ela resources
TRANSCRIPT
ELA RESOURCES
1. 180 Writing Prompts that Work http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/post/32343377489/the180promptsiactuallyuse
Planet for Sale
Humanity has decided to change planets and needs to sell Earth. You’ve been hired to put it on
the market. How do you advertise it and what’s the price tag? Write a few sentences that announce the sale and
advertise Earth.
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Activity 2. Writing about YouTube clips or Google images. When writing about a clip, be sure to include:
sensory details sights (what you see) sounds taste/smell touch/feel
describe the actions that are occurring include peoples’ thoughts include dialogue
YouTube Clip: Kingda Ka
Student Examples
I hear the chattering of hundreds of people waiting on line. I didn't hear them. I was too mesmerized by my impending doom. My eyes were huge, like an old owl, the moon in his eyes. My mouth was gaping open, a nervous, twisted smile, my eyebrows reaching high towards the clouds. I'm comforted by the red seat guard, soft and rubbery. But the anxiety of the ride starting was looming over me. The yellowshirted employees locked our harnesses and sealed my fate. I was trapped now, with no escape. I heard a man screech like a tiger, shrieking in horror. I heard the operator scream about something I didn't care about, the microphone giving him a slurred, legato voice. All of a sudden, we were moving. We were barely moving yet, and I was shaking like a leaf, like a leaf who was on a roller coaster and about to die. I felt my stomach slam up into my throat, and my neck was thrown to the side.
I could hear lots of talking and chattering of people waiting to get on. I smile but I'm sick to my stomach, and my eyes turn to the rows of people. I wish to get off but I know I can't. There is a sherbetcolored bar separating me and the person next to me. The sweat from my sticky hands cover the bright red bars. As I wait to start the horror ahead the ride operators come and click in the harness. At that moment I knew I was never getting out and I couldn't escape. I tried to look around but I only got a small glance at a woman who looked as pained as if she was in labor. I gave a small laugh but felt like I would have no more breakfast if my stomach moved any more. I heard someone scream, “Good god” as we departed. As our ride started one of the operators welcomed the riders behind us. There were rails that went on as long as valleys and there were trees all around setting a nice view. We sat there in fear for half a minute but it felt like forever. As the ride starts we hear a hiss and someone screams. My mind raced with thoughts as we launched to the top. The view was filled with trees and road. The cars looked like black and white spots on the ground…
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Google Image: Bowling Pin Boys
For any image that contains people, animals, characters, etc.: Make up a conversation that the characters might be having.
Use dialogue.
Use dialogue tags.
"Ugh," groaned the other boys wanting to leave anxiously. ^ not just “Ugh,” said the boys.
"Hey Jimmy, can you please go any faster before someone hits you with the ball?" "Shut up Ralph," screamed out Jimmy. "How about you do something except for sitting down and
counting your fingers." All the boys start picking themselves up while trying to straighten their backs. "Ugh," groaned the other boys wanting to leave anxiously. "I can’t do anything because I have a headache from the crashing sound of these heavy, annoying pins,"
said Ralph as he rubbed his head in pain. "Just stop," Jimmy spit out. "Five more minutes to go, boys!" screamed Jon. ^Student Example
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Activity 3. Describe what you see wherever you are! “Dunkin Donuts” Challenge:
Write about ONE item at whatever restaurant/store you’re at. The goal: use as many sensory details as possible. If you have more than one child, you can
make it a competition. Whoever puts in more effort gets their choice!
Student Example: The steam came up from the cracks of the delicious bread sitting in front of me. There it was, the smell of the bacon, still sizzling, still fresh, filling my nose and making my mouth water. I heard and felt my stomach growl and pounce on it like a poor injured gazelle lying right there waiting to be gobbled up. The egg, sitting their, hopeless it knows it can't escape me. I grasp it with my hands like it was a bar of gold, lifted it up to thank the Dunkin Donuts gods for this crispy buttery beautiful thing. I lift it to my mouth, take a big inhale, almost taking away the smell. I could see the light from above shine down as I hold it. The smell was heavenly. My stomach and taste buds did not
let me enjoy it they made me gobble it up right away. The taste was no different from the smell. It rolled around my mouth like my mouth was a dryer. Hands down the best thing I have ever had… A croissant…
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Activity 4. Instagram. Accounts to follow:
@earthpix @worldofartists @amazing @natgeo @puppystagrams @levoleague
1. Describe everything that you see. a. Include sensory details. b. Describe the setting. c. Describe, specifically, what the people/animals in the images look like.
i. What are their facial expressions? ii. What is their body language like? iii. How, overall, are they feeling?
2. Make a connection to yourself, something going on in the world, a book, etc.
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Example:
A giant iPhone is holding the hand of a man → holding the paw of a dog.
Man = obedient and reliant on his phone he’s not unhappy judging by his face he has a
smile on and is kind of possessed Phone = dominant
holding “likes” (like on Facebook) the way a human would hold a bone for a dog
Setting A sidewalk that has a view of the city; the sun
is setting. Mood = productive / upbeat; city = fastpaced
(our phone usage = fastpaced lifestyle) Connection Constantly checking social media!
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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Practice:
1. Describe everything that you see.
a. Include sensory details (SIGHT, SOUND, TASTE/SMELL, TOUCH/FEEL)
b. Describe the setting.
c. Describe, specifically, what the people/animals in the images look like.
i. What are their facial expressions?
ii. What is their body language like?
iii. How, overall, are they feeling?
2. Make a connection to yourself, something going on in the world, a book, etc.
1. a. Sensory Details
b. Setting
c. Animal (facial expression, body language, etc.)
2. Connection
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Your child can make an account strictly for “JOURNALING.”
Document your travels or experiences by taking pictures and “blogging” the captions.
Example 1:
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Example 2:
(A fjord is a long, narrow part of a sea, bordered by steep cliffs: usually formed by glacial erosion.)
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READING
Activity 1. Song Lyrics a. Song lyrics ‐ what you can do while looking at songs
i. Summarize/explain each stanza
ii. Write down your favorite line(s)
1. Explain why you chose those lines and what those particular lines mean
iii. Make one connection to the song
1. the connection can be to yourself, to an event in the world or a moment in
history, or to a book or another song
iv. Identify the theme of the song
v. Why do you think this song was written?
Student Example:
Chorus from “Where is the Love?” by The Black Eyed Peas
People killin', people dyin' Children hurt can you hear them cryin'? Can you practice what you preach? And would you turn the other cheek? Father, Father, Father help us Send us some guidance from above 'Cause people got me, got me questionin' Where is the love? (Love) Where is the love? (The love) Where is the love? (The love) Where is the love? The love, the love
Explanation: In the first stanza of the chorus, the speaker is talking about how people in this world kill each other and others die because of this. The innocent children of the world are struggling because of all of the killing and suffering. The “can you practice what you preach” line refers to people being hypocrites. We all say that we should do the right thing but we don’t, and most of us “turn the other cheek” by ignoring all of the bad things that people do.
In the next stanza, the speaker seems to be praying, asking for help from a higher force because of all of the world’s fighting. Finally, the speaker is asking “Where is the love?” because all he sees in this world is fighting and hate.
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Songs ORGANIZER ‐ Practice (lyrics on next page) 1. Summarize/explain each
stanza
2. Write down your favorite
line(s).
3. Explain why you chose those lines and what those particular lines mean.
4. Make one connection to the
song The connection can be to
yourself, to an event in the
world or a moment in history,
or to a book or another song
5. Identify the theme of the song.
6. Why do you think this song was written?
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Titanium (David Guetta and Sia) 1. You shout it out
But I can't hear a word you say I'm talking loud not saying much I'm criticized But all your bullets ricochet Shoot me down, but I get up
2. I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away Ricochet, you take your aim Fire away, fire away
3. You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium You shoot me down but I won't fall I am titanium
4. Cut me down
But it's you who'll have further to fall Ghost town and haunted love Raise your voice, sticks and stones may break my bones I'm talking loud not saying much
5. I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away Ricochet, you take your aim Fire away, fire away
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Songs ORGANIZER ‐ Blank 1. Summarize/explain each
stanza
2. Write down your favorite
line(s).
3. Explain why you chose those lines and what those particular lines mean.
4. Make one connection to the
song The connection can be to
yourself, to an event in the
world or a moment in history,
or to a book or another song
5. Identify the theme of the song.
6. Why do you think this song was written?
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Activity 2‐a. Informational Texts (“Current Events”)
www.newsela.com
This website is 100% free. Just create a login and you can find articles for your child
to read and then answer questions.
You can also change the READING LEVEL of the articles to make them easier or more
challenging.
Your child can also simply use these articles to take notes on events going on in the
world.
Who‐
What‐
When‐
Where‐
Why‐
or:
Take notes by subsections.
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Activity 2‐b. Humans of New York www.humansofnewyork.com This is a blog that feature portraits and interviews of people in NY, and
sometimes people in other countries. This is not a school website, so
you would have to monitor what your child reads.
“One day when I was fourteen years old, I was hanging out at the swimming pool at Richmond Hill High School, and this kid named Douglas came up to me. I was dating a girl named Carmen at the time, so he said to me: ‘I heard you’re going with Carmen.’ I told him I was. And he said, ‘That’s impossible. Because I’m going with Carmen.’ We went back and forth for awhile, then decided to settle it right then, so we both hopped onto his bike and rode over to Carmen’s house. When Carmen opened the door, and she saw both of us standing there, she was so scared that she didn’t know what to say. Douglas and I became best friends after that. If you saw one of us, you saw both of us.” (¼) With this website, your child can…
Keep a journal of peoples’ experiences. Each entry should include:
Description of the person (or people) in the image. Description of the setting. Summary of the caption. Most important direct quote from the caption. Lesson that we can learn from the picture/caption.
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PRACTICE: “I’m a graphic designer, and I’m trying to be more assertive at work. My bosses tell me that I need to use my voice more. Whenever my work gets criticized, I have a tendency to say: ‘You’re right.’ Or ‘I agree.’ I don’t really stand up for my own decisions, even though I had good reasons for making them. Whenever I’m around my friends, I can be sarcastic and obnoxious and say things without thinking about them. But for some reason that confidence doesn’t transfer to the workplace. It’s frustrating.”
Description of the person (or people) in the image. Describe her body language also, and facial
expression.
Description of the setting. What’s in the picture? Where is this woman? What’s she sitting on? What’s in the background?
Summarize the caption.
Write down what you feel is the important direct quote from the caption.
What lesson can we learn from the picture and caption?
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Activity 3. Reading Fiction Books or Stories
3a. Readworks ‐ www.readworks.org
Free website that has short fiction and non‐fiction passages that are leveled.
Passages also have questions with answer keys.
Scholastic website
www.scholastic.com
gives you reading levels of books
When reading fiction texts, readers: make predictions
identify the main ideas of chapter
make connections
make inferences about characters
infer how the setting affects the mood
You can have your child record what books they’re reading on “Reading Rewards” website:
http://www.reading‐rewards.com/
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Have your child read a book and answer any of the following questions to help their
comprehension.
Reader Response Questions for FICTION BOOKS OR STORIES:
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You can also use the resources below for fiction books.
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Title of Fiction Book (underlined) _____________________________ Possible Themes (The message the author wants you to learn from the story)
1) _____________
Why can this be a theme?
Text Citation (quote from the text) 1:
Text Citation (quote from the text)2:
Text Citation (quote from the text)3: ___________________________________________________________________ Fiction Story Elements: Exposition (introduction) Characters (people and their physical traits and personality traits): Setting (time, place à what story clues helped you know this?)
What is the conflict? (the problem):
Rising Action (events that build up to the turning point these events create suspense):
What is the climactic moment? (the turning point) What is the falling action and resolution?
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Theme List
1. Beauty of simplicity
2. Chaos and order
3. Convention and
rebellion
4. Dangers of ignorance
5. Darkness and light
6. Death – inevitable or
tragedy
7. Desire to escape
8. Destruction of beauty
9. Disillusionment and
dreams
10. Displacement
11. Empowerment
12. Everlasting love
13. Evils of racism
14. Facing darkness
15. Facing reality
16. Fading beauty
17. Faith versus doubt
18. Family – blessing or
curse
19. Fate and free will
20. Beauty of simplicity
21. Fear of failure
22. Female roles
23. Fulfillment
24. Good versus bad
25. Greed as downfall
26. Growing up – pain or
pleasure
27. Hazards of passing
judgment
28. Heartbreak of
betrayal
29. Heroism – real and
perceived
30. Hierarchy in nature
31. Identity crisis
32. Illusion of power
33. Immortality
34. Individual versus
society
35. Inner versus outer
strength
36. Injustice
37. Isolation
38. Isolationism
hazards
39. Knowledge versus
ignorance
40. Loneliness as
destructive force
41. Losing hope
42. Loss of innocence
43. Lost honor
44. Lost love
45. Love and sacrifice
46. Man against nature
47. Manipulation
48. Materialism as
downfall
49. Motherhood
50. Names – power and
significance
51. Nationalism –
complications
52. Nature as beauty
53. Necessity of work
54. Oppression of
women
55. Optimism – power or
folly
56. Overcoming – fear,
weakness, vice
57. Patriotism – positive
side or
complications
58. Power and
corruption
59. Power of silence
60. Power of tradition
61. Power of wealth
62. Power of words
63. Pride and downfall
64. Progress – real or
illusion
65. Quest for discovery
66. Quest for power
67. Reunion
68. Self – inner and
outer
69. Selfawareness
70. Selfpreservation
71. Selfreliance
72. Social mobility
73. Technology in
society – good or
bad
74. Temporary nature of
physical beauty
75. Temptation and
destruction
76. War – glory,
necessity, pain,
tragedy
77. Will to survive
78. Wisdom of
experience
79. Working class
struggles
80. Youth and beauty
81. Fear
82. Rivalry
83. Loyalty
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Chapter Notes
Actions (what events are happening in the chapter?)
Characters ‐ Physical Descriptions ‐ Personality Inferences:
Setting/Mood:
Main Idea (after reading the chapter ‐ one or two sentences describing what happened overall):
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Top Read Aloud Books BOOKS & APPROXIMATE PRICES 1. The Tale of Despereaux 2. Written by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering. $7.19 3. No Talking 4. Written by Andrew Clements, illustrated by Mark Elliott. $5.39 5. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing 6. Written by Judy Blume. $5.39
Also recommended: Because of Winn Dixie Written by Kate DiCamillo. $4.19 Maniac Magee Written by Jerry Spinelli. $5.56 The Witches Written by Roald Dahl. $5.68
Top Realistic Fiction 1. The Outsiders 2. Written by S.E. Hinton. $8.49 3. Wonder 4. Written by R.J. Palacio. $11.99 5. Speak 6. Written by Laurie Halse Anderson. $8.48 7. Number the Stars 8. Written by Lois Lowry. $5.71
Also recommended: Stargirl Written by Jerry Spinelli. $5.68 The Cay Written by Theodore Taylor. $5.71 Freak the Mighty Written by Rodman Philbrick. $5.48 The Fault in Our Stars Written by John Green. $6.35
Top Mystery Books 1. The Westing Game 2. Written by Ellen Raskin. $7.19 3. Chasing Vermeer 4. Written by Blue Balliett, illustrated by Brett Helquist. $6.53 5. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 6. Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. $3.50 7. Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House (Series) 8. Written by R.L. Stine. $4.89
Also recommended: Belly Up Written by Stuart Gibbs. $6.29 Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer (Series) Written by John Grisham. $6.53 From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Written by E.L. Konigsburg. $5.71
Top Fantasy and Science Fiction Books 1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Series)
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2. Written by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Mary GrandPre and Kazu Kibuishi. $7.79 3. The Hunger Games (Series) 4. Written by Suzanne Collins. $5.64 5. The Giver 6. Written by Lois Lowry. $7.88 7. The Lightning Thief 8. Written by Rick Riordan. $4.79
Also recommended: A Wrinkle in Time Written by Madeleine L’Engle. $6.16 Divergent (Series) Written by Veronica Roth. $5.13 Matched (Series) Written by Allie Condie. $8.48 The Maze Runner (Series) Written by James Dashner. $8.96 The Lord of the Rings (Series) Written by J.R.R. Tolkien. $14.28
Top Historical Fiction Books 1. The Book Thief 2. Written by Markus Zusak. $7.34 3. Chains 4. Written by Laurie Halse Anderson. $6.29 5. Number the Stars 6. Written by Lois Lowry. $5.71 7. The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 8. Written by Christopher Paul Curtis. $6.29
Also recommended: Fever 1793 Written by Laurie Halse Anderson. $6.08 Soldier’s Heart Written by Gary Paulsen. $12.15 Esperanza Rising Written by Pam Muñoz Ryan. $5.48
Top Biographies 1. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl 2. Written by Anne Frank. $11.36 3. Night 4. Written by Elie Wiesel. $5.97 5. The Red Scarf Girl 6. Written by Ji‐li Jiang. $6.29 7. Soul Surfer 8. Written by Bethany Hamliton and Rick Bundschuh. $10.89
Also recommended: Surviving Hitler Written by Andrea Warren. $6.29 I Have Lived a Thousand Years Written by Livia Bitton‐Jackson. $6.29 Bad Boy Written by Walter Dean Myers. $8.96
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Top Science Books 1. Sports Science for Young People 2. Written by George Barr. $8.96 3. Human Body: A Book With Guts 4. Written by Dan Green, illustrated by Simon Basher. $8.09 5. One‐Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! 6. Written by Eric Yoder and Natalie Yoder. $8.95
Also recommended: 1. Janice VanCleave’s A+ Science Fair Projects 2. Written by Janice VanCleave. $11.16 3. How They Croaked 4. Written by Georgia Bragg, illustrated by Kevin O’Malley. $8.48 5. The Periodic Table: Elements With Style 6. Written by Adrian Dingle, illustrated by Simon Basher. $7.88
Top History Books 1. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer 2. Written by James L. Swanson. $2.94 3. Night 4. Written by Elie Wiesel. $5.97 5. Hana’s Suitcase 6. Written by Karen Levine. $8.48
Also recommended: The Long Road to Gettysburg Written by Jim Murphy. $8.81 An American Plague Written by Jim Murphy. $1.97 Charles and Emma Written by Deborah Heiligman. $8.99
Top Poetry Books 1. Where the Sidewalk Ends 2. Written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. $14.36 3. Poetry Speaks: Who I Am 4. Edited by Elise Paschen. $14.09 5. A Light in the Attic 6. Written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. $14.48 7. Poetry for Young People: The Seasons (Series) 8. Edited by John N. Serio, illustrated by Robert Crockett. $8.95
Also recommended: Heartbeat Written by Sharon Creech. $6.29 Love That Dog Written by Sharon Creech. $5.39 Carver: A Life In Poems Written by Marilyn Nelson. $14
Top Humor Books 1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2. Written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. $4 3. Angus, Thongs and Full‐Frontal Snogging. 4. Written by Louise Rennison. $6.66 5. Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life
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6. Written by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts, illustrated by Laura Park. $7.19 Also recommended:
Written by Raymond Bean. $6.79 The Strange Case of Origami Yoda Written by Tom Angleberger. $3.79 An Abundance of Katherines Written by John Green. $5.99
Top Drama Books 1. The Miracle Worker: A Play 2. Written by William Gibson. $10.28 3. The Diary of Anne Frank 4. Adapted by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. $7.20 5. To Kill a Mockingbird 6. Adapted by Christopher Sergel. $8.33 7. Monster 8. Written by Walter Dean Myers. $6.68
Also recommended: Romeo and Juliet Written by William Shakespeare. $1.35 A Raisin in the Sun Written by Lorraine Hansberry. $10.95 Short Plays for Building Fluency: Famous Americans Edited by Scholastic. $13.83
Top Reference Books 1. Guinness World Records 2014 2. Edited by Guinness World Records. $10.86 3. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers 4. Edited by the Modern Language Association. $15.69 5. Merriam‐Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus 6. Edited by Merriam‐Webster. $15.08
Also recommended: Tarantula vs. Bird (Predator vs. Prey Series) Written by Mary Meinking. $7.19 Ripley’s Believe It Or Not: Special Edition 2013 Edited by Scholastic Inc. and Ripley’s Entertainment Inc. $12.72 D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths Written by Ingri d’Aulaire and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire. $14.46
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