$5 - $10 Middle School English Language Arts Activities (by date, oldest first)

I spent two weeks teaching my students revising skills explicitly before it hit me... all the answer choices had SOMETHING to do with knowing how to use a comma!

It's an area where students feel the least confident and it can be fixed. Before your students go into a test or a state exam, make sure they know how to use a comma.

• A short "teach" page is included for self-guided learning.
• Re-teach page for struggling students
• All areas divided by comma usage

INCLUDED: 13 self-grading Google Form Quizzes, Word Doc, PDF!

BUNDLE and SAVE: ELA Test Prep, Study Guide & Activities Bundle

Check out these other resources!

• All Things English For Middle & High School Students (best seller)
• Once Upon A Crime
• Revising & Editing Workbook
• Revising & Editing for Group Lessons
• Bell Ringers for the Semester
• Everything Writing
• Intermediate Advanced ELL/EB Practice with 100s of Common Words
• ELL/EB Newcomer Essential Phrases & Vocabulary

DEEP DIVE into literature with Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart"

Perfect for Horror/Gothic Literature units in English

8 activities focusing on skills for fiction with this masterful text. Students will have the opportunity to practice comprehension, questioning the text, engage in class discussions, and respond.

What's Included:

1. Powerpoint Guide for each activity
2. Pre-reading activity to activate prior knowledge
3. Two Word Documents that allow students to form questions while reading, or make their own annotations (with the abridged text)
4. A guide to facilitate class discussions after reading
5. Summarizing activity and questions
6. Examining Story Elements page with plot diagram
7. Analyzing Characters practice
8. Inferencing
9. Constructed Responses

**All documents are in Word with a PDF - Also translated for Spanish speaking students - Answer Keys included (including sample responses for the constructed response)**

Depth not Breadth

The benefits of 'depth not breadth' are seen in many scholarly journals. When teachers & students spend more time with a text, they have more opportunities to interact and respond to literature.

• Deep Understanding: When students delve deeply into a text, they gain a thorough understanding of its themes, characters, and nuances. This deep engagement allows them to appreciate the complexities of literature, fostering a richer and more meaningful reading experience.
• Critical Thinking: Depth encourages critical thinking. Students learn to analyze, interpret, and evaluate texts, which enhances their ability to think critically about what they read. This skill is crucial not only for academic success but also for making informed decisions in everyday life.
• Skill Development: Engaging deeply with a few texts helps students develop essential literacy skills, such as close reading, analytical writing, and evidence-based argumentation. These skills are foundational for success in higher education and beyond.
• Connection and Retention: Students are more likely to form connections with the material and retain information when they study it in depth. This approach allows them to see the interconnectedness of themes and ideas, making the learning experience more cohesive and memorable.
• Personal Engagement: When students spend more time on a text, they have the opportunity to relate personally to the material, fostering a greater sense of engagement and motivation. Personal connections to literature can inspire a lifelong love of reading.
• Addressing Complexity: Many literary works are complex and require time to unpack fully. By focusing on depth, students can explore these complexities, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of literature's multifaceted nature.
• Application of Concepts: A deep dive into a text allows students to apply literary concepts and theories in a meaningful way. They can practice applying various analytical lenses, which deepens their understanding and prepares them for more advanced literary study.
• Quality Over Quantity: The quality of learning is often more important than the quantity. By focusing on a few key texts, teachers can ensure that students are engaging with high-quality literature and getting the most out of their reading experience.

• My students had so much fun doing this, they didn't want it to end! Four Disney villains are being brought to court with charges and your students will either prosecute or defend them in "court":

• Ursula - The Little Mermaid: Fraud & Exploitation

• Scar - The Lion King: Manslaughter & Environmental Crimes

• Gaston - Beauty & The Beast: Attempted Murder & Inciting a Riot

• Lady Tremaine - Cinderella: Emotional Abuse/Neglect & Exploitation

Assign your students to be prosecutors and defenders with their own custom files. Each team has their own responsibilities and will need to craft their argument well to win the judge & jury.

-Reinforce learning of claim, support, point of view and more!

- Students need to support their claims with facts from the movie. Perfect for an argumentative unit!

*Lesson has been adapted with extensive sentence stems and examples. Teacher made examples are also included. This is a scaled activity that all students can do without too much teacher intervention.

Check out these other resources!

• ELA Test Prep, Study Guide & Activities Bundle (new)
• All Things English For Middle & High School Students (best seller)
• Revising & Editing Workbook
• Revising & Editing for Group Lessons
• Bell Ringers for the Semester
• Everything Writing

Elevate your students' short response writing skills and prepare them for success on the STAAR test with this comprehensive Extended Constructed Response (ECR) lesson designed for middle and high school classrooms. This engaging PowerPoint lesson offers educators a valuable tool to assess and guide student learning effectively.

Key Features:

1. Sample Response Evaluation: Dive into three sample extended constructed responses and guide your students through the process of critically analyzing and scoring each one. This lesson provides detailed criteria and rubrics to help teachers accurately assess student work.
2. STAAR Test Practice: Prepare your students for the rigor of the STAAR test with targeted practice exercises. This lesson includes a variety of short stories and prompts that mirror the format and style of STAAR test questions, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the expectations and requirements of the exam.
3. Interactive Learning: Engage your students with interactive activities and discussions that encourage active participation and deeper understanding.
4. Teacher Resources: Empower educators with comprehensive teacher guides, answer keys, and additional resources to support lesson implementation and facilitate classroom instruction. These lesson materials are user-friendly and adaptable, making it easy for teachers to integrate them into their existing curriculum.
5. Skill Development: Foster critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing proficiency in your students as they practice crafting concise and well-supported extended constructed responses. This lesson emphasizes essential skills such as citing evidence, structuring responses, and addressing prompt requirements effectively.

Why Choose This Lesson:

• Rigorous and standards-aligned content designed to meet the needs of middle and high school students.

• Engaging and interactive activities that promote student engagement and academic growth.

• Easy-to-use resources and materials for seamless lesson implementation and classroom management.

• Comprehensive preparation for the STAAR test, ensuring that students feel confident and capable on exam day.

Empower your students to excel in short response writing and conquer the challenges of the STAAR test with this dynamic and comprehensive lesson. Elevate your teaching and ignite a passion for learning with these innovative instructional materials. Download this lesson today and watch your students thrive!

What's Included:

• Student lesson with 42 PowerPoint slides
• Checklists for 3 sample ECRs
• Scaffolded response template
• Templates for in-class scoring (stars)
• 2 Texts to read & write about
• Multiple opportunities for students to speaking, listening, thinking, creating, and evaluating
• Included in Word and PDF

THIS IS A PDF FILE

Why teach word meaning through nonsense words?

• Students must use critical thinking to solve
• Students must read the whole passage for context clues
• Students must problem solve to find the best word that makes the most sense.
• They can't find the answer except through problem solving.

All of these are things we want every student to do! This is something that is already adapted for high and low learners.

Starting with three nonsense words gets students going so they can work in groups or independently to decode the meaning of 7 REAL words (selected from the SAT vocabulary list).

This is a perfect activity for group problem solving and critical thinking!

Elevate your students' short response writing skills and prepare them for success on the STAAR test with this comprehensive Short Constructed Response (SCR) lesson designed for middle and high school classrooms. This engaging PowerPoint lesson offers educators a valuable tool to assess and guide student learning effectively.

Key Features:

1. Sample Response Evaluation: Dive into three sample short constructed responses and guide your students through the process of critically analyzing and scoring each one. This lesson provides detailed criteria and rubrics to help teachers accurately assess student work.
2. STAAR Test Practice: Prepare your students for the rigor of the STAAR test with targeted practice exercises. This lesson includes a variety of short stories and prompts that mirror the format and style of STAAR test questions, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the expectations and requirements of the exam.
3. Interactive Learning: Engage your students with interactive activities and discussions that encourage active participation and deeper understanding.
4. Teacher Resources: Empower educators with comprehensive teacher guides, answer keys, and additional resources to support lesson implementation and facilitate classroom instruction. These lesson materials are user-friendly and adaptable, making it easy for teachers to integrate them into their existing curriculum.
5. Skill Development: Foster critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing proficiency in your students as they practice crafting concise and well-supported short constructed responses. This lesson emphasizes essential skills such as citing evidence, structuring responses, and addressing prompt requirements effectively.

Why Choose This Lesson:

• Rigorous and standards-aligned content designed to meet the needs of middle and high school students.

• Engaging and interactive activities that promote student engagement and academic growth.

• Easy-to-use resources and materials for seamless lesson implementation and classroom management.

• Comprehensive preparation for the STAAR test, ensuring that students feel confident and capable on exam day.

Empower your students to excel in short response writing and conquer the challenges of the STAAR test with this dynamic and comprehensive lesson. Elevate your teaching and ignite a passion for learning with these innovative instructional materials. Download this lesson today and watch your students thrive!

• Student lesson with 41 PowerPoint slides
• Checklists for 3 sample SCRs
• Scaffolded response template
• Templates for in-class scoring (stars)
• 2 Texts to read & write about
• Multiple opportunities for students to speaking, listening, thinking, creating, and evaluating
• Included in Word and PDF

Elevate your students' short response writing skills and prepare them for success on the STAAR test with these comprehensive Extended Constructed Response (ECR) and Short Constructed Response (SCR) lessons designed for middle and high school classrooms. The engaging PowerPoint lessons offer educators a valuable tool to assess and guide student learning effectively.

Key Features:

1. Sample Response Evaluation: Dive into three samples per constructed responses (6 total) and guide your students through the process of critically analyzing and scoring each one. This lesson provides detailed criteria and rubrics to help teachers accurately assess student work.
2. STAAR Test Practice: Prepare your students for the rigor of the STAAR test with targeted practice exercises. This lesson includes a variety of short stories and prompts that mirror the format and style of STAAR test questions, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the expectations and requirements of the exam.
3. Interactive Learning: Engage your students with interactive activities and discussions that encourage active participation and deeper understanding.
4. Teacher Resources: Empower educators with comprehensive teacher guides, answer keys, and additional resources to support lesson implementation and facilitate classroom instruction. These lesson materials are user-friendly and adaptable, making it easy for teachers to integrate them into their existing curriculum.
5. Skill Development: Foster critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing proficiency in your students as they practice crafting concise and well-supported extended constructed responses. This lesson emphasizes essential skills such as citing evidence, structuring responses, and addressing prompt requirements effectively.

Why Choose This Lesson:

• Rigorous and standards-aligned content designed to meet the needs of middle and high school students.

• Engaging and interactive activities that promote student engagement and academic growth.

• Easy-to-use resources and materials for seamless lesson implementation and classroom management.

• Comprehensive preparation for the STAAR test, ensuring that students feel confident and capable on exam day.

Empower your students to excel in short response writing and conquer the challenges of the STAAR test with this dynamic and comprehensive lesson. Elevate your teaching and ignite a passion for learning with these innovative instructional materials. Download this lesson today and watch your students thrive!

What's Included:

• Student lesson with 83 PowerPoint slides
• Checklists for 6 sample ECRs
• Scaffolded response templates
• Templates for in-class scoring (stars)
• 4 Texts to read & write about
• Multiple opportunities for students to speaking, listening, thinking, creating, and evaluating
• Included in Word and PDF

Two products in one bundle for even more practice and test prep!

The first product gives you a class lesson with group practice, individual practice and a summative assessment over revising and combing sentences. Because these are closely connected skills that require similar skill sets, your students will have one lesson that can prep them for these areas in testing and writing.

Use the second product for reinforcement, practice or quizzes on combining sentences. This includes a refresher page that students can use for self-guided learning or reference.

*Isolated practice for Revising Sentences coming soon!

These word sleuths will provide your students/children with a fun journey in the world of Science, Math, Social Studies/History, ELA, and Seasonal/Holiday with key vocabulary words. They can be completed in class, centers, or as a fun homework assignment.

The word sleuths are in PPTX format along with an answer key for all 5 word sleuths.

If you and your students/children, enjoy this activity, please go to "My Purchases" and leave me a review.

Tina

Big Easy Homeschooling Mom

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This engaging Adopt a Pal trendy activity designed specifically for upper elementary students grades 3-5. This captivating end-of-year adventure will have your students immersed in a world of storytelling and imagination using narrative writing. It's the perfect way to get your students excited about writing again. You can scaffold for your students by providing them writing prompt starters or choose the Create Your Own path and let them write a story from scratch. Everything you need is included and ready to use, just add a little but of student imagination. Beat the end of the year slump with a fun activity!

What's Included:

☑ Pal Booklet: A comprehensive guide for students to chronicle their Peep's unique journey.

☑ Black and White & Color Versions: Choose between black and white or vibrant color options.

☑ Narrative Prompts: Inspiring story starters to ignite creativity and enhance narrative skills.

☑ Narrative Planning Sheets: Differentiated Structured worksheets to aid students in organizing their Peep's story.

☑ Babysitting Ad Template: Craft a convincing ad to seek the ideal babysitter for their Peep.

☑ Birth Certificate: Personalize a birth certificate for their newly adopted Peep.

☑ "Coming Soon" Poster: Generate anticipation with a teaser poster for the Peep adoption event.

☑ Teacher Tips: Clear, concise guidance for teachers

This delightful activity was a resounding success in my own fourth-grade classroom, providing a fun and meaningful way to conclude the school year. Students will relish the opportunity to adopt and nurture their very own Pal character while refining vital writing and planning abilities.

Whether you seek an end-of-year project, a creative writing exercise, or a distinct classroom activity, "Adopt a Pal" is the ideal addition to your curriculum.

Need Help or Have Questions?
If you have any questions or need assistance with this product, feel free to reach out to me at ashlee@msgamification.com. I'm here to help!

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This product is intended solely for the teacher who purchased it. Please refrain from sharing it with other teachers. If multiple teachers wish to use it, each should acquire their own license. Thank you for respecting these terms and supporting educational resources!

Copyright 2024 ©️ Ms Gamification

Looking for a fun way to get your students talking, moving, and collaborating? Look no further!

The focus of this breakout is Shakespeare’s The Twelfth Night. The activities in this breakout game are designed to help students review what they have read in the play. A great review game before a test or quiz. Comes complete with answer key.

Looking for a fun way to get your students talking, moving, and collaborating? Look no further!

The focus of this breakout is Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. The activities in this breakout game are designed to help students review what they have read in the play. A great review game before a test or quiz. Comes complete with answer key.

*Teaching Much Ado About Nothing?

Check out some of our other products.

Much Ado About Nothing Characterization flipbook

Much Ado About Nothing Quizzes Acts 1-5

Much Ado About Nothing Flip book Study Guide

Much Ado About Nothing: Benedick Soliloquy Analysis Compare and Contrast Act 2

Shakespeare Comedies (All Plays)

Looking for a fun way to get your students talking, moving, and collaborating? Look no further!

The focus of this breakout is The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The activities in this breakout game are designed to help students review what they have read in the novel. A great review game before a test or quiz. Comes complete with answer key.

Task #1 Plot

See if your students can figure out the overall plot for the story using a diagram and plot cards. When put in the right order students get a secret code.

Task #2 Characters

A way for your students to work together figuring out who is who from the novel with character cards and an answer sheet. Once solved students gain a code word.

Task #3 Close Read

Students must close read an excerpt from the novel and acurately answer questions about the excerpt to reveal the last code word.

Task #4 Encrypted Message

Using all the clues from the previous three tasks students must solve the encrypted message to escape the room.

Your students will love competing against the other groups in their class to solve these knowledge based puzzles around the novel.

Need more resources for The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr Hyde?

Look no further...we got you covered!

The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde Introduction Power Point

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Characterization Flip book

Looking for a fun way to get your students talking, moving, and collaborating? Look no further!

The focus of this breakout is The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. The activities in this breakout game are designed to help students review what they have read in the book. A great review game before a test or quiz. Comes complete with answer key.

Introducing the ultimate study guide for Animal Farm the classic novel by George Orwell! The Animal Farm study guide flipbook contains everything you need to understand this masterpiece of British literature.

With 18 pages of comprehensive material, the study guide is divided into three main sections, including Questions by Chapter, Historical Context, and About The Author.

The Questions by Section includes detailed questions for the novel's chapters designed to help you focus on key plot points, character development, and themes. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to promote critical thinking and analysis, allowing you to delve deeper into the novel and gain a deeper understanding of its complexities.

The Historical Context section provides important historical background information about the time and place in which the novel is set. This section explores the political, social, and cultural context of the novel, helping you to better understand the novel's themes and ideas.

The About The Author section provides insight into the life and work of George Orwell.This section explores the author's biography, his literary influences, and his writing style, giving you a deeper appreciation for the novel and its place in British literature.

Best of all, our study guide flipbook includes an answer key for all the questions, so you can check your answers and make sure you are on the right track.

Whether you are a student, a literature enthusiast, or simply someone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of this classic novel, our Animal Farm study guide flipbook is the perfect tool to help you achieve your goals. So why wait? Order your copy today and start exploring the world of Animal Farm.

Click here for Google Drive Version

Looking for a fun way to get your students talking, moving, and collaborating? Look no further!

The focus of this breakout is The Count of Monte Cristo. The activities in this breakout game are designed to help students review what they have read in the novel. A great review game before a test or quiz. Comes complete with answer key.

Task #1 Plot

See if your students can figure out the overall plot for the story using a diagram and plot cards. When put in the right order students get a secret code.

Task #2 Characters

A way for your students to work together figuring out who is who from the novel with character cards and an answer sheet. Once solved students gain a code word.

Task #3 Close Read

Students must close read an excerpt from the novel and acurately answer questions about the excerpt to reveal the last code word.

Task #4 Encrypted Message

Using all the clues from the previous three tasks students must solve the encrypted message to escape the room.

Your students will love competing against the other groups in their class to solve these knowledge based puzzles around the novel.

Need more resources for The Count of Monte Cristo?

Look no further...we got you covered!

The Count of Monte Cristo: Introduction Power Point

The Count of Monte Cristo: Characterization Flipbook

The Count of Monte Cristo: Flip book Study Guide

The Count of Monte Cristo: Vocabulary Lists and Quizzes

The Count of Monte Cristo : Vocabulary Crosswords

The Count of Monte Cristo: Graphic Organizers

Looking for a fun way to get your students talking, moving, and collaborating? Look no further!

The focus of this breakout is both Shakespeare’s A Midsummer's Night Dream. The activities in this breakout game are designed to help students review what they have read in the play. A great review game before a test or quiz. Comes complete with answer key.

Looking for a fun way to get your students talking, moving, and collaborating? Look no further!

The focus of this breakout is figurative language. Includes simile, metaphor, personification, allusion, alliteration, oxymoron, idiom, hyperbole, imagery, and onomatopoeia. A great review game before a test or quiz. Comes complete with answer key.

Looking for a fun way to get your students talking, moving, and collaborating? Look no further!

The focus of this breakout is Literary Devices. The activities in this breakout game are designed to help students review. The Escape Room is Halloween themed and includes some spooky examples. A great review game before a test or quiz. Includes Metaphor, Simile, Onomatopoeia, Hyperbole, Imagery, Alliteration, and Euphemism Comes complete with answer key.

Looking for a fun way to get your students talking, moving, and collaborating? Look no further!

The focus of this breakout is both Shakespeare’s As You Like It. The activities in this breakout game are designed to help students review what they have read in the play. A great review game before a test or quiz. Comes complete with answer key.