiated mini-unit on Elizabethan England to prepare students for studying Shakespeare's works! It can be used as an introduction to any of Shakespeare's plays. It begins with a day of research into Shakespeare's life and times, then asks students to create a group collage on their topic and ultimately perform a presentation of their findings.

Included in this product:

- Rationale for Project

- English Language Arts Frameworks

- 4 Meticulously Explained Lesson Plans

- Extensive explanation of differentiation strategies embedded in lessons (Perfectly aligned with Standard II of Teacher Evaluations)

- 5 Separate packets with questions for 5 separate topics

- Rubric

- Picture of my students' work from this year

This is an engaging group project that keeps students working from start to finish while playing to their very different strengths. I have put hours upon hours into this project so that you don't have to - truly, you will find that it runs itself!

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Also, check out these great products to add to your Shakespeare unit:

⭐ Introduction to Shakespeare Powerpoint, Scavenger Hunt & Lesson Plan

⭐ Shakespeare ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Shakespeare Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

⭐ Shakespeare Crossword Puzzle

⭐ Shakespeare's "Death Lines" Activity

⭐ Shakespeare's Epitaph Assignment

⭐ Shakespeare Valentine's Day Lesson Plan

⭐ Sonnet 130 Valentine's Day Lesson Plan

⭐ Sonnet 18 Valentine's Day Lesson Plan

⭐ William Shakespeare Quote Posters

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Overview of 20th century poetry includes 17 slides. Includes poets, social concepts (lifestyles, fashions, entertainment), links to readings and visuals, resources, photos of fashions and poets. A complete overview for students that can be broken down by sub-divisions. Easy for students to follow and comprehend.

Introduce the history of April Fool's Day then enjoy fun, educational activities that include:

Includes:

History & Timeline Symbolism activity

Awards

Class Debate

Charades

Crossword with answer sheet

Maze

Polls

Prank Reflection

Visual Prank Drawing

Writing Activities

Word Search with answer sheet

Easy to implement and use with students. Uses higher level and critical thinking skills that are great for Pre-Ap/AP. Differentiated lessons for centers or groups.