A Language Arts Website

A Learning Site for Middle School Students

Some Great Language Arts Websites To Visit!

  1. Art: Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci
    Art: Snap The Whip by Winslow Homer
    Art: A House By A Road by Edward Hopper
    Study these three paintings. Choose the one you like best.  Then make up a story to go along with this painting. 
    Some Possible Story Starters . . .
    Does Mona Lisa have a secret? Was she an international spy?
    Why are those boys playing snap the whip? Are they trying to win a competition?
    Is it true that that house by the side of road is haunted?  

  2. Grammar: The Eight Parts of Speech
    This site was written by Heather MacFadyen at the University of Ottawa. Check out this site to learn more about     verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions and interjections.
    A Suggestion . . .
    Create a very short story without using any     adjectives. How does it sound?
    Now revise this story adding in just five adjectives. What do you think of your story now? Does your story need more adjectives? Why or why not?
    A Question . . .
    Can a writer use too many adjectives?

  3. Idioms: Dave Sperling Presents the ESL Idiom Page by Dennis Oliver
    This page was created by Dennis Oliver.
    A Suggestion . . .
    Go to this page. Select an idiom to read. Write the idiom down.  Then draw a picture showing how someone might literally interpret this phrase and then draw a picture indicating what the idiom really means. If you have the time, select another idiom and do the same thing for that idiom.

  4. Literature: Tales of Wonder - Folk & Fairy Tales from Around the World
    Thank you Richard Darsie for this wonderful site!
    A Suggestion . . .
    Go to this site. Read and enjoy as many of these tales as you can.
    Next select your most favorite tale and do one of the following activities:
    Write a different ending for this tale.
    Retell this tale to your classmates and as you do so enhance it with appropriate music selections.
    Illustrate this tale, event by event. Then retell this tale to your classmates as you share your illustrations with them.

    Another Suggestion . . .
    What has been the most amazing thing you have learned so far in life? Take this lesson and weave it into your own tale of wonder. Title it 'My Tale of Wisdom' (The most amazing thing I have learned in life so far is that.... my parents usually were right! My tale of wisdom would be about that.)

  5. Literature: Wacky Web Tales
    This site is brought to you by the Houghton Mifflin Company.
    A Helpful Hint . . .
    Before exploring this site you might want to check out the Grammar: The Eight Parts of Speech site (see above).
    A Suggestion . . .
    Browse this site. Choose a topic that sounds interesting to you. Click on it. Then fill in the blanks to create a wacky web tale.

  6. Poetry: Cinquain
    A cinquain poem is usually about nature, is rhymeless and has 5 lines.
    The first line has one word. 
    The second line has two words that describe the  first line. 
    The third line has three words that show  action. 
    The fourth line has four words that show feeling. 
    The fifth line has word that refers back to the first line. 
    Seedlings
    small, minute
    surging, struggling, stretching
    reaching for the sky
    Forest

    Poetry: Haiku
    A Japanese haiku poem is usually about nature, is rhymeless and has 3 lines that follows these rules.
    The first line has 5 syllables. 
    The second line has 7 syllables. 
    The third line has 5 syllables
    Snowflakes in moonlight
    sparkling like bright diamonds
    glistening like stars.

    A Suggestion . . .
    Study the rules for writing a cinquain poem and study the rules for writing a haiku poem. Then create a cinquain poem or haiku poem about some element of nature. Your poem could be about the sky, a snowflake, an oak tree, a flower, a bear, an owl, a storm or a wave. Next illustrate your poem. Then dedicate it to someone you think would treasure it as a gift.

    A Helpful Hint . . .
    Words empower an author so choose them wisely. Select words for your poem that create a particular mood or feeling. When in doubt refer to a thesaurus to help you find a better word.

  7. Reading: Reading Comprehension Quiz
    This quiz was designed by Dennis Oliver. He's a member of the American Language and Culture Program at Arizona State University.
    A Suggestion . . .
    This reading selection is a challenge to decipher. Read it critically, then take and submit the comprehension quiz.
    A Question . . .
    How did you do? What reading strategies did you use to help you organize, connect and remember all the information presented in this reading selection?

  8. Reading Tips: Reading Better and Faster
    Reading Tips: Speed Reading Self-Pacing Methods
    These sites were developed by Dennis Doyle. He is a reading specialist and an Associate Professor of Reading Education at Glendale Community College in California.
    A Suggestion . . .
    Read the information found at both of these sites. Then create a poster called "Some Valuable Reading Tips" for your teacher to display somewhere in your classroom.
    Another Suggestion . . .
    Read the information found at both of these sites. Then create a colorful, informative bookmark. On this bookmark, list "The Top Ten Reading Tips". Then present it to your school's librarian. I promise you it will bring a smile to her/his face!

  9. Spelling & Vocabulary
    This site was created by Houghton Mifflin Company. It offers you the opportunity to play a variety of spelling and vocabulary games.
    A Suggestion . . .
    Each week, why not work with a study spelling buddy and do one of the Word Finds together.  Next, help each other to learn how to spell the Word Find words.  Then using those words, you could....

    This site was created by Houghton Mifflin Company. It offers you the opportunity to play a variety of spelling and vocabulary games.
    A Suggestion . . .
    Each week, why not work with a study spelling buddy and do one of the Word Finds together.  Next, help each other to learn how to spell the Word Find words.  Then using those words, you could....
    Make up songs or cheers to help you remember how to spell the words.
    Play spellman (alias hangman) using the words on the list.
    Use the words on the list to create a crossword puzzle with complete the sentence clues. For Example: Suppose the spelling word is television. A complete the sentence clue for that word might look like this: My sister enjoys any ______ show that deals with science fiction.
    Write an essay about a specific topic in which each spelling word on the list is used and spelled correctly.
    Write a dialog between two characters in which each spelling word on the list is used and spelled correctly.
    Play spelling charades where you have to guess the word as well as spell it correctly before you can go on to the next word.


  10. Writing Tips: Sentence Builder
    Writing Tips: Paragraph Builder
    Writing Tips: Essay Builder
    Much thanks to ACT Laboratory Ltd. for providing us with the Tip-o-matic Writing Den.
    A Suggestion . . .
    Study the information at each one of these sites. Then write an essay on one of the following topics:
Write a sequence essay about Crayola Crayons. Outline each stage of this company's history.
 
Write a description essay about the problems confronting the Rain Forest. Also describe what one can do to help preserve the Rain Forest.
 
Explore some of the links at this site, Volume Two: Our Oregon Trail Series. Then write an evaluation essay evaluating the importance of this event.
 
Go to this site, Movies & Television Based on Children's Books. Choose a movie, video or TV show that you want to see, then go see it or watch it. Then read the book that the movie, video or TV show was based on. Next write a combination compare and contrast / choice essay. Compare the movie to the book. Describe how they are the same and how they are different. Then choose. In your opinion which medium was better and why was it better.

Dear Parents and Educators....
For the safety of all children, it is highly recommended that "Internet Time" be a shared experience. You are encouraged to explore and enjoy this site with your child or with your students.  Please note that I am not responsible for any inappropriate sites or advertisements that may appear at the links listed above as I have no control over what the authors of those websites might post in the future.

© Joan Marie Brown    
Mrs. Brown, a Technology Educator, is the author of this website. 
Created November 1996, updated September 2006.  
This website is hosted by Wayne RESA.

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