Dictionary Guide Words and Thesaurus Practice Worksheets. These worksheets are actually a real hands-on activity for students to use dictionaries. Students need to look up the words and find the guide words for each page. They will learn how guidewords are important to finding entries in a dictionary. Use with any dictionary. Key is not included since the answers will vary depending on the dictionary used. Includes one worksheet for dictionary guide words, and an addtional two page worksheet for work with a thesaurus. - HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.4e Use glossaries and beginning dictionaries, both print and digital, to determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4d Use glossaries or beginning dictionaries, both print and digital, to determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4c Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.4c Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.

Cask of Amontillado - Short Story Unit and Teaching Activities. Teaching resources to go with the short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Includes a short bio of Edgar Allan Poe, Pre-Reading Questions, Overview of the story, Vocabulary to Watch for with graphics, 10 Question Multiple Choice Quiz with key, Essay Questions, Discussion Questions, Character Analysis T Chart, Irony Handout, and a list of web resources with links to a great YouTube video and Online slideshow. - HappyEdugator

Reading Holes? This basic novel study of the book Holes by Louis Sachar includes several vocabulary lists, 8 quizzes on the book, one end of book test, and a list of good websites to use when teaching the novel Holes. Keys included. - HappyEdugator

Short Story Writing Project Rubric. Have your students write a short story. They can use PowerPoint slides to get creative, using this rubric as a guide for including the literary elements, and making it easy for you to grade. This rubric specifies the requirements needed, and addresses the writing process, introduction, organization, problem or conflict, characters, setting, resolution/solution, and spelling and punctuation. UPDATED OCTOBER 2014 - HappyEdugator

Sentence Structure Activity - Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex. Includes Simple and Compound Sentences Acquisition Lesson and Extending and Refining Activity for Complex and Compound-Complex Sentences. Fun and engaging way to get students to learn the difference between simple sentences and compound sentences using Oreo cookies and Vanilla wafers! Students love grammar when it is hands-on. Yum! They get to eat them when the work is done! Includes essential question, activating strategy, teaching and writing practice, and summarizing strategy. Extend the lesson to include complex sentences and compound-complex sentences. Includes a plot diagram graphic organizer, a KWL chart, a story writing paper, and printables to go with the activity. Supports common core. L.7.1a, L.7.1b - Happyedugator

Forms of Energy PowerPoint. 7 basic forms of energy. Defines what energy is, and explains the different types of energy including Mechanical energy, Thermal energy, Chemical Energy,Electrical Energy, Electromagnetic or Radiant Energy, Sound Energy, and Nuclear Energy. Animated clips make it fun! 24 slides. - HappyEdugator

All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury. Two versions of a final test for the short story. Includes constructed response questions. The first version includes vocabulary and has three sections: Fill-in the Blank, Multiple Choice, and a Constructed Response requiring evidence from the text to support the answer. 25 total questions, plus a constructed response. 5 Fill in the blank questions, and 20 multiple choice, with key. Grading scale given for constructed response. This test assesses understanding of story vocabulary, literary elements, and reading comprehension. The second version of the test does not assess vocabulary, but also has three sections: Multiple Choice, Short Answer Constructed Response, and Essay. All of the constructed response questions require text evidence, critical thinking, and are of the rigor expected for the new standards. 16 multiple choice questions, 3 short answer questions, and 1 essay. They are on separate pages, so you may choose which parts of the test you wish to give. - HappyEdugator

Christmas Folktale Craft and Story - The Golden Cobwebs. Christmas Around the World. A German Christmas legend to read about the spiders who wanted to see the Christmas tree, but who had been chased out of the house by mother's cleaning and dusting. A Christmas fairy comes to their rescue, but when they go see the tree, they leave a mess of cobwebs behind, which has to be fixed before Christmas arrives. After reading the story, you may have a choice of two different crafts to do with your students. In the first craft, students can make their own golden cobwebs to make as decorations to hang on a Christmas tree. Directions for the craft included. Younger students will need help from adults to do this activity, while older ones may be able to do this independently. In the second craft, geared toward younger students, students cut out the spiders and glue onto a Christmas tree pattern, adding yellow yarn and stars to complete the project.Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Super Hero Profile Sheet and Dialogue Writing Activity. Create a superhero! Superheros like Spiderman are cool! Includes a graphic organizer to build their superhero, a worksheet that walks students through creating their own superhero character, and a writing activity. Students will write a short dialogue about a conflict the superhero is having. They may write it with stage directions for an actor to act it out. Some students like to illustrate their dialogue as well with a picture of their created superhero. - HappyEdugator

Thanksgiving: A Thanksgiving Day Song. Get musical and teach your students this quick and easy Thanksgiving Day song. A fun song for all ages! Good Thanksgiving singing activity to fill some time around the holiday. You don't need a lot of musical talent for this Thanksgiving song. This fun little song about Thanksgiving is sung to the melody of "Santa Claus is coming to Town." It is easy to learn and to remember, and a great tune for all ages from preschool to adult. Includes score. Happy Thanksgiving! - HappyEdugator

Research Paper Writing PowerPoint for Middle Grades. This PowerPoint will walk your students through the BASICS of doing research and writing a research paper. Includes the purpose of research, selecting a topic, making source cards and note cards, taking notes, creating an outline, drafting, writing a bibliography, sources to use, and avoiding plagiarism. 27 slides. - HappyEdugator

Shades of Meaning Verb Cards - WALK. Cut out and laminate these 16 different cards illustrating different synonyms of the verb "WALK." Helps students understand connotation. With guidance and support from adults, students acquire new vocabulary by defining word relationships and nuances in word meanings, sorting words into categories, choosing and acting out the different meanings. Aligns to Common Core Standards CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut, prance) by acting out the meanings. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs differing in manner (e.g., look, peek, glance, stare, glare, scowl) and adjectives differing in intensity (e.g., large, gigantic) by defining or choosing them or by acting out the meanings. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.5b Distinguish shades of meaning among closely related verbs (e.g., toss, throw, hurl) and closely related adjectives (e.g., thin, slender, skinny, scrawny). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5c Distinguish shades of meaning among related words that describe states of mind or degrees of certainty (e.g., knew, believed, suspected, heard, wondered). Additionally, words can be used for spelling practice, writing practice, and word walls. Includes definitions for the teacher. - HappyEdugator

Johnny Tremain Novel Study. This packet has vocabulary and word mapping activities for the novel, a novel wordsearch, a reader's response journal assignment, a web research assignment, and a final test on the book, with key. - HappyEdugator

Columbus Day PowerPoint - Why Do We Celebrate It? Columbus Day - the story of Christopher Columbus and his voyages. Fun nonfiction with animated graphics to read aloud. Includes a fun word activity at the end as well! Supports Common Core. Happy Columbus Day! - HappyEdugator Common Core Standards RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3

Writing Essays - how to write an essay starting with a graphic organizer. This PowerPoint will walk students through a graphic organizer and using it to write a rough draft of an essay, either expository or persuasive. A sample of the graphic organizer is on a slide, but I usually make two blank copies of the organizer to give to each student. A printable graphic organizer is included at the end for you to print for student copies. We do one together on the practice thesis statement, and then they have one to use when they write from a different prompt. Great test prep for state writing tests. - HappyEdugator

Drama Warm Ups - Fun role playing activities to get students moving, thinking and creating. Whether you are teaching drama in literature, a drama course, or sponsoring a drama club after school, these activities will be engaging and fun, and will lead to higher level thinking and creativity! 15 pages of different activities with examples and suggestions to get started. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Characterization PowerPoint - Character Development in Short Stories. Shows students how to develop characters when writing short stories by analyzing author strategies, like using sensory details, gestures, and interior monologue. Demonstrates different strategies to use in developing a character in a short story, helping students write better by making their characters come to life! Animated graphics and sound. 18 slides. Includes a handout for students to put in their writer's notebook. Supports common core state standards. - HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3a Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3b Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3a Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3b Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.

Veterans Day Word Scramble and Veteran's Day Word Search. Fun word puzzles for Veterans Day. This word scramble has 16 words related to Veterans Day - such as heroes, honor, patriotic, military, veteran, etc. Like a jumble, students have to unscramble the letters to come up with the words. The Word Search has 24 words hidden in the puzzle. This is a fun activity that helps develop vocabulary, word recognition, and sorting and classification skills. Answer keys are provided. - Happy Edugator

Transitions Handout. Supports common core! Lists many specific transitions to use in writing to help develop relationships between sentences, paragraphs, and ideas, such as addition, comparison, contrast, cause and effect, etc. Helps students write better persuasive and expository essays. They can also be used for a word wall on transitions and transitional phrases. - HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3c Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3c Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.3c Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2c Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.3c Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.

Nonfiction Vocabulary You Should Know Test. Goes with my Nonfiction Vocabulary You Should Know PowerPoint, but can be used separately. Includes nonfiction, author's purpose, exposition, description, narration, and persuasion, types of nonfiction selections and their descriptions, nonfiction text structures, the difference between dialogue and dialect,as well as stereotype and bias. 25 fill-in the blank style questions with a word bank. Reading more nonfiction is essential to the common core standardsthat are assessed on many state tests. Prepare your students for the terminology. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4 Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.4 Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.