PERFECT FOR:

Upper Elementary & Middle School ELA (Grades 5–8)

Animal Research Projects

Informational Writing Units

End-of-Year Projects

STEM + ELA Integration

Enrichment or Sub Plans

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

✔️ 10 Strange & Underdog Animals:

Blob Fish

Axolotl

Goblin Shark

Sloth

Naked Mole Rat

Pangolin

Dung Beetle

Glass Frog

Opossum

Black Seadevil Anglerfish

✔️ Classroom Chronicle Newspaper Template

A visually engaging long-format newspaper layout (8.5 x 20) that transforms research into a creative final product

• Two formats – With pictures & headings; Without pictures & headings

✔️ Complete Student Workbook (PDF & Digital)

Step-by-step guidance for research

Helps students organize information before writing

Perfect for scaffolding and differentiation

✔️ Exclusive Research Website 🌐

Includes kid-friendly, safe, and reliable websites

Makes research simple and stress-free

Saves teachers’ hours of prep

✔️ Extended Writing Activities

✔️ Project Rubric

• Clear expectations
• Easy grading
• Student-friendly success criteria

SKILLS COVERED:

• Informational Reading & Research
• Main Idea & Supporting Details
• Text Evidence & Analysis
• Explanatory & Informational Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Note-Taking & Organization

NEWSPAPER SECTIONS STUDENTS COMPLETE:

• 🐾 Creature Caught on Camera
• ⚡ Oddball Data: By the Numbers
• 🌍 Meet the Underdog! (Habitat, Traits, Diet)
• 🧬 Survival Secrets Revealed!
• ⚖️ Why This Animal Matters
• 🧩 Weird Stats & Wild Facts
• 🎤 Exclusive Interview (Write as the Animal!)
• 🚨 Help Wanted: Protecting the Underdogs

❗❗COPYRIGHT ❗❗

© 2026 English, Oh My. This Classroom Chronicles resource, including all original text and layout design, has been submitted for copyright protection. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.

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I greatly appreciate your FIVE-STAR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ feedback, and it helps you build points to use towards future purchases!

I greatly appreciate your feedback, as I take great pride in my work.  If you have any issues with the product, please get in touch with me BEFORE leaving feedback.  I greatly appreciate you! Email me at englishohmy@gmail.com.

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Copyright © English, Oh My! ®

-Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

-Please purchase additional licenses if you intend to share this product.

-More on my Terms of Use HERE.

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The post Strange & Underdog Animals Newspaper-Style Research Project appeared first on English, Oh My!.

The post Historical Events Newspaper Style Research & Informative Writing Project appeared first on English, Oh My!.

Imagine walking into your classroom that first week with zero stress about what to teach. That’s the goal! I’ve planned a complete set of engaging, no-prep back-to-school ELA activities designed specifically for middle school students.

Perfect for:

• First Day of School

– Back to School Week

• ELA Bell Ringers & Stations

– Classroom Community Building

• Emergency Sub Plans in Week 1

In this ELA back-to-school bundle, you’ll find:

✅ Back to School One-Pager
* A Get-to-Know-Your-Teacher Mystery Activity
✅ Classroom Expectations + Goal Setting Stations
*Who Kidnapped the Principal? ELA Mystery
✅ Student Interest Google Form
* Print & digital formats for flexible use

Whether you teach 6th, 7th, or 8th grade ELA, these first week activities are meaningful, easy to implement, and aligned with your goals: build classroom community, set the tone for respectful discussion, and sneak in essential literacy skills.

No prep. No panic. Just everything you need to launch your middle school ELA year with clarity, creativity, and fun.

❤️ BECOME MY LATEST FOLLOWER! ❤️

⭐ Click HERE to become my latest follower. You will then receive customized email updates about this store.

⭐ Join my AMAZING SECONDARY ELA MASTERMIND FB GROUP, and collaborate with ELA teachers who are like-minded!

☆How would you like 5 ELA & Classroom Resources for ABSOLUTELY FREE?☆

⭐Grab these ABSOLUTELY FREE PRODUCTS RIGHT HERE: FREE PRODUCTS ⭐

✏️ FEEDBACK ✏️

I greatly appreciate your FIVE-STAR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ feedback! Don’t forget you receive points when you purchase from my store to use for future purchases!

I greatly appreciate your feedback, as I take great pride in my work.  If you have any issues with the product, please contact me BEFORE leaving feedback.  I greatly appreciate you! Email me at englishohmy@gmail.com.

——————————————————–

Copyright © English, Oh My! ®

-Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

-Please purchase additional licenses if you intend to share this product.

-More on my Terms of Use HERE.

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The post First Week of School Activities for the ELA Classroom appeared first on English, Oh My!.

This no-prep back-to-school resource includes everything you need to implement an unforgettable first week activity that doubles as a ready-to-go bulletin board! Students will love the fun, thought-provoking prompts, and you’ll love the easy differentiation and built-in student reflection.

Perfect for:

• First Week of School Activities
• Middle School ELA & Advisory
• Goal-Setting Lessons
• Get-to-Know-You Activities
• Bulletin Board Displays

What’s Included in this Back-to-School One Pager:

• Back to School One Pager Templates (printable versions)
• Bulletin Board Letters (“Cereal-sly Ready for 5th/6th/7th/8th”)
• 30+ Creative and Fun Prompts for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
• Printable Worksheets with scaffolded question option
• Teacher Instructions and Ideas for Implementation
• Multiple Layout Choices to match different student preferences
• Perfect for Icebreakers, First Week Activities, and Goal-Setting

Why Teachers Love It:

• Encourages student voice, creativity, and reflection
• Makes an instant bulletin board with no extra prep
• Offers plenty of choices so every student can shine
• Builds a sense of classroom community from day one
• Supports ELA writing and self-awareness standards

If you’re looking for a fun, meaningful, and low-prep back-to-school activity, this one pager project is your go-to! Your students will have a blast reflecting on who they are and who they want to become—and your walls will thank you for the colorful, student-centered display.

❤️ BECOME MY LATEST FOLLOWER! ❤️

⭐ Click HERE to become my latest follower. You will then receive customized email updates about this store.

⭐ Join my AMAZING SECONDARY ELA MASTERMIND FB GROUP, and collaborate with ELA teachers who are like-minded!

☆How would you like 5 ELA & Classroom Resources for ABSOLUTELY FREE?☆

⭐Grab these ABSOLUTELY FREE PRODUCTS RIGHT HERE: FREE PRODUCTS ⭐

✏️ FEEDBACK ✏️

I greatly appreciate your FIVE STAR ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ feedback, and it helps you build points to use towards FREE TPT purchases!

I greatly appreciate your feedback, as I take great pride in my work.  If you have any issues with the product, please contact me BEFORE leaving feedback.  I greatly appreciate you! Email me at englishohmy@gmail.com.

The post Back to School One Pager appeared first on English, Oh My!.

The post The Mystery of Your New Teacher Back to School Activity appeared first on English, Oh My!.

Introducing the Thanksgiving ELA Mystery—a captivating escape room-style activity designed to boost reading comprehension and critical thinking skills while making learning fun! This resource offers a unique blend of mystery, problem-solving, and engaging ELA review, saving you valuable prep time and boosting student engagement.

Perfect For…

• Thanksgiving ELA review activities for 5th, 6th, and 7th grade
• Enriching reading comprehension skills for middle school students
• Engaging ELA centers and station activities
• Differentiated instruction for diverse learners
• Supplementary Thanksgiving-themed ELA materials
• Fast-paced, engaging classroom activities for pre-holiday learning
• Motivating students to review key ELA concepts in a fun way

What’s Included:

• Engaging Mystery Narrative: A captivating Thanksgiving-themed mystery that will hook your students from the start.
• Four Challenging Puzzles: Students decipher clues involving reading comprehension, figurative language, plot diagrams, and thematic analysis to solve the mystery.
• Detailed Teacher Directions: Easy-to-follow instructions for seamless implementation in your classroom.
• Printable & Digital Versions: Flexibility to suit your classroom needs and technology preferences (PDF and Google Slides).
• Complete Answer Key: Ensuring efficient grading and immediate feedback for your students.

How to Use This Resource:

• Whole-class activity: Guide students through the mystery as a collaborative learning experience.
• Small group work: Encourage teamwork and discussion as students work together to solve the puzzles.
• Independent work: Perfect for early finishers or as a differentiated assignment.
• Literacy centers: Add an engaging element to your literacy centers or stations.
• Homework assignment: Assign portions of the mystery as engaging homework tasks.

This resource leverages the power of inquiry-based learning, encouraging active participation and critical thinking. By transforming ELA review into an engaging mystery, students are motivated to analyze text, identify figurative language, and understand plot structure—all while having fun! The problem-solving aspect enhances higher-order thinking skills, and the collaborative nature promotes teamwork and communication. This unique approach fosters a deeper understanding of key ELA concepts.

Ready to transform your Thanksgiving ELA lessons into a memorable experience? Click Add to Cart now and make learning unforgettable!

What other teachers like you have said about these mysteries…

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Catherine W said, I had purchased this to fill in in March but we ended up with so many weather days I set it aside. In the last week of school, we had time to try it. The students really enjoyed the different approaches and figuring out all the bits of each puzzle. THANK you!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Kris’s Classroom said, My students, LOVED this assignment!! They were engaged the entire time!! Thank you for making a fun, creative, and rigorous activity for the students!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ JoAnn W said, I love this resource! I used this with my 8th graders on a few wonky school days around the testing season. The puzzles were challenging but manageable, and my students really enjoyed narrowing down the list of suspects over time.

❤️Become a Follower for the Latest Products & Freebies❤️

⭐Click HERE to become a subscriber! You will receive updates and releases of my products, freebies, first-looks, and special coupon codes!

Copyright © English, Oh My! ®

Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

Please purchase additional licenses if you intend to share this product.

-More on my Terms of Use HERE.

✏️FEEDBACK✏️

I greatly appreciate your thoughts and feedback; however, I would greatly appreciate it if you could contact me FIRST before leaving feedback on my site, so I can rectify the situation for you.  Just email me at englishohmy@gmail.com, and I will get back to you within 24hrs :). 

☆How would you like 5 English Language Arts & Classroom Resources for ABSOLUTELY FREE??? ☆

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The post Thanksgiving ELA Mystery appeared first on English, Oh My!.

In this product, your students will receive a list of suspects who possibly stole the neighborhood Halloween candy. The students will be asked to solve four clues in order to solve the mystery.

This product is perfect for…

*Group Activities

*ELA Skills Review

*Independent Work

*Stations & Centers

*Engaging Competition

In this product, you will receive:

1. Directions for the Teacher

2. PDF & Digital Version of the Activity

3. Answer Key

What other teachers like you have said about these mysteries…

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Catherine W said, I had purchased this to fill in in March but we ended up with so many weather days I set it aside. In the last week of school, we had time to try it. The students really enjoyed the different approaches and figuring out all the bits of each puzzle. THANK you!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Kris’s Classroom said, My students, LOVED this assignment!! They were engaged the entire time!! Thank you for making a fun, creative, and rigorous activity for the students!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ JoAnn W said, I love this resource! I used this with my 8th graders on a few wonky school days around the testing season. The puzzles were challenging but manageable, and my students really enjoyed narrowing down the list of suspects over time.

❤️Become a Follower for the Latest Products & Freebies❤️

⭐Click HERE to become a subscriber! You will receive updates and releases of my products, freebies, first-looks, and special coupon codes!

Copyright © English, Oh My! ®

Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

Please purchase additional licenses if you intend to share this product.

-More on my Terms of Use HERE.

✏️FEEDBACK✏️

I greatly appreciate your thoughts and feedback; however, I would greatly appreciate it if you could contact me FIRST before leaving feedback on my site, so I can rectify the situation for you.  Just email me at englishohmy@gmail.com, and I will get back to you within 24hrs :). 

☆How would you like 5 English Language Arts & Classroom Resources for ABSOLUTELY FREE??? ☆

⭐Grab these ABSOLUTELY FREE PRODUCTS RIGHT HERE FREE PRODUCTS⭐

❤️FOLLOW ME!❤️

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The post Halloween ELA Mystery appeared first on English, Oh My!.

In this product, your students will receive a list of suspects who possibly have kidnapped the Super Bowl mascots. The students will be asked to solve four clues in order to solve the mystery.

This product is perfect for…

*Group Activities

*ELA Skills Review

*Independent Work

*Stations & Centers

*Engaging Competition

In this product, you will receive:

1. Directions for the Teacher

2. PDF & Digital Version of the Activity

3. Original Football Article, “The Championship Game-Are the Risks Worth It?”

4. Ancillary Writing Activity with Graphic Organizer & Rubric

❤️Become a Follower for the Latest Products & Freebies❤️

⭐Click HERE to follow my store. You will receive updates and releases of my products and freebies.

Copyright © English, Oh My! ®

Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

Please purchase additional licenses if you intend to share this product.

-More on my Terms of Use HERE.

That’s right! Don’t forget to leave feedback on this product, and you will receive credits for your next purchase. I would greatly appreciate you contacting me first if you have an issue with the product before leaving feedback. I will be more than happy to accommodate you! Just e-mail me at englishohmy@gmail.com.

☆How would you like 5 English Language Arts & Classroom Resources for ABSOLUTELY FREE??? ☆

⭐⭐Grab these ABSOLUTELY FREE PRODUCTS RIGHT HERE FREE PRODUCTS⭐⭐

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✯MY BLOG

The post ELA Mystery, The Missing Football Mascots appeared first on English, Oh My!.

Perfect for:

• Grammar review
• Early finishers
• Sub plans
• Independent practice
• Learning centers
• Test prep
• Reinforcement of parts of speech

What’s Included:

• 1 Adjective Grammar Worksheet with 25 Questions
• 1 Student Answer Sheet
• 1 Teacher Answer Key
• 1 Color-by-Number Mandala Coloring Page
• 1 Full-Color Example Mandala for Reference

Skills Covered:

• Identifying adjectives in context
• Understanding adjective definitions
• Recognizing and using comparative and superlative forms

This no-prep grammar resource adds creativity to your classroom routine and makes adjective practice less intimidating and more enjoyable! Great for upper elementary and middle school ELA students. Just print and go—or assign in a packet for homework or fast-finisher work!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Become a Follower for the Latest Products & Freebies

⭐⭐Grab these ABSOLUTELY FREE PRODUCTS RIGHT HERE: FREE PRODUCTS ⭐⭐

⭐ Follow my store HERE! You will then receive customized email updates about this store.

❤️Terms of Use❤️:

Purchasing my teaching resources allows you to:

• make copies for your own classes only.
• place this file on your own password-protected class page or server (Blackboard, Google Drive, etc)
• AS LONG AS no other teacher has access to that class webpage. This resource is for you, the purchaser, alone.

By purchasing my teaching resource, you ARE NOT ALLOWED TO:

• make copies for other teachers or their classes.
• distribute this digital resource to other teachers.
• post this resource on any webpage or server that is available for public view, for other teachers.

If you and a team of teachers would like to use this resource together, please purchase additional licenses on the resource purchase page.

Failure to comply with these terms of use is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and elements found in this PDF are copyrighted and cannot be extracted and used outside of this file without permission or license.

✯Did you know you receive credits for leaving feedback on items you purchase on Teachers Pay Teachers?✯

That’s right! Leave feedback on this product, and you will receive credits for your next purchase. I would greatly appreciate it if you contact me first if you have an issue with the product before leaving feedback. I will be more than happy to accommodate you! Just e-mail me at englishohmy@gmail.com.

❤️FOLLOW ME!❤️

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The post Adjectives Review Color By Number appeared first on English, Oh My!.

This Digital Escape Ⓡ has your students reviewing figurative language-personification, metaphor, simile, allusion, hyperbole, oxymoron, and other common figurative terms; in addition, students will challenge their grammar and punctuation editing skills. Third, your students will listen to a short video on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and answer questions.  Lastly, your students will work on grade-level vocabulary using context clues.

Here is the premise:

In this Digital Escape, four ghosts of Winston Mansion want to do their duty for Halloween and haunt their neighborhood, but the only way they can do this is if your team can reveal their four names before the stroke of midnight.  Can you answer all the clues and puzzles to release the names before time is up?

There are 7 different activities in this Escape Room, including a Jigsaw Puzzle, EdPuzzle, a Word Reveal, and Google Form questions.

What are the positive aspects of a Digital Escape Ⓡ?

1. It is NO-PREP! There is nothing to make, print, cut, laminate, clues to hide, buy, or locks to set. Everything is ready for your students on the Google Site!
2. Students will encounter Google Form questions.
3. Your students will solve puzzles, cyphers, and clues to escape!
4. All you have to do is share the link with your students.
5. You can have your students complete this on Chromebooks, on an IPad or in a computer lab.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Become a Follower for the Latest Products & Freebies

⭐⭐Grab these ABSOLUTELY FREE PRODUCTS RIGHT HERE: FREE PRODUCTS ⭐⭐

⭐ Follow my store HERE! You will then receive customized email updates about this store.

❤️Terms of Use❤️:

Purchasing my teaching resources allows you to:

• make copies for your own classes only.
• place this file on your own password-protected class page or server (Blackboard, Google Drive, etc)
• AS LONG AS no other teacher has access to that class webpage. This resource is for you, the purchaser, alone.

By purchasing my teaching resource, you ARE NOT ALLOWED TO:

• make copies for other teachers or their classes.
• distribute this digital resource to other teachers.
• post this resource on any webpage or server that is available for public view, for other teachers.

If you and a team of teachers would like to use this resource together, please purchase additional licenses on the resource purchase page.

Failure to comply with these terms of use is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and elements found in this PDF are copyrighted and cannot be extracted and used outside of this file without permission or license.

✯Did you know you receive credits for leaving feedback on items you purchase on Teachers Pay Teachers?✯

That’s right! Leave feedback on this product, and you will receive credits for your next purchase. I would greatly appreciate it if you contact me first if you have an issue with the product before leaving feedback. I will be more than happy to accommodate you! Just e-mail me at englishohmy@gmail.com.

❤️FOLLOW ME!❤️

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Facebook

MY BLOG

The post Halloween Digital Escape Room appeared first on English, Oh My!.

This time-saving mini-lesson is designed to introduce and reinforce how setting influences character behavior, mood, and plot development. It’s ideal for middle school ELA classrooms, whether you’re doing whole-group instruction, small group work, stations, test prep, or independent practice.

This Setting Mini Mastery Lesson Includes:

1. Components of a Mini Mastery Lesson – everything you need to implement a bite-sized, high-impact ELA lesson.
2. Setting Mini-Lesson with Standards & Teacher Directions – clearly aligned with Common Core and perfect for classroom modeling.
3. Animated PowerPoint Presentation – visually engaging slides to break down what setting is and how it drives plot and character action.
4. Printable Setting Worksheet (“We Do, You Do” Style) – provides guided practice followed by independent student application.

Perfect for:

• Teaching setting and plot structure
• Exploring how setting impacts character development
• Short ELA lessons or bell-ringers
• Sub plans, intervention, or review
• State test prep for literary elements

Whether you’re teaching a short story, novel, or analyzing excerpts, this Setting Mini-Mastery Lesson helps your students connect deeply with the text by understanding the essential role setting plays in storytelling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Become a Follower for the Latest Products & Freebies

⭐⭐Grab these ABSOLUTELY FREE PRODUCTS RIGHT HERE: FREE PRODUCTS ⭐⭐

⭐ Follow my store HERE! You will then receive customized email updates about this store.

❤️Terms of Use❤️:

Purchasing my teaching resources allows you to:

• make copies for your own classes only.
• place this file on your own password-protected class page or server (Blackboard, Google Drive, etc)
• AS LONG AS no other teacher has access to that class webpage. This resource is for you, the purchaser, alone.

By purchasing my teaching resource, you ARE NOT ALLOWED TO:

• make copies for other teachers or their classes.
• distribute this digital resource to other teachers.
• post this resource on any webpage or server that is available for public view, for other teachers.

If you and a team of teachers would like to use this resource together, please purchase additional licenses on the resource purchase page.

Failure to comply with these terms of use is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and elements found in this PDF are copyrighted and cannot be extracted and used outside of this file without permission or license.

✯Did you know you receive credits for leaving feedback on items you purchase on Teachers Pay Teachers?✯

That’s right! Leave feedback on this product, and you will receive credits for your next purchase. I would greatly appreciate it if you contact me first if you have an issue with the product before leaving feedback. I will be more than happy to accommodate you! Just e-mail me at englishohmy@gmail.com.

❤️FOLLOW ME!❤️

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Facebook

MY BLOG

The post Setting Mini-Lesson, 10-Minute Mastery, PowerPoint Slides appeared first on English, Oh My!.