ALEX Learning Activity Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (8) 8 :

8. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.

This learning activity uses a strategic approach to introduce students to the academic vocabulary they need to understand before writing an expository essay. The activity uses quadrant cards to help extend student learning beyond the basic definition of the term. The following terms are included in the learning activity: transition words, target audience, supporting details, thesis, conclusion paragraph, body paragraph, introductory paragraph, objective tone, formal style, text organization, exposition, and body paragraph.  

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (8) 8 :

8. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.

This resource provides instruction and graphic organizers for the Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Proofreading stages of the writing process. The resource is designed to facilitate creating an expository essay. The purpose of the essay will be to compare and contrast traditional and virtual learning. Students will need to research to gather support for their proposed solutions. 

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (8) 8 :

8. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.

This resource includes a writing prompt and a rubric. The activity focuses on expository writing with a compare and contrast structure. The document includes space for students to compose their essays inside the resource. A rubric is provided to students for self-assessment.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (8) 8 :

8. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.

[ELA2021] (8) -3 :

R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

[ELA2021] (8) -2 :

R5. Assess the formality of occasions in order to speak or write using appropriate language and tone.

This learning activity should be used as an explore/explain activity for students to apply their narrative writing skills and practice differentiating between narrative and expository writing.  The students will practice these skills through correspondence with a publisher and by writing a narrative of a single scene from a hero's journey.  By including the correspondence aspect of the activity, students will be able to show their ability to differentiate between narrative and expository writing.  By limiting the students to writing a single narrative scene, they will be able to more easily demonstrate their ability to write narratives that show not tell.  This should combat some of the summaries that often results when students try to tell an entire story.  Students will need to have prior knowledge concerning the difference between narrative and expository writing and the difference between a single scene in a story and an entire story.  They will also need to be familiar with the basic concepts of letter writing, the hero's journey motif, and the choices authors must make in terms of point of view, showing not telling, and dialogue.  Finally, the students will be presented with My Hero's Journey Narrative Correspondence, a letter between the students and an editor from a publishing company interested in publishing their work. The students will write a single-scene narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end using a consistent point of view that paints a picture of the characters, setting, and events of the story.  The students will use action verbs, imagery, dialogue, and figurative language to paint this picture.  During the activity the students will use a My Hero's Journey Peer Review; revise, edit, and publish their writing to a class Padlet page; and write a letter to their publisher concerning the status of their work.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (7) 3 :

3. Explain how the author's choice of setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing.

[ELA2021] (6) 3 :

3. Explain how authors use setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view to contribute to the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing.

[ELA2021] (6) 7 :

7. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives incorporating key literary elements, including characters, plot, setting, point of view, resolution of a conflict, dialogue, and sensory details.

b. Write informative or explanatory texts with an organized structure and a formal style, incorporating a focused point of view, a clear purpose, credible evidence, and technical word meanings.

c. Write an argument to convince the reader to take an action or adopt a position, stating a claim and supporting the claim with relevant, well-organized evidence from credible sources.

[ELA2021] (7) 7 :

7. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives to convey a series of events incorporating key literary elements, establishing a clear purpose, using narrative techniques (dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection), and sequencing events coherently (chronological and/or flashback).

b. Write informative or explanatory texts with an organized structure and a formal style to examine ideas or processes effectively while developing the topic and utilizing appropriate transitions, precise vocabulary, and credible information or data when relevant.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting claim(s), acknowledging alternate or opposing claims, and presenting reasons and relevant text evidence from accurate and credible sources.

[ELA2021] (8) 3 :

3. Analyze how authors use key literary elements, including setting, plot, theme, characters, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view, to contribute to the meaning and purpose of a text, using text evidence as support.

[ELA2021] (8) 8 :

8. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.

The students will create a postcard using textual evidence from a novel to create an image (setting) from the novel for the front. The students will choose two main characters from the novel and write the message of the postcard from the point of view of one of the characters. They will use textual evidence to create a message from one main character to the other depicting the scene and describing the character's thoughts and feelings.

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] PS8 (8) 3 :

3 ) Construct explanations based on evidence from investigations to differentiate among compounds, mixtures, and solutions.

a. Collect and analyze information to illustrate how synthetic materials (e.g., medicine, food additives, alternative fuels, plastics) are derived from natural resources and how they impact society.

[ELA2021] (8) 8 :

8. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.

In this activity, students will research synthetic medicines and their natural counterparts which perform the same functions.  After evaluating the pros and cons of each, students will write a persuasive paragraph expressing their opinions about whether to use synthetic or natural medicines.

This resource was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (8) 13 :

13. Create and edit digital products that are appropriate in subject, occasion, audience, point of view, purpose, and tone.

[ELA2021] (8) -3 :

R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

[ELA2021] (8) -4 :

R3. Use digital and electronic tools appropriately, safely, and ethically when researching and writing, both individually and collaboratively.

[ELA2021] (8) 8 :

8. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.

[ELA2021] (8) 3 :

3. Analyze how authors use key literary elements, including setting, plot, theme, characters, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view, to contribute to the meaning and purpose of a text, using text evidence as support.

This learning activity should be an after-activity to allow students to demonstrate their understanding of patterns and characteristics associated with the traditional Hero's Journey myth (mono-myth). This learning activity could be used with the "What Makes a Hero?" lesson plan to introduce these concepts. The students will brainstorm ideas for a personal hero who fits the characteristics of the traditional myth using a My Hero's Journey Book Proposal and The Hero's Journey interactive guide. The assignment is presented to students as a letter from a publisher asking them to submit their ideas for a book using the traditional hero's journey pattern and characteristics. The students will answer questions and insert illustrations from The Hero's Journey resource to help them think through their ideas.  

This activity is a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (8) 8 :

8. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.

[SS2010] WH8 (8) 4 :

4 ) Identify cultural contributions of Classical Greece, including politics, intellectual life, arts, literature, architecture, and science.

[ARTS] VISA (8) 15 :

15) Differentiate the ways art is used to reflect, represent, and establish group identity.

Students apply the observation and critique skills of a visual arts student to analyze ancient artifacts in world history. They share reflections and questions to encourage deeper thinking among each other. Students write their analysis in paragraph form, meeting grade-level or higher organization and content expectations. Students share their observations.

This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit.