Student ♥ Engagement Bundle of Language Arts Lessons for Middle and High School

Rigorous, standards-based lessons your students will love! ❤ ❤️

Preview this Student Engagement Bundle for junior high and secondary English Language Arts.

So, one day I was thinking about my shop from my customers' perspective. It occurred to me that a buyer might want to know which products were some of STUDENTS' favorites. Frankly, one of my biggest goals in lesson planning is to incorporate student interest and enjoyment, so my lessons as a whole always have that in mind. But - if my students were to choose the six most engaging lessons (or mini-units) from my store - which six would they be? Though, not certain, I do get lots of feedback on my lessons - and I definitely feel the love on these six products.

Now you can get them in a bundle at a savings. Click on the preview to see a little more closely what is offered in this bundle, but my very-candid-teens do stand behind these. :D

Description of these lessons are below:
↝ 1. Song Titles that Symbolize Me.
This is one of my students' favorite lessons all year. Teenagers - actual teenagers - compliment me on this lesson plan. That was a wow-factor for me, because I really didn't expect quite that much love when I developed the lesson. Every time I teach it, I hear comments such as: "We should do this more often," "Of all your classes, this one is my favorite so far," etc. Quite a few get so involved, they ask to work on it at home, or otherwise elaborate upon it beyond my expectations. As simple as it seems, their music is so much a part of their identity – this experience becomes an extension of it, as well.

So - prepare for your kids to be pumped up, beg to share, and take creative ownership of the process. This lesson includes prompts to inspire your kids to think of song titles, cards for gallery walk, short answer prompt, super-short narrative writing activity, rubric, and bonus writing paper.

↝ 2. Interpretation of the song "Violet Hill" by Coldplay.
This is one of those lessons that will not only hook and engage teens, but lessons they find meaningful, memorable, and that spark deeper issues that they love to think about.

After you've read through the material, you will see that this lesson could last anywhere from 1 1/2 class periods to 3. Then it should be one of those examples that you come back to as you scaffold students into further complexities.

And - this is one of my most popular lessons of all time! Kids talk about this lesson for years, literally - and about being introduced to the band Coldplay in my class. That connection is a wow for me. Not only is it popular, but it is a great way to hook students on poetry lessons - and an excellent tool for applying the concepts.

This 11-page packet includes step-by-step instructions for teachers on teaching the lesson as well as a detailed analysis handout and annotations guide for students. The lesson involves a short partner formative assessment, a class discussion, a close reading and annotation exercise, and a detailed formative assessment so you can monitor your students mastery of the concepts. Literary analysis concepts included. You will also find a "thinking" homework assignment with an admission ticket for the next day.

↝ 3. Engaging Storytelling in Groups.
Adaptable for all age groups - in this standards-based ELA mini-unit, a week of lessons culminate in an event which is itself a daily standards-based lesson, and is designed to occur in-school on a regular day, during a regularly-scheduled class period. Smooth and simple!

The week+ of lesson material will prepare your students, as self-directed learners, to be highly organized, well-planned, and have the know-how to run this simple but exciting event themselves. And they’ll be motivated to do so because of the enjoyment and authentic, real-life connection of the performance itself.

This packet contains a Student’s Guide, detailed teacher directions with “do and don’t” tips from my experiences, handouts, worksheets, graphic organizers, resource links, assessments, and rubrics to make teaching this mini-unit a breeze! Plus lots of extras just in case you need them. If not, save them for later review or another lesson! Win-Win!

↝ 4.The Twilight Zone's "Time Enough at Last".
I incorporate The Twilight Zone into my standards-based lessons about once a month, and my students have come to think of themselves as elite fans of The Zone. And, with a pseudo-intellectual air (though in a good way), they tell others about how it sparks deeper thinking. This love of the show leaves the classroom and also becomes part of their identities.

So - engage your language arts students with the power of ideas and creativity - relating literary concepts to episodes of "The Twilight Zone." Your kids will want to come to class. "Time Enough at Last" is considered the most memorable of all TZ episodes - it is THE classic. Lesson materials and resources in this packet contains enough lesson material for 2-3 days, if you so choose. CCSS and ACT Quality Core. And you're connecting to your students love of video, questioning established norms, and providing lots of irony. Deep-level thinking with analysis and evaluation.

↝ 5. Create-a-Character Multi-Activity Mini-Unit.
Includes rubrics for monologue, sketch, and character analysis plus a character questionnaire to help create details about character.
Kids love the arts connections! It's one of those lessons that's amazingly well received - more so than I expected.

Give as a homework assignment or provide time in class. You can do as much or as little of this as it fits your needs. This project will take up to a week, if you do all aspects in class - but that's totally up to you.Common Core RL3 Character Analysis

↝ 6. Ghost Tour.
Get ready for an exciting two-three days for your students! Certainly not just for Halloween, this online informational reading experience is fun and really hooks your students. Plus most teens find this topic thought-provoking and meaningful. There is a variety of reading material provided, at various Lexile levels and lengths. They will need to be online to work through this ghost tour and be sure to print the pages beforehand. This project is designed for the Internet, but if you will not have access to the Internet, you’ll need to print off the articles, beforehand. You can always go to fewer stops on the tour if you would prefer a one-day ghost tour, as well. Your kids would prefer at least two days (just sayin').

1. Designer version for displaying on your projector and to place in your teacher’s binder and an editable copy of the student assignment
sheets.
2. Teacher’s Guide & Notes.
3. Learning Targets.
4. Blank Ghost Tour Dictionary for noting new words.
5. Scare-O-Meter.
6. Ghost Tour: Nine online sites linked and with URLs addresses (just in case).
7. Directions and questions for students at each stop.
8. Homework activity (read H.P. Lovecraft story) suggested, but optional.

Below are some comments from teachers using this product in their classrooms:

1) "These products are SOOOO wonderful! Thank you for making a bundle!"
2) "My students have loved the lessons that I have used too so I can see why they are the favorites!"
3) "Great variety and very well made resources."
4) "You are very generous in offering so many options."
5) "It certainly is an engagement bundle. I love it."

Thanks for visiting my store! ❤️

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©Teaching and Motivating Teens, 2016