Browse our favorite, field-tested resources to welcome students into the new school year through writing. Find writing activities and lessons designed to foster brave and welcoming spaces, build community, and spark inspiration that will last well beyond the first few weeks of school.
by 826 National
This Spark engages students in journaling as a practice that builds writing stamina, helps sort through ideas, and makes space for processing big feelings.
by 826 National
This Educator Tool will help you pitch your proverbial tent at Camp 826 by sharing our best tips and tricks for getting the most out of 826 Digital.
by Amani Nephew and Danny Kim, 826NYC
Writers have the power to evoke all kinds of emotions in their pieces. In this Spark, students will learn how to wield that power and develop the mood of a story.
by Julia Sweeney, 826 Valencia
In this Spark, students will revise a piece of writing for sentence fluency.
by 826 National
We take joy and creativity pretty seriously at 826. This new Educator Tool, available in three grade bands, shares more about how you can play with words in your learning space!
by Shavonde Chase, Ashley Houston-King, Kathy Seipp, and Bryan Wilson, 826 Digital Educator Leaders
This Educator Tool shares practical tips and useful resources for teaching writing using mentor texts.
by Catherine Calabro Cavin, 826michigan
In this lesson, students will learn where writers find words, listen to "The Word Collector" by Peter H. Reynolds, and start to collect words they like and want to share with others.
by 826 National and Life Stories
You will write a “soundscape” poem filled with familiar sounds of your neighborhood or home.
by 826 National
This Educator Tool provides writing resources to use during the first week of school and beyond.
by 826 National
This Educator Tool is designed to help you support students along their journeys in positive identity development.
by 826 National
The Character-O-Matic is a writing tool that helps students to create new characters. In this lesson, students will use it to create a character profile that reflects their own identies.
by 826 National
This Educator Tool shares a variety of prompts to help you springboard into journal writing with your students.
by Emily Lam, 826 Valencia
In this lesson, students will go through the steps in the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing) to produce a zine that highlights what makes them special.
by Mandy Seiner, 826NYC
In this lesson, students will learn about different types of rhymes, identify rhymes in lyrics and generate rhymes to use in their own lyrics.
by 826 National
A flexible, 4-week unit designed for students in grades 3-5 to "write their way" with authentic purpose. Includes a curriculum guide, calendar, and links to all related 826 Digital resources.
by 826 National
A flexible, 4-week unit designed for students in grades K-2 to "write their way" with authentic purpose. Includes a curriculum guide, calendar, and links to all related 826 Digital resources.
by Mandy Seiner, 826NYC
Nouns, adjectives, adverbs—and in this case—verbs are the building blocks of super sentences. In this Spark, students share action words that bring them joy and incorporate those verbs into a story.
by Mandy Seiner, 826NYC
Nouns, adjectives, verbs—and in this case—adverbs are the building blocks of super sentences. In this Spark, students will practice identifying and using adverbs in their writing.
by 826 National
This resource supports you in creating a safe and brave learning space, through the use of Community Agreements.
by Jason Reynolds
Part letter, part long-form poem, "For Every One" offers reflections and courageous words about unraveling and rebuilding one's dreams.
by 826 National
Inspired by George Ella Lyon’s original poem, this lesson guides students through naming the people, places, and things that have shaped them.
by Karla Brundage, 826 Valencia
What’s in a name? Students will consider how language can impact identity and create an illustrated name poem that reflects their identities.
by Rebecca Darugar, 826NYC
Students will work collaboratively to construct a vision for your classroom as a safe space for students and educators.
826 National and Cartoon Network
After writing about their personal and social identities, students discover that sometimes what makes us unique is what brings us together.
by 826 National
By combining two classic games, students will learn how storytelling and art can build community or help them break through writer’s block.
by Jessica Thompson, 826 Dallas Project, and the Dallas Free Press
In this Spark, students will learn more about conducting interviews and practice by interviewing a classmate.
by 826 National
This Spark provides students with the opportunity to get to know their classmates by sharing personal stories about a specific topic.
by 826 National
Students will identify their favorite sensory memories and transfer them to a visual heart map.
by Jillian Wasick, 826 Valencia
What are students made of? This activity prompts students to reimagine recipes and write about their life experiences.
by 826 National
A flexible, 4-week unit designed for students in grades 9-12 to "write their way" with authentic purpose. Includes a curriculum guide, calendar, and links to all related 826 Digital resources.
by 826 National
A flexible, 4-week unit designed for students in grades 6-8 to "write their way" with authentic purpose. Includes a curriculum guide, calendar, and links to all related 826 Digital resources.
We are thrilled to have you as the newest member of our online community. Stay up-to-date on the the latest and most relevant resources, student publication opportunities, and what’s new with the 826 Digital community.
