Solar Eclipse Activities for English Language Arts

Solar Eclipse Activities for English Language Arts

If you're looking for some great ready-to-go (no prep needed) English language arts activities for tomorrow's solar eclipse, you can download them here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Solar-Eclipse-2017-Activities-3339317

The activities include a lesson on idioms, with students brainstorming various idioms related to the sun, moon, and/or eclipse and researching their origins. It is aligned to the Common Core standards for language and writing.

Another activity is a great back-to-school get-to-know-you activity for learning more about your students; students will share various details about themselves and predict what they will be doing when the next total solar eclipse happens in America in 2024.

A third activity is a fun playlist your students can create to commemorate the eclipse.

One of the best things about these activities is if viewing the eclipse is a bust (it's cloudy, or raining, or the students aren't allowed to view it), students can still do all the activities! Actually, the responses may even be more comical if it is a bust. 😂

The handouts can be printed from a PDF file or you can share them digitally with your students through a secure online classroom like Google Classroom™ or Edmodo™. These are perfect for schools that are 1:1 or have access to computers or tablets.



And because I want you to make sure you get your money's worth, I will update the activities after Monday to make them usable for ANY eclipse in the future. :)

Happy 4th of July!

Here's a free download for you, teachers! Enjoy:

Using Song Lyrics to Teach Figurative Language & Poetic Devices: Katy Perry's Firework

Using Jessie J's Song "Domino" to Teach Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

My lesson using Katy Perry's song "Firework" has been such a hit with teachers (and students) that it only seems right to keep making additional activities like this for teachers (and myself).*

My latest is using Jessie J's song "Domino." It's another upbeat, get-you-ready-for-the-day type of song. It does, however, use the word "damn," so teachers will have to use their own discretion on whether they want to use it with their students. Also, the lyrics may be too mature for your students; I list it as 9-12, but you should look up the lyrics first and use your best judgement for your students.

It covers the following different poetic devices:
    • true rhyme
    • alliteration
    • onomatopoeia
    • assonance
    • anaphora
and figurative language:
    • simile
    • metaphor
    • personification
    • hyperbole
    • allusion

Because it is a priced product, it does include more than my "Firework" lesson. There are two separate handouts for differentiation: one will be more guided, asking students to pick out particular examples in each section. The other is more like "Firework," asking students to find the examples on their own.

It also includes a list of the terms & definitions for students. You can project the page & have them copy them down, or give each a copy. A separate teacher's guide is included with Common Core alignment, directions, and a detailed answer key. 

Do you have any suggested songs for lessons? If so, comment below to let me know.

*I actually have a a packet of songs that I paired with poems with similar themes to help students understand the meaning of poems, found here.

Use Popular Music to Teach Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

Song lyrics are perfect for teaching figurative language!

To engage your students, you need to know what they like. What books do they like to read? What movies do they like to see? What do they do in their free time? What kind of music do they like?

Having a questionnaire at the beginning of the school year is a great way to find out more about them. I like to have them create a collage mobile with their answers (more on that in another post). But this allows me to gauge what their interests are so I can create lessons that will, hopefully, engage them.

One of my favorite lessons for teaching figurative language & poetry devices is using popular song lyrics. I play the song for them in class & let them listen to the lyrics. Then I give them the handout and play the song again. As they listen, they pick out the devices they see and hear. I have been known to play a song three or four times (with all apologies to my nearest colleagues) so students can find all the "sound" devices.

I use this lesson (scroll down) for Katy Perry's "Firework" as one example. Depending on the level of your students, you may want them to find additional devices/examples or fewer. I use this with grade 10 and most were able to find at least 80 percent of the devices. What they couldn't find, I prompted with hints, then pointed out to them.


The copy on TPT has recent updates. You may download there free. If you like this lesson, please take a moment to leave positive feedback: Tracee's Firework Lesson Feedback

If you like this activity, check out ALL my lessons that incorporate popular music!

  - NEW! Roar by Katy Perry Figurative Language & Poetry Devices Review Activity

  - One Direction Song Lyrics Poetry Activity
  - Poetry Terms Presentation Using Song Lyrics
  - Poetry & Song Lyrics Comparison Activity
  - Domino by Jessie J Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Activity (9-12--use your own discretion)
  - We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel Art Prints & Activity

ANOTHER NEW ACTIVITY:

"Wake Me Up" by Avicii and Aloe Blacc

...more coming soon!

You can find ALL my song lyric activities in my Poetry Resources Mega Bundle: a collection of EVERYTHING I've created for teaching poetry, figurative language, and more. Plus, it will include everything I WILL create in the future. Get it now before the price increases!

Download the UPDATED version of "Firework" on TpT HERE.
Using Katy Perry's "Firework" to Identify Figurative Language & Poetry Devices