7th Grade Winter Lesson

Dive into the whimsical world of "The Grinch" with this engaging and comprehensive literary analysis toolkit! Perfect for Christmas or winter classroom activities, this resource is designed to captivate and challenge students in grades 4-8. Your students will embark on a festive journey of language, literature, and film analysis, all while celebrating the holiday season, Grinch Day, Centers, or before Winter Break!

What’s Included:

• "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" Lyrics Analysis: A full copy of the song lyrics for students to read and annotate. They will identify, classify, and draw instances of figurative language, diving deep into the clever and creative wordplay of this iconic song.
• Positive & Negative Connotations Activity: Students will sort words from the lyrics into lists of positive or negative connotations, enhancing their understanding of language nuances.
• Stanza Rewrite Exercise: A creative writing task where students rewrite a stanza from the Grinch's point of view, fostering empathy and perspective-taking.
• Vocabulary Enrichment: An activity focused on finding synonyms and antonyms for the word "mean," aimed at expanding students' vocabulary and encouraging stronger word choice.
• 10 Engaging Movie Clips: Carefully selected 3-minute clips from the 2018 Grinch movie, each serving as a basis for analyzing various literary elements such as setting, character development, and inferencing.
• Comprehensive PDF Worksheets: Easy-to-use worksheets for each activity, designed to facilitate student learning and engagement.
• Interactive Google Slides Presentation: A dynamic and visually appealing presentation that complements the PDF activities, perfect for both in-person and virtual classrooms.

Educational Benefits:

• High Engagement: Students will love exploring the colorful world of the Grinch, keeping them motivated and interested.
• High Rigor: Each activity is crafted to challenge students and deepen their understanding of literary concepts.
• Versatile Use: Ideal for whole-class instruction, small groups, literacy centers, or as part of a holiday-themed unit.
• Skill Development: Enhances skills in reading comprehension, literary analysis, creative writing, vocabulary development, and critical thinking.
• Aligned with Standards: Designed to align with Common Core standards for grades 4-8.

Make learning fun this holiday season with our "The Grinch 2018: A Comprehensive Literary Analysis Toolkit." Your students will not only review key literary skills but also engage in a joyful, meaningful exploration of language and film. Perfect for adding a festive twist to your curriculum! ✨

Students will read or follow along as the passage about the emperor penguin is read. Students will then answer comprehension questions as they read or after they have finished reading. Students will then see a diagram of an emperor penguin at the end of the product. Students will then label the diagram using a key.

This winter inspired Writing /Vocabulary Google Slide lesson is perfect for any Language Arts class! Stir creative juices with 10 rigorous vocabulary words which have been woven into two higher level writing prompts for creative written response. In addition to the imaginative writing prompts, a teacher-friendly grading rubric is included; designed to highlight the use of the advanced vocabulary.

VOCABULARY: The lesson includes 10 vocabulary words with three-fold animated photo slides. These vivid slides present a bold photo, the definition and part of speech for each of these challenging new words:

1. Icicle
2. Blustery
3. Crystalline
4. Glacial
5. Snowdrift
6. Aurora
7. Spectacular
8. flurry
9. Trudge
10. Glistening

PRACTICE: Nine printable graphic organizers for the newly learned words are part of this lesson. They provide grammar review, grammar sort, connotation review, connotation sort, story map, and word study exploring synonyms, antonyms etc.

ASSESSMENT: A context clue fill-in-the-blank worksheet is provided which may be used for practice or assessment. Also included, is a vocabulary Quizlet which can be used for practice or assessment.

Please be sure to view the preview and watch the video for detailed images and descriptions of the lesson.

This lesson is also available in PowerPoint!

Use this Christmas ornament writing activity to decorate your classroom tree and to get your AVID (or any content area) students in the holiday spirit! Students will choose 1 of the 8 mandala ornaments to decorate or create their own with the blank version provided. Then they will write about their greatest gift, cut and glue that to their ornament!

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What's Included:

• A PDF Document with 8 Mandala Ornaments for students to choose from
• Ornaments for responding to "My greatest gift is..."
• One blank ornament for students to create their own mandalas

Directions:

• Students will choose a mandala ornament to decorate or use the blank one provided to make their own.
• After decorating their ornaments, students will respond to the prompt, "My greatest gift is..." using the writing-lined ornament.
• Next, students will cut out their mandala and writing ornament and glue the lined writing ornament to the back of their mandala ornament.
• Last, laminate and cut them out, hole punch the top, and add a string! Hang them on your classroom tree.

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Check out other AVID Christmas Resources HERE!

This may be the most meaningful and memorable lesson you teach in December!

This product features an engaging "Christmas Talk" activity that will have your students thinking, writing, collaborating, speaking, and moving around in one class period! In this activity, they must choose between 5 different quotes from famous figures about Christmas and articulate why the quote aligns with their own perspective about the holiday. I use this lesson every year during the week leading up to Christmas vacation to make sure that my students take some time out of their hectic lives to consider what Christmas truly means not to society, not to others, but to them.

Product includes:

• Comprehensive lesson plan
• "Christmas Talk" Sheet for students to fill out
• 5 Corresponding "Christmas Quote" signs to hang up around your room

I hope that this lesson is as meaningful and successful in your class as it is in mine!

___________________________________________________________________

Also, check out more great holiday products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan

⭐The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan

⭐The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare/Contrast Essay

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language {{BUNDLE}}

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language Powerpoint Presentation

⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs - 32 Task Cards

⭐Letter to a Member of the Military

⭐We Didn’t Start the Fire Activity

___________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

• 10 Winter Holiday Narrative Essay Picture Prompts & Planner: Engage students in narrative writing with holiday-themed picture prompts and a structured planner to develop plot, character, and setting in alignment with creative writing standards.
• Christmas Hip Hop Lyrics Analysis: Teach figurative language, rhyme schemes, and tone through an engaging analysis of hip hop lyrics, blending music and ELA standards for Grades 6-8.
• St. Nick: Informational Text Structures: Explore main ideas, text structures, and author’s purpose with this winter-themed set of informational texts designed to strengthen critical reading skills.
• Unraveling Krampus: Text Structures and Critical Analysis: Develop students’ ability to identify text structures and analyze information critically with this high-interest resource focused on the Krampus folklore.
• Informational Text Structure Coloring Sort: Combine creativity and learning as students sort and color-code winter-themed informational texts to practice identifying text structures.
• Winter Wonders: Exploring Text Features Through Snow-Themed Articles: Strengthen comprehension and analysis skills by examining text features in engaging snow-themed articles, perfect for enhancing nonfiction literacy.
• Christmas Winter Holiday Characters from Around the World Research PBL: Dive into global holiday traditions with this project-based learning activity that encourages research, critical thinking, and presentation skills.
• Holiday Figurative Language & Movie Clip Standard-Based Learning Activities: Analyze figurative language through fun, holiday-themed movie clips that align with ELA figurative language standards for middle schoolers.
• Virtual Winter Sports Exploration: Engage students in a digital exploration of winter sports, focusing on informational text comprehension and analysis for Grades 4-6.
• Analyzing Narrative Point of View Winter-Themed: Develop higher-order thinking with winter-themed narrative texts that challenge students to analyze and compare points of view using Bloom’s Taxonomy.
• Winter Vacation PBL: Inspire creativity and practical application with this low-prep, project-based learning activity where stude

This winter inspired Writing /Vocabulary PowerPoint lesson is perfect for any Language Arts class! Stir creative juices with 10 rigorous vocabulary words which have been woven into two higher level writing prompts for creative written response. In addition to the imaginative writing prompts, a teacher-friendly grading rubric is included; designed to highlight the use of the advanced vocabulary.

VOCABULARY: The lesson includes 10 vocabulary words with three-fold animated photo slides. These vivid slides present a bold photo, the definition and part of speech for each of these challenging new words:

1. Icicle

2. Blustery

3. Crystalline

4. Glacial

5. Snowdrift

6. Aurora

7. Spectacular

8. flurry

9. Trudge

10. Glistening

WRITING: The 10 rigorous vocabulary words have been woven into two higher level writing prompts for creative written response. In addition to the imaginative writing prompts, a teacher-friendly grading rubric is included; designed to highlight the use of the advanced vocabulary.

PRACTICE: Nine printable graphic organizers for the newly learned words are part of this lesson. They provide grammar review, grammar sort, connotation review, connotation sort,story map, and word study exploring synonyms, antonyms etc.

ASSESSMENT: A context clue fill-in-the-blank worksheet is provided which may be used for practice or assessment. Also included, is a vocabulary Quizlet which can be used for practice or assessment.

Please be sure to view the preview and watch the video for detailed images and descriptions of the lesson.

This lesson is also available in Google Slide.

After Winter Break Write the Room: Use this writing activity in your AVID classroom, ELA, or any content area. Allow students to reflect on their winter break with this engaging printable write-the-room activity! This activity features 11 unique labels you can display around your room, each representing a letter to spell out "Winter Break." These labels come with thought-provoking prompts that encourage students to reflect on their winter break experiences! The recording sheet allows students to organize and document responses. Make the transition back from winter break a memorable one!

Winter Bundle

AVID Seasonal Bundle

AVID Bundle

Directions:
Students will complete the winter break prompts around the room and record their responses on the provided recording sheet.

What's Included:

• 11 classroom labels each representing a letter to spell out "Winter Break" with prompts that encourage students to reflect on their experiences during the break.
• A recording sheet with a chart where students write their responses next to the corresponding letter.

More AVID Resources

Winter Resources

Writing Resources

Celebrate the holidays in ELA with this whimsical powerpoint presentation covering the figurative language devices in Christmas songs! This fun and colorful 32-slide presentation is the perfect resource for the holiday season. Each slide features lines from popular Christmas songs for students to practice identifying figurative language devices. Your students will love seeing how many of their favorite Christmas songs are brimming with figurative language! Presentation covers: - Metaphor - Simile - Hyperbole - Oxymoron - Idiom - Personification - Onomatopoeia - Allusion - Alliteration Powerpoint also includes directions, a colorful student answer sheet, and answer key for teachers. _____________________________________________________________________ You can also save 20% by purchasing this product in a bundle along with the best-selling Christmas Song Figurative Language Task Cards! Christmas Song Figurative Language {{BUNDLE}} _____________________________________________________________________ More engaging holiday products by Language Arts Excellence: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan The Grinch Figurative Language Lesson Plan "Christmas Talk" Lesson Plan The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare/Contrast Essay Letter to a Member of the Military We Didn’t Start the Fire Activity The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan Figurative Language in Christmas Songs - 32 Task Cards

New Year's Write the Room: Celebrate the New Year with this engaging printable write-the-room activity! Use this writing activity in your AVID classroom, ELA, or any content area. This activity features 8 unique labels you can display around your room, each representing a letter to spell out "New Year." These labels come with thought-provoking prompts that encourage students to reflect on their goals and aspirations for the upcoming year. The recording sheet allows students to organize and document responses. Make the transition into the New Year a memorable one!

Directions:
Students will complete the New Year’s prompts around the room and record their responses on the provided recording sheet.

What's Included:

• 8 classroom labels each representing a letter to spell out "New Year" with prompts that encourage students to reflect on their goals and aspirations for the upcoming year.
• A recording sheet with a chart where students write their responses next to the corresponding letter.

New Year's Resources

More AVID Resources

Winter Resources

This may be the most meaningful and memorable lesson you teach in December!

This product features an engaging "Christmas Talk" activity that will have your students thinking, writing, collaborating, speaking, and moving around in one class period! In this activity, they must choose between 5 different quotes from famous figures about Christmas and articulate why the quote aligns with their own perspective about the holiday. I use this lesson every year during the week leading up to Christmas vacation to make sure that my students take some time out of their hectic lives to consider what Christmas truly means not to society, not to others, but to them.

Product includes:

• Comprehensive lesson plan
• "Christmas Talk" Sheet for students to fill out
• 5 Corresponding "Christmas Quote" signs to hang up around your room

I hope that this lesson is as meaningful and successful in your class as it is in mine!

___________________________________________________________________

Also, check out more great holiday products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan

⭐The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan

⭐The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare/Contrast Essay

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language {{BUNDLE}}

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language Powerpoint Presentation

⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs - 32 Task Cards

⭐Letter to a Member of the Military

⭐We Didn’t Start the Fire Activity

___________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Use this Spanish Christmas ornament writing activity to decorate your classroom tree and to get your Spanish students in the holiday spirit! Students will choose 1 of the 8 mandala ornaments to decorate or create their own with the blank version provided. Then they will practice their Spanish writing skills while writing about their greatest gift and responding to the prompt, "Mi mejor regalo es." Afterward, they can cut and glue that to their ornament and hang them on your class Christmas tree or bulletin board!

What's Included:

• A PDF Document with 8 Mandala Ornaments for students to choose from
• Ornaments for responding to "Mi mejor regalo es..."
• One blank ornament for students to create their own mandalas

Directions:

• Students will choose a mandala ornament to decorate or use the blank one provided to make their own.
• After decorating their ornaments, students will respond to the prompt, "Mi mejor regalo es..." using the writing-lined ornament.
• Next, students will cut out their mandala and writing ornament and glue the lined writing ornament to the back of their mandala ornament.
• Last, laminate and cut them out, hole punch the top, and add a string! Hang them on your classroom tree or bulletin board display.

Check out other Spanish resources HERE!

This product features the perfect activity to include in your holiday repertoire! In this differentiated lesson plan, students examine the figurative language in the classic poem, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, in a thoughtful, engaging, and creative way. Teach this lesson any time in the month of December to practice figurative language identification and your students will thank you for such a fun activity!

Product Includes:

• Detailed Lesson Plan
• 'Twas the Night Before Christmas lines
• Worksheet
• Student Example
• Color-coded Teacher's Answer Key

_________________________________________________________________________

Also, check out more great holiday products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Winter Figurative Language Practice

⭐ Christmas Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ "Christmas Talk" Lesson Plan

⭐ The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan

⭐ Christmas Song Figurative Language {{BUNDLE}}

⭐ Christmas Song Figurative Language Powerpoint Presentation

⭐ Figurative Language in Christmas Songs

___________________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

AVID Winter Activity - Build a Costa Snowman Digital Resource: This digital lesson and activity is the perfect Winter or Christmas resource for building critical thinking skills in your AVID classroom! Use it as an inquiry icebreaker activity, a supplemental lesson for Costa's Level of Thinking, an inquiry lesson, a Fun Friday activity, or even for your Christmas/Winter party!

⭐Save 30% with this mega AVID BUNDLE!⭐

Directions:

• This 18 interactive Google Slides presentation first goes over Costa's level of thinking with details and examples for all 3 levels.
• Then students will follow directions on drawing or creating their own Costa snowman while answering leveled questions on the way!
• After students create their snowmans and answer the Costa questions about them, they will write their own questions based on a winter scene!

What's Included:

• Essential questions slide
• 7 Costa's Level of Thinking teach slides
• 7 direction slides with step-by-step directions on how to create a Costa snowman and leveled questions for students to answer about their snowmen
• 1 slide with a winter scene where students will write their own leveled questions!

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Check out other winter resources HERE!

Check out other Christmas resources HERE!

Check out more AVID Inquiry resources HERE!

This product features 3 engaging, differentiated activities that focus on the rich sensory details of Hans Christian Andersen's devastatingly beautiful fairytale, "The Little Match Girl." The activities span before, during, and after reading the story with the intent to not only identify the sensory details, but to analyze their importance and how they add to the reader's experience with the tale and the little match girl herself. The activities support multiple learning styles so that all students walk away from the story with an appreciation for this heartbreaking tale and empathy for those less fortunate during the holiday season.

Product Includes:

- Anticipation Guide - "Creative Quick-Write and Story Time"

- Sensory Detail Chart

- Sensory Detail Drawing Activity

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Anticipation Guide (Before Reading)

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Sensory Detail Study (During Reading)

- Sensory Detail Analysis Open Response (After Reading)

- Answer Key

_________________________________________________________________________

Also, check out more great holiday products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan

⭐"Christmas Talk" Lesson Plan

⭐The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare/Contrast Essay

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language {{BUNDLE}}

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language Powerpoint Presentation

⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs - 32 Task Cards

⭐Letter to a Member of the Military

⭐We Didn’t Start the Fire Activity

___________________________________________________________________________

⭐Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐

This resource features a bundle of our Christmas-themed lesson plans, materials, and activities designed specifically for middle and high school students in mind.

Product Includes:

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM:

This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Christmas-themed Escape Room. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task, but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. All tasks are Language Arts skills-based so that with this fun lesson on a sugar-filled holiday, learning is not sacrificed. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game!

⭐ Christmas Journal Prompt Task Cards:

This product features a set of 24 thoughtful writing prompts for middle and high school students during the Christmas season. Each question is carefully crafted to encourage deep thinking and personal reflection. Prompts, each on individual task cards, can be given at the start of class, end of class, for homework, as part of a stations writing or discussion activity, or even as part of an emergency substitute plan. I personally like to begin each class during the month of December with a prompt to really get students in the spirit of Christmas. The possibilities for use are endless during a time of year when every second you can get to be hands-off is precious and your students will appreciate the time to reflect on this very special holiday.

⭐ Christmas Song Figurative Language PowerPoint Presentation:

This fun and colorful 32-slide presentation is the perfect resource for the holiday season. Each slide features lines from popular Christmas songs for students to practice identifying figurative language devices. Your students will love seeing how many of their favorite Christmas songs are brimming with figurative language.

⭐ Christmas Song Figurative Language Task Cards:

This fun and colorful set of 32 task cards is the perfect resource for the holiday season! Each card features lines from popular Christmas songs for students to practice identifying figurative language devices. Cards coincide with the figurative language powerpoint.

⭐ Meaning of Christmas Lesson Plan:

This product features an engaging "Christmas Talk" activity that will have your students thinking, writing, collaborating, speaking, and moving around in one class period! In this activity, they must choose between 5 different quotes from famous figures about Christmas and articulate why the quote aligns with their own perspective about the holiday. I use this lesson every year during the week leading up to Christmas vacation to make sure that my students take some time out of their hectic lives to consider what Christmas truly means not to society, not to others, but to them.

⭐ Christmas Collaborative Writing Activity:

"Christmas Collaborative Story Time" is a communal story-telling activity in which students practice using Freytag's Pyramid plot structure in their own narrative writing. In this activity, each student begins a story inspired by a unique Christmas picture or photograph. With this intrinsically engaging activity, each student has the chance to tap into their creativity while applying knowledge of the 7 steps of Freytag's Pyramid. It is a great activity to introduce or reinforce the plot diagram and is perfect for getting students in the Christmas spirit. Since it runs itself, the lesson is also great for substitute plans or on those days when you need a quick plan to get you through the day. I trust you will find that your students will ask for this activity again and again!

⭐ The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan:

This product features 3 engaging, differentiated activities that focus on the rich sensory details of Hans Christian Andersen's devastatingly beautiful fairytale, "The Little Match Girl." The activities span before, during, and after reading the story with the intent to not only identify the sensory details, but to analyze their importance and how they add to the reader's experience with the tale and the little match girl herself. The activities support multiple learning styles so that all students walk away from the story with an appreciation for this heartbreaking tale and empathy for those less fortunate during the holiday season.

⭐ Christmas Quote Posters from Literature - newly added!

Make your classroom pop this Christmas season with this set of 25 beautifully-made posters featuring Christmas quotes from literature. Each 7.5 x 7.5 (square) PDF poster contains a noteworthy quote imposed over a stunning photograph that will spruce up your ELA classroom during the month of December. The square format makes for an eye-catching arrangement on your wall or bulletin board. I suggest laminating the posters so that you may use them year after year!

⭐ BONUS: Christmas Figurative Language Practice (included for free):

This resource features an engaging, Christmas themed worksheet to help students practice identifying figurative language. This can be given at the start of class, end of class, for homework, as part of an emergency substitute plan, or as part of a stations activity. Kids can never get enough practice with figurative language and this is the perfect worksheet to work on during the holiday season.

___________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Save 20% on this product featuring a set of my best-selling task cards and corresponding powerpoint presentation that prompt students to identify the figurative language in their favorite Christmas songs!

This fun and colorful set of 32 task cards and 38-slide powerpoint presentation is the perfect resource for the holiday season. Each card and slide feature lines from popular Christmas songs for students to practice identifying figurative language devices. Your students will love seeing how many of their favorite Christmas songs are brimming with figurative language!

Powerpoint and cards cover:

• Metaphor
• Simile
• Hyperbole
• Oxymoron
• Idiom
• Personification
• Onomatopoeia
• Allusion
• Alliteration

Product also includes directions, a colorful student answer sheet, and answer key for teachers.

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You can also purchase each of these products separately:

⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs - 32 Task Cards

⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs - Powerpoint Presentation

_________________________________________________________________________

More great holiday products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan

⭐Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐"Christmas Talk" Lesson Plan

⭐The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare/Contrast Essay

⭐Letter to a Member of the Military

⭐We Didn’t Start the Fire Activity

⭐The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan

___________________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence