Shaped

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National hispanic heritage month 2021 hero

6 National Hispanic Heritage Month Activities for Students: A Celebration of Culture

Use these National Hispanic Heritage Month activities and lesson ideas to honor Hispanic American contributions and influences in our society.

Daniel Poremba
Senior Tier II Specialist, HMH

Activityset2

Grades 6–8 ELA Activity Set 2: Summarize an Informational Text and More

Have middle schoolers improve their writing, critical thinking, and reading skills with these activities, which include creating a word cloud and summarizing informational texts.

Shaped Staff

Building Background Knowledge in K–6 Literacy

Strategies for Building Background Knowledge in Reading, Grades K–6

Learn more about and get strategies for building background knowledge in reading.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

HMH Staff

How To Write A Praise Poem

New Wings: Writing Praise Poems in the Classroom

Poet Glenis Redmond says teaching students how to write a praise poem is a great way to dive into metaphors and similes and have them flex their creative muscles.

Glenis Redmond
Poet and Teaching Artist

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 6 8 Math 85cab6aa25ee358f8b9ee45ba7a4bd78

Free Middle School Learning Activities

Keep students engaged with these fun learning activities for middle school, no matter what subject you teach and whether your students are in person or remote.

Shaped Staff

Fourth of july poems

Patriotic Poems from HMH Poets for the Fourth of July

Celebrate July 4th with six patriotic poems from HMH poets. Explore a selection of Fourth of July poems to help commemorate America’s Independence Day.

Susan Steinway
Archivist, HMH

Summer learning activities for elementary and middle school students

15 Fun Summer School Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

As the school year ends, keep kids engaged with these fun summer school activities for elementary and middle school students.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Mothers Day Hero

13 Mother’s Day Celebration Ideas in School

Check out our list of 13 Mother’s Day celebration ideas for school. From primary to middle school, explore fun Mother’s Day classroom activities and projects.

Marcela Grillo
Writer, Girls Write Now

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 6 8 ELA

Free English Language Arts and Reading Activities for Middle School

Try free English language arts activities for Grades 6-8 focusing on haikus, metaphors, figurative language, and more curriculum-rich topics.

Shaped Staff

Holiday Classroom Activities Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa

14 Winter Holiday Activities for School

Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa with 14 holiday classroom activities, games, and crafts for elementary and middle school students.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

911 Tribute in Light hero

11 Essential 9/11 Activities & Lesson Plans for the Classroom

Looking for ways to help your students understand the September 11 terror attacks and their impact? Use these 9/11 activities and lesson plans designed for middle and high school classrooms.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1559159 Shaped 2022 Blog Post Science of Reading Strategies Hero

10 Science of Reading Strategies for Reading Instruction

Read one teacher's top 10 instructional strategies to support science of reading in the classroom.

Renae Kuhn
HMH Learning Experience Designer; Former Elementary Teacher

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Speaking (Not Public Speaking!) Activities for Middle and High School Students

Try these public speaking activities for middle and high school students to improve their speaking skills.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

Tips for Teaching Middle School Writing

8 Tips for Teaching Middle School Writing

Teaching middle school writing can help students learn the value of their words.

Jennifer Prescott
Shaped Contributor

First-Day-of-School Get-to-Know-You Activities

9 Back-to-School Getting-to-Know-You Activities for Students

Try these back-to-school getting-to-know-you activities to help students discover more about their classmates on the first day of class.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

girl looking at ipad

Reading Teaching Strategies for Students with Dyslexia

Discover evidence-based strategies to help improve the reading skills of students with dyslexia so they can achieve school success.

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Dr. Amy Endo
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Language & Literacy

St Patricks Day Writing Prompts Hero

22 St. Patrick’s Day Writing Prompts and Activities

Bring some luck to your classroom with these St. Patrick’s Day writing prompts and activities for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Valentines day activities for middle school high school students hero

12 Valentine’s Day Activities for Middle and High School Students

Get your whole class feeling the love this February 14. Try these Valentine’s Day activities for middle school and high school students.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor