Systematic research, evidence evaluation, and logical reasoning skills for formal discourse. Equips speakers to organize persuasive arguments, identify fallacies, and execute strategic impact calculus during competitive engagement.
Students will learn to identify and craft effective counterclaims and rebuttals to strengthen their argumentative writing. The lesson uses a 'combat' metaphor to make the components of an argument memorable and engaging.
A comprehensive guide to teaching structured debate, focusing on argument construction, rebuttal strategies, and persuasive delivery for middle and high school students.
In this lesson, middle school students explore the power of rhetoric through the speeches and writings of historical and modern change makers. They analyze how language can spark social change and apply these strategies to craft their own persuasive messages.
A lesson focused on the art of persuasion by practicing the skill of playing 'devil's advocate' to strengthen counter-argument skills. Students will use task cards to challenge popular opinions and build robust rebuttals.
Final assessments and a project-based learning activity where students explore the book's themes creatively.
The aftermath of the rescue, Winnie's big decision, and the ultimate resolution of the story (Chapters 21-Epilogue).
The tension rises as the man in the yellow suit makes his move and the Tucks face a dire threat (Chapters 13-20).
Exploring the Tucks' home life, their explanation of the spring, and Winnie's growing bond with the family (Chapters 6-12).
Introduction to the Foster family, the woods, and the initial encounter with the Tucks (Prologue to Chapter 5).
A comprehensive lesson guiding students from the history and purpose of slam poetry through writing original verses to performing with impact and giving constructive peer feedback.
A lesson that teaches students how to follow specific procedural 'directions' to build powerful and structured arguments. Students learn the 'Persuasion Protocol'—a set of rules for effective debate and logical construction.
A lesson on time management and task prioritization for middle schoolers, featuring the Eisenhower Matrix and strategies for identifying 'time-wasters' and 'productivity-boosters'.
A lesson for middle schoolers on identifying and using persuasive techniques (ethos, pathos, logos) and rhetorical strategies in advertisements and speeches.
A lesson on digital media literacy for middle schoolers, focusing on the SIFT method to evaluate online information, identify bias, and spot misinformation.
A comprehensive lesson for middle schoolers on breaking down complex, multi-step instructions using chunking, visualization, and paraphrasing strategies.
A creative writing and geography lesson where students act as travel agents, using facts from a video to create persuasive tri-fold brochures for European islands.
Students will dive into the world of urban legends, analyzing the structure of modern folklore and creating their own harmless legends rooted in their local community. The lesson uses the 'Sewer Alligator' hook to explore how stories that are 'unlikely but widely believed' capture our imagination.
Students step into the shoes of engineer Joseph Strauss to convince San Francisco officials to build the 'impossible' Golden Gate Bridge. They will analyze historical opposition, develop counter-arguments, and deliver a persuasive 'pitch' using historical evidence from the Great Depression era.
A comprehensive ELA and History lesson where students analyze Emma Lazarus's 'The New Colossus' and explore the Statue of Liberty's history as a symbol of welcome. Students will translate archaic poetic language into modern text messages and social media posts.
A creative writing and science lesson where students analyze the dramatic language of nature documentaries to craft their own scripts about local wildlife. Students use metaphors, similes, and vivid verbs to transform everyday animals into prehistoric-style protagonists.
A 6th-grade lesson on distinguishing between anecdotal and solid evidence to build persuasive arguments. Students analyze a video case study, evaluate evidence types, and write a courtroom-style closing argument for a fictional 'crime.'
This lesson focuses on analyzing how authors use evidence and counter-arguments to build credibility, using the Khan Academy video on the Moon Landing as a central case study. Students will explore the concepts of skepticism, independent verification, and the three pillars of argument (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning).
Students will learn the three rhetorical appeals (Ethos, Pathos, and Logos) through a Khan Academy video and apply their knowledge by analyzing and sorting media advertisements.
Students will identify and utilize Ethos, Logos, and Pathos to construct persuasive arguments in a debate format.
Students will learn to distinguish between valid inferences and wild guesses by acting as 'Lawyers' and 'Judges' in a classroom Evidence Court, using text clues and schema to support their claims.
A 6th-grade grammar lesson where students debate the 'gray area' between concrete and abstract nouns, using physical evidence and logic to categorize tricky words.
A culminating project where students create a large-scale visual plot map tracking both events and emotional intensity.
An examination of how loose ends are tied and how resolution impacts the story's theme, featuring an alternative ending workshop.
Students identify and debate the true climax of their novel, analyzing how authors maximize emotional impact at the turning point.
Focuses on rising action and pacing, using a 'tension tracking' coordinate plane activity to visualize narrative intensity.
Students analyze the opening of a novel to identify setting, status quo, and the specific moment of the inciting incident.
Students participate in a Socratic Seminar to analyze contradictory proverbs and the nuance of applying wisdom.
Students investigate the relationship between fables and the short, pithy adages that summarize their morals.
Students compare proverbs from diverse cultures to identify universal human experiences and shared values.
Students learn to distinguish between idioms and adages/proverbs and analyze common examples for the advice they offer.
Students present their analogy projects and act as 'Logic Detectives' to evaluate the validity and effectiveness of their peers' conceptual comparisons.
A lesson focused on Act 1 of 12 Angry Men, where students analyze initial evidence and engage in structured debates to practice evidence-based reasoning.
A high-energy, game-show themed lesson where students compete to identify and provide verifiable evidence for various claims. Utilizing a Khan Academy video to model the 'Prove It!' strategy, students practice distinguishing between opinions and facts.
Students investigate the power of storytelling by engaging in a formal debate centered on the 'Silencer's' philosophy. They analyze literature as 'windows and mirrors' to argue whether stories are vital tools for empathy or mere distractions from real-world issues.
Students explore the fundamentals of rhetoric through video analysis and collaborative poster creation, mastering rhetorical devices (simile, metaphor, hyperbole) and appeals (ethos, logos, pathos) to build a 'Rhetorical Toolkit'.
Students analyze how authors manipulate information through omission and connotation to shape a narrative. They then apply these strategies in a high-stakes 'Lobbyist Debate' regarding the necessity of homework, practicing the art of strategic inclusion and exclusion.
In this lesson, students will learn to analyze and compare text structures (Chronology, Cause/Effect, Problem/Solution, and Comparison) to understand how organizational choices shape an author's argument and influence the reader.
A lesson focused on identifying the 'terms of debate' and learning how to reframe an argument to shift the ground of a discussion. Students will analyze a soda tax debate and practice reframing standard school-based topics.
A high-energy debate lesson where students roleplay as characters from the city of Persuasia to argue for or against replacing the town mascot, Wartimer the Warthog. Students will analyze rhetorical appeals (Ethos, Logos, Pathos) and expand short arguments into full-length opening statements.
A persuasive writing lesson where students design a new school mascot and create a campaign poster using claims, arguments, and rhetorical devices like anaphora and tricolon.
A middle school lesson introducing the three pillars of persuasion (Ethos, Logos, and Pathos) through video analysis, a collaborative sorting activity focused on school cafeteria food, and creative ad design.
A high-energy lesson where students use role-playing 'clashes' to brainstorm and structure argumentative essay outlines. Students will practice verbalizing claims, evidence, and rebuttals before committing them to a formal battle plan.
A 6th-grade ELA lesson exploring the mechanics and importance of oral tradition, contrasting a casual game of 'Telephone' with the rigorous cultural preservation of Indigenous storytelling. Students practice being 'story keepers' by interviewing peers and accurately retelling personal narratives.
Students evaluate the ethical responsibilities of journalists through the lens of literary journalism, focusing on the tension between narrative style and factual accuracy. They will analyze real-world scenarios, debate ethical dilemmas, and develop a personal 'Code of Ethics' for a school publication.
Students will learn how to synthesize information from multiple texts to build a strong, evidence-based argument through a 'Battle of the Animals' competition.
A journalism-themed lesson where students apply the ABC strategy (Attitude, Bias, Cross-check) to create and analyze news reports about a local event in Media Metropolis.
Students will learn to evaluate the strength and relevance of evidence within an argument by analyzing a real-world scenario (the 'phone debate') and sorting evidence for a claim about school start times.
Students synthesize their research and analysis into a comprehensive World Guide or travel brochure for the novel's setting.
Students explore how authors use setting to establish mood and atmosphere, including the use of pathetic fallacy.
Students analyze how the physical and social setting creates obstacles and conflict for the characters, acting as a 'silent antagonist'.
Students conduct a mini-inquiry into the historical or geographical reality of their novel's setting to understand the factual context.
Students identify sensory imagery in their novel to visualize the primary setting and understand how authors build worlds through sights, sounds, and smells.
Students synthesize their research skills to present the 'life story' of a specific word, detailing its origin, evolution, and modern usage.
An exploration of loanwords and how English adopts vocabulary through cultural exchange, trade, and conflict.
Students investigate semantic shifts, tracking how definitions have changed over centuries using historical dictionary resources.
Learners use reference tools to identify Greek and Latin morphemes, practicing morphological analysis to decode academic vocabulary.
Students are introduced to the concept of etymology and the layout of etymological dictionaries, identifying root languages and word timelines.
Students peer-review and 'stress-test' their briefs to identify logical gaps and strengthen their evidence before finalizing their research product.
Students learn the structural components of a debate brief and organize their ranked evidence into a logical, persuasive framework.
A lesson focused on presenting original Choose Your Own Adventure books to an audience, incorporating adult feedback and student reflection.
Students transform their informative essays into engaging audio recordings by focusing on prosody, pacing, and sound effects, based on the 'Multimedia' extension from the Informatown series.
Students will transition from story dreaming to story planning by articulating their narrative ideas aloud. Through peer interviews and feedback, they will identify and bridge 'clarity gaps' in their novel plans.
An intermediate ESL lesson focusing on the pronunciation and rhythm of the perfect progressive aspect, using a humorous 'Cookie Chronicles' theme and a Khan Academy video.
Students will learn how to organize and deliver an effective informational pitch about a literary genre, using a 3-slide storyboard structure to plan their presentation. This lesson connects to the 'Genre Reflections' video and culminates in a small-group pitch session.
Students explore the concept of language register and code-switching by comparing formal and informal communication. They will watch a video, analyze key differences in vocabulary and tone, and perform role-play skits demonstrating how to adjust their speech for different audiences.
A collaborative grammar lesson where students use whiteboards and tablets to explain and correct dangling modifiers in a 'Khan Academy' style. Students analyze humorous errors, record short teaching clips, and present their work to the class.
A high-energy lesson where students transform dry technical manuals into dramatic performances to master vocal variety, pacing, and pitch. Includes an analysis of expert speech delivery and a 'Bueller' challenge hook.
Students analyze the impact of vocal variety, physical presence, and rhetorical devices on public speaking effectiveness using a Khan Academy case study and a structured delivery checklist.
Students define grammar, explore the difference between rules and conventions, and discuss 'Standard American English' as a specific tool for certain contexts while validating their own home languages. The lesson culminates in writing a 'Grammarian's Pledge.'
A high-energy debate lesson where students learn to weaponize text evidence and avoid 'vibes-based' arguments using a Khan Academy model. Students practice finding evidence for opposing sides within the same text and engage in rapid-fire mini-debates.
A lesson where students learn to use transition words to signal counter-arguments and rebuttals using the 'Wing Chun' (block and strike) metaphor. Includes a video analysis of historical mysteries and a collaborative sentence-scrambling activity.
This lesson explores the intersection of Character vs. Society and Character vs. Technology conflicts through a modern ethical lens. Students will analyze segments from a literary conflict video and engage in a structured debate about facial recognition in schools.
A middle school lesson focused on analyzing the structure of an argument (Introduction, Expansion, Examples, and Counter-argument) using a Khan Academy video and a relevant editorial text.
Students learn to distinguish between logical (Logos) and emotional (Pathos) evidence through a video analysis of a teen persuading her mother, followed by an evidence-sorting activity and a persuasive writing exercise.
Students learn rhetorical strategies (claim, evidence, and counterclaim) by analyzing a video about a failing phone and then applying those skills to write a text-message dialogue between a student and a principal.
Students learn to strengthen their arguments by anticipating and addressing counterarguments before they are even raised. Using a relatable video analysis of a teen negotiating for a new phone, students practice the 'preemptive strike' technique using a specific 'Even though...' sentence structure.
Students participate in a Socratic Seminar or structured debate based on controversial nonfiction texts. They use specific textual evidence to support points and build on others' ideas.
Students explore how an author's background or purpose influences a text. They identify loaded language and omissions as tools of bias and practice rewriting biased content.
Students judge whether an author has provided enough evidence to support a claim. They look for logical fallacies or generalizations and assess article robustness.
Students categorize statements into facts, opinions, and reasoned judgments. They discuss how authors blend these to persuade readers and engage in a fact-checking activity.
Students identify the primary claim an author is making in an argumentative nonfiction text. They map the logical flow of reasons provided to support the claim and distinguish between informational and argumentative writing.
A high-energy conclusion where students defend a low-stakes topic against a panel of questioners using all defensive techniques in a press conference simulation.
Students practice how to diplomatically correct opponents who have misrepresented their arguments using professional clarification phrases.
This lesson teaches the 'bridge' technique—answering difficult questions briefly and connecting them back to prepared evidence using transition phrases.
Students learn to identify 'leading questions' designed to force specific answers and practice verbal formulas to reject premises and restate positions.
Students examine the role of non-verbal communication when being questioned and practice maintaining a 'neutral face' and confident posture under pressure.
In this final simulation, students debate a relevant school topic. Judges score not just on persuasion, but specifically on the ability to name and explain any fallacies used by the opposing side.
Students select a real-world advertisement or clip and present a breakdown of its logical structure to the class. They must identify at least two fallacies and explain how those fallacies are intended to work on the consumer.
Students focus on the 'False Dilemma' (Either/Or) fallacy. They learn to identify when a speaker offers only two extreme options and how to propose a middle ground.
Moving beyond products, students listen to excerpts of grade-appropriate speeches to find Straw Man arguments. They analyze how speakers sometimes misrepresent their opponent's view to make it easier to attack.
Students learn sentence stems and polite protocols for pointing out a logical error during a debate. They practice these in low-stakes partner debates and improv activities.
Students analyze marketing that limits choices to two extremes (e.g., 'Buy this or be uncool'). They practice 'breaking the binary' by brainstorming third, fourth, and fifth options that the advertisement ignores.
As a summative project, students synthesize their learning to create a 'Code of Logic' manifesto for their school or classroom digital community.
Students learn to 'steel-man' opposing viewpoints and use polite sentence stems to redirect conversations away from fallacies without escalating conflict.
A lesson where students master tag questions, direct address, and yes/no commas through a 'Detective Interview' role-play activity. Students analyze how tag questions shift tone and influence persuasive speech.
Students synthesize all evidence to solve a final mystery, presenting their 'Case Report' to a jury of peers.
Students evaluate the reliability of narrators and identify red herrings, learning to question the validity of text evidence.
Using a mystery narrative, students practice monitoring their comprehension by revising predictions as new evidence is introduced.
Students use the STEAL method to build psychological profiles of characters, inferring traits from indirect clues like dialogue and actions.
Students analyze visual 'crime scenes' to practice the fundamental shift from observation to inference, categorizing evidence as circumstantial or direct.
Students proposed and defend different themes for the class text in a Socratic seminar, using their character analysis as evidence to support multiple valid interpretations.
Students synthesize their character analysis to formulate thematic statements using the 'Theme Formula', bridging the gap between story details and universal truths.
Students investigate the climax of the story to identify the pivotal moment of character transformation, comparing the protagonist's mindset before and after.
Students analyze the consequences of character choices in key scenes, debating what these outcomes suggest about character motivation and the author's message.
Students identify internal and external conflicts and begin tracking how a protagonist responds to these initial hurdles.
Students synthesize their learning by connecting the novel's themes to current events and personal experiences through a final reflective writing piece.
A student-led Socratic seminar where peers discuss the universal implications of the novel's themes, focusing on civil discourse and collaborative reasoning.
Students prepare for discussion by gathering textual evidence to support thematic claims and drafting open-ended questions for their peers.
Students investigate how recurring objects and colors (motifs) serve as symbols for the novel's larger themes, specifically looking at 'the color red' and 'the apple'.
Students distinguish between one-word subjects (topics) and full thematic statements, using 'The Giver' and short media to practice converting abstract ideas into complete claims.
Students will learn to identify and apply anaphora and tricolon in persuasive writing, using examples from the 'Persuasive Power' video and historical speeches. This lesson includes a video analysis, a 'Rhetoric Detectives' identification activity, and a creative writing application.
A creative performance lesson where students script and perform their own 'Grumpy Li'l Guy' podcast segment, focusing on the 4-step structure of a persuasive argument.
A foundational 6th-grade lesson on identifying main claims and supporting details using the 'Grumpy Li'l Guy' shopping cart argument as a model. Students will learn the difference between a topic and a claim and practice their skills by analyzing a short editorial.
Students will learn to identify and analyze the four key structural components of an argument: Introduction, Expansion, Examples, and Counter-arguments. This lesson uses a humorous podcast-style video to anchor the concepts before applying them to a new text.
Students will learn to deconstruct arguments into four key components—Introduction, Expansion, Examples, and Counterarguments—using a Khan Academy video and short opinion articles to map the structural 'blueprint' of persuasive writing.
A middle school ELA lesson focused on using specific evidence to support claims, inspired by the Khan Academy 'Weird Hobbies' video. Students move from generic descriptions to high-definition examples that 'paint a picture' for the reader.
Students analyze how parts of an argument create a whole using a podcast about shopping cart etiquette, followed by a civil discourse seminar on moral character and social contagion.
In this project-based lesson, students use their prepared outlines to dictate a full narrative story. They focus on moving from one bullet point to the next to maintain a logical flow in their writing.
Students learn strategies for managing silence and thinking time while the microphone is active. They practice using the 'pause' command or simply waiting quietly without saying filler words like 'um' or 'uh' that appear in text.
Students practice the specific skill of looking at a keyword note and orally expanding it into a full, grammatically correct sentence. This scaffolding helps prevent writer's block when the microphone is on.
This lesson guides students in converting brainstormed ideas into a structured bullet-point outline suitable for dictation. Students learn to use keywords that will prompt complete sentences when they start speaking.
A dynamic lesson for middle schoolers to master the art of the counterclaim, using the 'preemptive strike' strategy to win arguments through logic and audience awareness.
