Site provides links to a wide variety of reference tools, including encyclopedias, dictionary, thesaurus, quotation books, and guides to English usage. L.11-12.1b Usage issues

Links to 12 lessons and activities that build student skills in standard W.3.2b: Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.

Links to 40 lessons and activities that build student skills in standard W.4.2b: Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.

This video lesson focuses on the difference between the connotation and denotation of synonyms. The denotation is the dictionary definition, while the connotation adds feelings, images, or associations to the dictionary definition. [4:00] L.9-10.5b nuances, L.11-12.5b Nuance

Look up any word by typing the entry at the top. Includes word of the day, links to foreign language dictionaries, and link to a thesaurus. L.9-10.4c References, L.9-10.4d Verify meaning, L.11-12.4c References, L.9-10.4d Verify meaning, L.11-12.4d Verify meaning

Delve into this wonderfully illustrated and comprehensive picture dictionary. Research up to 1,905 illustrated entries. Each word is used in a meaningful sentence.

This site is an easy to use French picture dictionary. Selections can be made by typing in the word you wish to look up or you can choose a category.

Rate

Type of Unit: Concept

Prior Knowledge

Students should be able to:

Solve problems involving all four operations with rational numbers.
Understand quantity as a number used with a unit of measurement.
Solve problems involving quantities such as distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, and with the units of measurement for these quantities.
Understand that a ratio is a comparison of two quantities.
Write ratios for problem situations.
Make and interpret tables, graphs, and diagrams.
Write and solve equations to represent problem situations.

Lesson Flow

In this unit, students will explore the concept of rate in a variety of contexts: beats per minute, unit prices, fuel efficiency of a car, population density, speed, and conversion factors. Students will write and refine their own definition for rate and then use it to recognize rates in different situations. Students will learn that every rate is paired with an inverse rate that is a measure of the same relationship. Students will figure out the logic of how units are used with rates. Then students will represent quantitative relationships involving rates, using tables, graphs, double number lines, and formulas, and they will see how to create one such representation when given another.

In this lesson, students define rate. After coming up with a preliminary definition on their own, students identify situations that describe rates and situations that do not.Students determine what is common among rate situations and then revise their definitions of rate based on these observations. Students present and discuss their work and together create a class definition. They compare the class definition of rate with the Glossary definition and revise the class definition as needed.Key ConceptsA good definition of rate has to be precise, yet general enough to be useful in a variety of situations. For example, the statement “a rate compares two quantities” is true, but it is so general that it is not helpful. The statement “speed is a rate” is true, but it is not useful in determining whether unit price or population density are rates.A good definition of rate needs to state that a rate is a single quantity, expressed with a unit of the form A per B, and derived from a comparison by division of two measures of a single situation.Goals and Learning ObjectivesGain a deeper understanding of rate by developing, refining, testing, and then refining again a definition of rate.Use a definition of rate to determine the kinds of situations that are rate situations and to recognize rates in new and different situations.Understand the importance of precision in communicating mathematical concepts.

Provides an explanation of half steps, whole steps, flats, and sharps. Illustrated examples accompany these definitions. (Macromedia Flash player is necessary to view this site.)

This lesson has a new approach to vocabulary building where students generate their own vocabulary word lists and research the words' meanings.

Use this site to learn about basic gas properties including motion, viscosity, and compressibility. Includes links to activities for all ages.

OneLook is a dictionary for those times when you have a good idea what a word means, but you can't think of the word itself. You can also generate lists of related terms or possible answers for crossword clues. L.9-10.4c References, L.11-12.4d Verify meaning

Come and check out this incredible resource from the University of Oregon. This site features links to creative-writing for poetry and fiction, as well as other teacher resources.

A list of 28 literary terms with brief, clear definitions. "Nonfiction," is the last term in the list.

How do you write a winning statement of purpose? This is a clear and comprehensive explanation of how to approach and write an essay from the San Jose State University. Practice exercises are given at the end.

An excellent site that spells out grammar in simple-to-understand terms. Currently targets beginner level high school Spanish. Includes exercises, vocabulary, idioms, culture and even a simple translation link!

Pick your grade level and learn a word a day to build your vocabulary. Includes PSAT and SAT Vocabulary Preparation. iPhone and iPad apps are available for a small fee.