National Endowment for the Humanities
In Emily Dickinson's Own Words: Letters and Poems
Analyze the depth and beauty of American Literature by reading Emily Dickinson's letters and poems. The class analyzes Dickinson's poetic style and discusses Thomas Wentworth Higginson's editorial relationship with Dickinson. They pay...
Curated OER
Morality "Tails" East and West: European Fables and Buddhist Jataka Tales
Have your class explore Buddhist Jataka Tales to compare and contrast them to European fables. After defining fables, Jataka tales, and the elements of each, learners identify themes and patterns for both types of narratives and the...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Faulkner's As I Lay Dying: Concluding the Novel
As I Lay Dying is a beautiful book and a wonderful vehicle for understanding, interpreting, and comparing themes. The class reads and analyzes the novel, discusses possible interpretations, and characterizations. They compare the themes...
Curated OER
Holocaust and Resistance
Young scholars complete a unit of lessons that examine the Holocaust from the point of view of those who actively resisted the Nazis. They analyze a timeline, participate in a class debate, explore various websites, and write a letter.
Curated OER
Borrowing from the Greek Debt
Use political cartoons to help your class understand the European Debt Crisis and visual symbolism. This analysis handout includes two cartoons depicting the crisis and prompts learners to consider possible symbols and allusions to best...
Curated OER
A Photo Essay
Young scholars create a photo essay and present it to the class. The students bring photos to use for their essay and develop a story using the photos. The young scholars write captions including characters, setting, and plot for each...
Curated OER
Reading Predictions
Second graders read and predict content and purpose for table of contents, index, headings, captions, illustrations, and major words from their science or social studies textbooks. They use books' elements to summarize what they can find...
Curated OER
American Folktales
Fourth graders read and interpret an American Folktale. Students create their own folktale about Indiana. Students use digital cameras and clipart from the computer to create a photo story. Students present their animated folktales to...
Curated OER
Penguin Paradise
Students read about penguins and communicate their information in a one paragraph summary. In this penguin writing lesson, students review sentence construction. Students complete a KWL about penguins and read the book Penguins Through...
Curated OER
Create Your Own Easter Story
In this Easter worksheet, students look at a picture of a bunny and a basket full of eggs. Students write an Easter story based on the picture.
Curated OER
Photo Essay
Students examine the process of writing a photo essay. They examine and select a personal photo or photo from a magazine, and brainstorm a story that can go with the photo. They identify an emotion to go with their picture, then write...
Curated OER
Class Member Diversity - Level I
Students will work more comfortably with each other and the teacher if they are acquainted with each other. See Preface Materials: Have students fill out INTRODUCTIONS check sheet and then work in pairs to share answers. Have students...
Curated OER
The Photo Show
Students take pictures through out the school year. They make a PowerPoint presentation to show off their best photos of the year. They make a CD of their PowerPoint an keep it as a portfolio. They share their presentation with the class.
Curated OER
Tuck Everlasting
Clearly written as an assignment for a higher-level education class, this formal lesson plan contains some fun and well-researched strategies for teaching the novel Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Among the best ideas included in...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Poems that Tell a Story: Narrative and Persona in the Poetry of Robert Frost
Dig in deeper with Robert Frost's, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." Learners will read and discuss poems by Robert Frost and learn the meaning of terms such as narrative and personal. They journal, collaborate, and present poetry...
Curated OER
The Hot Dog Stand
Students run a computer simulation. They collect data as they work and use the data to create an annual report for their business. Several different simulations could be used for this project. It is desirable for students to do this...
Curated OER
Newspapers
Have your class learn about the features of a newspaper. Learners identify the parts of a newspaper and an article. They discuss the elements of good writing and describe how to add photos and captions to a story. Informative and useful!
Curated OER
Comparing and Contrasting Images of Child Labor
Students study child labor in the 19th century through one painting and multiple photographs. In discussion and writing, they consider the differences between photography and painting as mediums for expressing these attitudes.
Curated OER
The Hot Dog Stand - An Annual Report
Students run a computer simulation and collect data as they work and use the data to create an annual report for their business. It is desirable for students to do this project individually, but it could be done as a class using a large...
Virginia Department of Education
Synthesizing to Support a Thesis- Big Picture Emphasis
Help your researchers as they begin to develop a topic for research with these worksheets. Included are two nicely designed graphic organizers that assist students in narrowing and researching their topic, and an efficient evaluation...
Curated OER
Analyzing Poetic Devices: Robert Hayden's "Those Winter Sundays" and Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz"
Analyze the poetic devices used in Robert Hayden's "Those Winter Sundays" to those found in Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz." Critical analysts discuss poetic meter and rhythm and its relationship to theme. They compare and contrast...
Curated OER
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program
Here’s the overview for a series of lessons about the Japanese American internment introduced by the resource entitled “A Fence Away From Freedom.” Included are the link to the Smithsonian website on which the lessons are based, a list...
Curated OER
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Map for Me: An Original Story
Students read Blackbeard and brainstorm their knowledge of maps. In this language arts and geography lesson, students use landmarks on their playground to review north, south, east and west and discuss the compass rose. Students read...
Curated OER
Picture This: Photography in Adult Basic Education
Students use photos to generate opinions and feelings for them to write about. They use the photos to find something they are interested in and help them write.