Following are my best plans for middle school students. Instead of focusing on a full day (as you might find in a closed-classroom setting), this column features 50-minute lessons in a variety of subjects. These lessons can, of course, be combined if you're working in a setting where you do have the same group of students for several or all classes in a given day.
Language Arts
In small groups (approximately 4 students), students will individually examine a photograph and together write a story explaining the picture.
Supplies
A teacher's copy of the "Chainwriting" lesson plan found at http://www.lessonplanspage.com/LAChainWr... .
Six to eight photos cut out from newspapers or magazines, each taped or glued to an empty sheet of paper (lined or unlined). Photos should be interesting, but non-specific, with no caption.
One pencil per student
A source of music--audiotape and player, radio, etc.
Directions
1. Divide students into groups of 4 or so, trying to keep groups the same size, no need to move chairs. In fact, this often works best if students are kept in typical rows rather than facing one another in the group. They are not to talk during this exercise. Make sure everyone has a pencil, and pass one photo facedown to one member of each group.
2. Explain that when you start the music, the first student in each group is to turn over the paper. They are to look at the picture, and begin writing a description of what is happening in the picture, what might have lead up to the situation shown, etc. When you stop the music, they are to quickly and quietly pass the picture on to the next member of their group, and the second student will do the same. Start the music again; the second student reads what the first student wrote, then expands on the story. Each time you stop the music, the picture is passed to the next group member who will read what was written by other members and will add on to the story.
