Core Curriculum Language Arts
The full module of 12 units (24 lessons) of Core Curriculum Language Arts covering language and skills for ELs in language arts classrooms.
The features mentioned in this article are available to all Teachers on paid and free subscriptions. However, only a limited number of lessons are available on free subscriptions.
Table of contents
Target students
These lessons are for students who have already developed basic English proficiency and need support acquiring the subject-specific language and skills necessary to engage fully in the language arts classroom, especially LTELs. Lessons in this module target pre-intermediate levels (WIDA Developing/CEFR B1).
Key features
All lessons in this series are based around the following elements:
- Relevant topics for US secondary students: Topics for the lessons in this module all feature prominently in the language arts curricula and frameworks used in three influential US states: California, Florida and New York.
- Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): The lessons in this module use a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach by introducing subject content through the medium of English. Language learning in meaningful contexts is most effective and so promotes quicker acquisition.
- Full WIDA mapping: Each lesson in the module is fully mapped to specific WIDA language expectations making it easy for teachers to use the lessons within a wider curriculum map.
- Versatile lesson content: While the Core Curriculum Language Arts lessons can be taught from start to finish in a sequence, they can also function as standalone lessons. This means that core subject teachers can jump into a given lesson when necessary to support specific students needs’ at that particular moment.
Lesson Details & Links
The unit, lesson name (with link), and objectives are listed below for a quick overview of each lesson. Click a lesson name to launch it directly from this article. To see a spreadsheet of all Off2Class lessons, click here.
| Unit | Lesson & Link | Objectives |
| 1 - Introduction to language arts | 1-1 Genres of language | ELD-LA.9-12.Inform.Interpretive: Identifying and/or summarizing central ideas Analyzing descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships At the end of the lesson, students can recognize and describe the features of different genres of writing. |
| 1 - Introduction to language arts | 1-2 Punctuation | ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Expressive: Logically organize claims, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence; offer a conclusion with recommendations At the end of the lesson, students can accurately punctuate different types of writing. |
| 2 - Descriptive writing | 2-1 Using adjectives | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Expressive: Develop and describe characters and their relationships over a progression of experiences or events Develop story, advancing the plot and themes with complications and resolutions, time and event sequences ELD-LA.9-12.Inform.Expressive: Add precision, details, and clarity about complex attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships At the end of the lesson, students can use simple adjectives to describe (e.g., beautiful, long, large, small) with correct adjective order. |
| 2 - Descriptive writing | 2-2 Descriptive devices | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Interpretive: Evaluating the impact of specific word choices on meaning, tone, and explicit vs. implicit points of view At the end of the lesson, students can use a range of basic descriptive devices to create more vivid descriptions. |
| 3 - Narrative writing | 3-1 Parts of a narrative | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Interpretive: Identifying themes or central ideas that develop over the course of a text At the end of the lesson, students can identify sequencing transition words (e.g., first, next, then, finally, later) in a text and narrate events using them. |
| 3 - Narrative writing | 3-2 Narrating a story | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Expressive: Develop and describe characters and their relationships over a progression of experiences or events At the end of the lesson, students can retell a story using relevant details and simple and compound sentences orally and in writing. |
| 4 - Literary analysis | 4-1 Elements of literature | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Interpretive: Identifying themes or central ideas that develop over the course of a text Analyzing how author choices about character attributes and actions relate to story elements (setting, event sequences, and context) At the end of the lesson, students can analyze plot, conflict, setting and characters. |
| 4 - Literary analysis | 4-2 Literary techniques | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Interpretive: Analyzing how author choices about character attributes and actions relate to story elements (setting, event sequences, and context) At the end of the lesson, students can understand basic literary terms and summarize a story or text using simple language. |
| 5 - Persuasive writing | 5-1 Establishing a stance | ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Expressive: Introduce and develop precise claims and address counterclaims Logically organize claims, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence; offer a conclusion with recommendations At the end of the lesson, students can express opinions and show contrast. |
| 5 - Persuasive writing | 5-2 Persuasive techniques | ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Expressive: Support claims and refute counterclaims with valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone At the end of the lesson, students can state a claim and support it with relevant evidence in writing, express both sides of an argument and provide additional information. |
| 6 - Expository writing | 6-1 Neutral tone | ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Expressive: Introduce and develop precise claims and address counterclaims Logically organize claims, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence; offer a conclusion with recommendations At the end of the lesson, students can maintain neutral voice of authority using generalized nouns (artists, scientists, prominent figures) and cautious statements and construct grade-appropriate oral and written claims, supporting them with reasoning and evidence. |
| 6 - Expository writing | 6-2 Researching and summarizing | ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Expressive: Support claims and refute counterclaims with valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone At the end of the lesson, students can gather information from different sources and use cohesive devices to connect thoughts in writing. |
| 7 - Poetry | 7-1 Poetic forms | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Interpretive ELD-LA.9-12.Inform.Interpretive At the end of the lesson, students can recognize and label different poetic forms. |
| 7 - Poetry | 7-2 Figurative language | ELD-LA.9-12.Inform.Interpretive: Evaluating cumulative impact and refinement of author’s key word choices over the course of text ELD-LA.9-12.Inform.Expressive: Add precision, details, and clarity about complex attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships By the end of the lesson, students can identify and explain examples of figurative language (e.g. metaphors, similes) in a poem and discuss how they enhance meaning. |
| 8 - Short stories | 8-1 Character development | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Interpretive: Analyzing how author choices about character attributes and actions relate to story elements (setting, event sequences, and context) ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Expressive: Develop and describe characters and their relationships over a progression of experiences or events After this lesson, students can analyze a character's development in a short story. |
| 8 - Short stories | 8-2 Setting and atmosphere | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Interpretive: Identifying themes or central ideas that develop over the course of a text ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Expressive: Develop story, advancing the plot and themes with complications and resolutions, time and event sequences At the end of the lesson, students can describe the setting and atmosphere of a short story, using appropriate descriptive language. |
| 9 - Public speaking | 9-1 Public speaking techniques | ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Expressive: Introduce and develop precise claims and address counterclaims ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Expressive: Support claims and refute counterclaims with valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence Following this lesson, students can explain basic public speaking techniques, such as clear enunciation, gestures, and maintaining eye contact. |
| 9 - Public speaking | 9-2 Preparing and delivering a speech | ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Expressive: Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Expressive: Logically organize claims, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence; offer a conclusion with recommendations After this lesson, students can outline and deliver a short speech with an engaging introduction, main points, and a memorable conclusion. |
| 10 - Vocabulary building | 10-1 Word roots and affixes | ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Interpretive: Identifying and summarizing central ideas of primary or secondary sources ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Interpretive: Analyzing use of rhetoric and details to advance point of view or purpose By the end of the lesson, students can identify word roots and affixes in unfamiliar words and determine their meanings. |
| 10 - Vocabulary building | 10-2 Context clues | ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Interpretive: Analyzing use of rhetoric and details to advance point of view or purpose ELD-LA.9-12.Argue.Interpretive: Evaluating and corroborating relevance and sufficiency of evidence as well as validity of reasoning to support claims Following this lesson, students can use context clues to understand the meanings of unknown words in a given text. |
| 11 - Comparative writing | 11-1 Identifying differences and similarities | ELD-LA.9-12.Inform.Interpretive: Identifying and/or summarizing central ideas ELD-LA.9-12.Inform.Expressive: Introduce and define topic and/or entity for audience After this lesson, students can identify and explain differences and similarities between two subjects and use appropriate language to express these comparisons. |
| 11 - Comparative writing | 11-2 Organizing and writing comparative essays | ELD-LA.9-12.Inform.Expressive: Establish an objective or neutral stance ELD-LA.9-12.Inform.Expressive: Develop coherence and cohesion throughout text\ By the end of the lesson, students can create a well-structured comparative essay with organized body paragraphs and transitions to guide the reader. |
| 12 - Creative nonfiction | 12-1 Features of personal essays | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Expressive: Orient audience to context and one or multiple point(s) of view ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Expressive: Engage and adjust for audience At the end of this lesson, students can identify and analyze the key features of a personal essay. |
| 12 - Creative nonfiction | 12-2 Writing a personal essay | ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Expressive: Orient audience to context and one or multiple point(s) of view ELD-LA.9-12.Narrate.Expressive: Engage and adjust for audience At the end of this lesson, students can write a personal essay that includes reflective and introspective elements, utilizing their unique narrative voice. |