Biography Research Project using We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel. Students choose from people in the lyrics to research and then write a biography. Includes instructions for the teacher with a link to the video on teachertube, lyrics, handout on late 20th century peacemakers or controversial figures, assignment handout and rubric. This really got my students using the writing process, research skills, and writing without plagiarism. I was very happy with the results I got this year from my average students! They were very motivated. - HappyEdugator

Allergies: Anaphylaxis PowerPoint describes a severe allergic reaction which is life threatening, causes, symptoms, and emergency treatment, including how to use and administer an epi-pen. When going back to school, teachers should know this in case of an emergency with a student who has a severe allergy. A good tool for a health class. Includes a sign that can be used to place on a peanut safe table in the cafeteria.

Noun Clauses PowerPoint. What is a noun clause? What is the differentce between a phrase and a clause? This is a short 8 slide practice Powerpoint on noun clauses. Students will learn how noun clauses are dependent or subordinate clauses, and signal words to look for when identifying noun clauses. Explains how noun clauses can act as a subject in a sentence, or as a direct object. Practice sentences for students to work with. Key is on the last slide. Updated July 2015. - HappyEdugator

Homophone Match Worksheet. This is a challenging homophone matching activity for upper grades. Have students work in individually or in groups with a dictionary to look up unknown words. Words and definitions are chunked into groups of six. - HappyEdugator

Christmas Holiday Sensory Writing Practice Worksheet. A Christmas or winter holiday writing worksheet. Ten different Christmas writing prompts for sensory writing, to create imagery with a holiday twist. Students will need to show, not tell, using words that utilize the five senses. You may use the worksheet in centers. group work, or individual instruction. You may wish to have them complete all the exercises, choose some, or assign them individually. Includes three pages of sensory words for students to use if needed. - HappyEdugator

Correlative Conjunctions Study Guide. Study guide and worksheet on correlative conjunctions. Definition, Examples, and practice using correlative conjunctions correctly in a sentence. Subject/verb agreement and pronoun/antecedent agreement using correlative conjunctions when writing sentences. Key inlcuded. Supports common core. -HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.1e Use correlative conjunctions (e.g., either/or, neither/nor).

Commonly Confused Words TEST. Good spelling help and standardized test prep. Fifty questions of commonly confused words that are often seen on state tests. Includes common homophones like there, they're and their; usage errors such as its, and it's and should have vs. should of; as well as words such as sit and set and lie and lay. Should really make them think. - HappyEdugator

Sequencing Activity Using Recipes. LF based lesson plan focuses on "How are following directions and sequencing events related?" This is an Activity Sheet with Essential Question and Activating Strategy, Activity Directions, and Exit Ticket Summarizer included, and a set of blank recipe cards for students to complete. Students will work with a partner and find recipes in a cookbook or on the internet and copy them down on their blank recipe cards. They will then complete two different activities with the cards. With the first card,they will identify directions and transition words and discuss what would happen if these got mixed up or out of order with their partner. With the second card, they will copy the directions onto sentence strips, mix them up, and give to another group to put in order. They will then write about their experience and turn in their summary. Ticket out the door included. - HappyEdugator

Strong Verb Sentences and Paragraphs PowerPoint. Teach students to use strong verbs in their writing and avoid "dead" verbs. Sentence and paragraph practice for writing improvement, based on common core. Students can practice using a variety of vivid verbs to bring their sentences and paragraphs to life. This works as a great mini-lesson. Some teachers like to have mock funerals for the "dead" verbs to put them to rest forevermore. Revised and improved with new content and animated graphics! Enjoy! Updated August 2014. - HappyEdugator

Roots with Meaning and Example Words Handout. Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes along with their meanings and example words. alphabetical order. 5 pages, useful as a study guide for test preparation. Supports common core. - HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., photograph, photosynthesis) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).

Conjunctions: Coordinating Conjunctions - Subordinating Conjunctions SMARTBOARD. An interactive Smartboard lesson and activities on coordinating and subordinating conjunctions and how they are used in sentence structure. Two slides present the acronym FANBOYS for remembering coordinating conjunctions, and another has a hands-on activity where students make compound sentences with them. Two slides present subordinating conjuntions and how they make subordinate clauses, and another slide has a hands-on activity for making complex sentences. Solutions to the activities included. Students will also use commas and periods to punctuate their sentences correctly. On the last slide, students must sort the conjunctions into the correct vortex. Engaging and interactive lesson on the Smartboard, where students can touch and move the sentences and punctuation around. EDITABLE for your classroom use. You may wish to divide the sentences into chunks. - HappyEdugator

MLA Format Handout. This printable handout is a guide for students when making citations in essays using Modern Language Association (MLA) format. Includes general guidelines for margins, font and spacing, how the heading, title and page numbers should be formatted, and how to make citations for both long and short quotations, which are defined. An example included. - HappyEdugator

Independent Clauses and Subordinate Clauses. Worksheet or Quiz. Sentence structure practice, review, or assessment. Students will identify whether the underlined clauses are either independent clauses or dependent clauses (subordinate). Ten sentences with key. Supports common core. . - HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1.a Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences.

Ratios, Fractions, Percents, and Decimals PowerPoint. Helps students learn the rules for converting equivalent fractions, decimals and percents. Also Includes a common equivalent reference sheet which can be printed out and kept in student notebooks. - HappyEdugator CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.5 Express a fraction with denominator 10 as an equivalent fraction with denominator 100, and use this technique to add two fractions with respective denominators 10 and 100. CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.6 Use decimal notation for fractions with denominators 10 or 100. CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.1 Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities. CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.3c Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100

Strong Verb List. Use strong verbs to enhance writing. A great revision strategy is to look for ways to make verbs more descriptive. This list of strong action verbs is a handy reference to use when a better word is needed. Students can keep these sheets in their writer's journal or notebook. These words can also make a great word wall. - HappyEdugator

Appositives and Appositive Phrases PowerPoint. Animated graphics and interactive slides helps students Identify appositives and appositive phrases, how to punctuate sentences with appositives, and how to use appositive phrases to combine sentences. Sentence combining is a skill that helps student correct short choppy sentences in their writing. Supports common core standards. - HappyEdugator

Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots Beat the Clock PowerPoint game. A fun interactive way to practice identifying Greek and Latin prefixes, suffixes and roots. Includes a review of affixes for students before starting the game. Students are given two questions and have thirty seconds each to identify the correct answer. They can work with a partner and use wipe-off white boards or write the answers down on paper. After time is up, the answers will disappear. (Timer is built in) Click again to check answers. Advance slide with another click to start with a new set of sentences. Grades 4 and up. Supports common core! 36 sentences in all. Revised March 2016. - HappyEdugator

Poetry Terms Crossword Puzzle. Terms include alliteration, personification, onomatopoeia, imagery, rhyme, rhythm, tone, mood, metaphor and simile...18 terms and clues. Key included. Fun review! - HappyEdugator

An analogy shows the relationship between pairs of words. The relationship between the first pair of words is the same as the relationship between the second pair of words. For example, quick is to fast as loud is to noisy. Four practice sheets for students. They must use the words in the box to complete the analogies. - HappyEdugator

Organize for back to school with this free desk planner! Print on cardstock, laminate, and use dry erase markers (or wet erase) to write on and wipe off. Write in the month, dates, and days of the week. Calendar also has a place for Notes, Reminders, Daily To Do List,and Weekly To Do List. In color or ink friendly black and white. - HappyEdugator