English Resources 7-12 - 2023
The advent and expansion of STEAM doesn’t mean a movement away from language arts. In fact, scientists, engineers, technologists, artists, and mathematicians all need literacy skills, an appreciation and understanding of the human experience, and strong writing abilities. English doesn’t sit apart from STEAM. In fact, the two fit nicely together, building upon and reinforcing the combined skills and content of each.
Learning Activities
Head over to Newsela on the Staff/Student Portal and type “STEAM” or “STEM” in the search tab. Allow students to explore the wide variety of articles and videos related to STEAM week. Some you may want to show to your students are:
-Black innovators article link
-Remarkable Accomplishments of Hidden Figures
- Redefining Girl Power: Overcoming Gender Inequality in STEM
****Remember, with Newsela you can change the reading levels to suit the needs of all students in your classroom. The lessons are all done for you!
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Head over to OnCore on the Staff Portal and type “STEAM” or “STEM.” Here, you will find some great videos and podcasts that discuss STEAM. The Podcasts would make a great link to the oral communication and media literacy strands in the English curriculum. Alternatively, you can have students research a STEM topic and create their own podcast with WeVideo.
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Writing News Articles - have students research current events related to STEAM topics and practice writing a news article on a STEAM topic of their choice. You can use Newsela as mentor texts to write the articles.
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Check out the excellent resource created by Skills Canada that explains the importance of Reading Text in the Skilled Trades. Download the booklet to get some ready made activities that show how reading text is an essential skill for careers in the skilled Trades and Technology. Essential Skills Work Ready Youth Booklet - Reading Text Workbook
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Check out the excellent resource created by Skills Canada that explains the importance of Document Use in the Skilled Trades. Download the booklet to get some ready made activities that show how document use is an essential skill for careers in the skilled Trades and Technology. Essential Skills Work Ready Youth Booklet - Document Use Workbook
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Check out the excellent resource created by Skills Canada that explains the importance of Oral Communication in the Skilled Trades. Download the booklet to get some ready made activities that show how oral communication is essential for careers in the skilled Trades and Technology. Essential Skills Work Ready Youth Booklet - Oral Communication Skills Workbook
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Media Literacy - BBC Learning and Microsoft Education, in partnership with BBC World Service, deliver a powerful media literacy initiative for educators and students ages 11 through 14, designed to help students determine fact from fiction in the news. This suite of resources includes 10 lesson plans with curriculum extensions, 10 dynamically produced video segments from the BBC World Service, and a professional development introduction video to help educators kick start the use of the My World Media Literacy education element in their classrooms.
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Storytelling with CoSpaces. Have students illustrate their understanding of a chapter or scene you’ve studied through CoSpaces. Alternatively, have students use their imagination to create their own story or recreate one they’ve read in class while developing both storytelling and digital literacy skills.
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Applied Digital Skills by Google provides collections of lessons organized around a common theme. Students can complete any number of lessons in any order. They can learn how to use Google Draw to create Art, explore technology’s role in current events, program an editing tool for writing assignments, and so much more!
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Do the benefits outweigh the costs of technology? Have students write an opinion essay or practice writing thesis statements using this prompt. Use selections from CommonLit to find evidence to support or refute this statement.
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Read the short story The Veldt by Ray Bradbury (available in CommonLit) and listen to and read the lyrics to the song The Veldt by Deadmau5. Discuss the theme of the story - including the consequences of technological advancement. Consider that this story was written in 1950. What technological advancement was occurring at that time? Discuss the juxtaposition of technological advancement with the decline in social interaction.