Curated OER
Festival of Fools
Students act out lines from King Lear to show a character's folly. In this English literature lesson, students identify the 'folly' of a given character by choosing a passage from King Lear to demonstrate a time when the character acts...
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William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream': Conflict Resolution and Happy Endings
Students analyze the characters and conflicts in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream. In this conflict resolution lesson, students read the play and track the character actions with the specific plots. Students then predict endings...
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Comic Book Project
Students write a comic. In this writing instructional activity, students discuss comic books and why they continue to be so popular. Students create a comic book using an imaginary character. Students must present a problem and solution...
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Preparing the Soil
Middle schoolers explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students read Seedfolks and discuss the characters in the story and consider their actions that led to a community garden. Middle schoolers journal...
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Common Good
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students read stories and then discuss the meaning of philanthropy as they identify ways the characters contribute to the common good.
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Young Learner's Writing Workshop 2
Students choose a short story and role play one of the characters in the story. They interview each other about the character they are playing to research them.
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Evaluating a Book By Its Cover
Students practice using predictive strategies before reading a book. In this literacy lesson, students identify the theme and characters of the novel based on the cover illustrations.
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Responsible Abbie, Responsible Me
Students develop their social skills and learn what it means to be responsible. In this responsibility lesson plan, students read a book about the topic, discuss the book, and list reasons why to act responsibly. Students work in groups...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Hamlet and the Elizabethan Revenge Ethic in Text and Film
Young scholars research the social context of Elizabethan England for Shakespeare's "Hamlet". They identify cultural influences on the play focusing on the theme of revenge and then analyze and compare film interpretations of the play.
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"Afternoon on the Amazon" by Mary Pope Osborne
Students read and complete activities dealing with the book "Afternoon on the Amazon". They create webs of words used in the book and write about what they have read.
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Hooway for Wodney Wat
Students examine speech difficulties by reading a children's book in class. In this children's literature activity, students read the story Hooway for Wodney the Wat, and analyze the characters, story and the bullying that takes place....
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Enrichment Activities - "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"
Fifth graders read the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH." They discuss the various characters in the book, and the different types of conflict that take place within the book. They also research owls and rats to make comparisons...
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Heroes
Middle schoolers explore heroic characters. In this philanthropy lesson, students discuss the characteristics of a super hero and then define vocabulary associated with philanthropy such as civic virtue and altruism. Middle schoolers...
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Society Dominoes
Students are introduced to six victims of a crime. They role play characters in the scenario and discuss feelings as the scene unfolds. Through brainstorming and role playing strategies, they increase their understanding of the rights of...
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Small Fish Stick Together
Students pantomime the book Swimmy. In this philanthropy lesson, students discuss the main character in the text and how Swimmy participated in philanthropic acts. Students role play the book.
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Making a Choice
Students read and discuss the text Miss Rumphius. In this philanthropy activity, students discuss how the characters in the book made the world beautiful and create a class book of good deeds.
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Lonely Fish
Students read the book The Rainbow Fish. In this citizenship lesson, students discuss how the characters in the story resolved conflicts. Students create a rainbow fish from foil and cotton.
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Comic Book Project
Students write a fictional story into a comic book format. In this creative writing instructional activity, students analyze example comics and discuss the format. Students create a comic book using imaginary characters that find a...
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The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts
Students discuss character development, literary devices, events, and foreshadowing found in, "The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts" by Maxine Hong Kingston. They compare and contrast the main character's actions while...
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Making Something from Nothing
Students explore how to make something out of nothing. In this recycling lesson, students discuss the importance of recycling and what effects their choices could have on future generations. Students create something new out of used...
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Making the Movie Antigone
Students create a movie prospectus for Antigone being faithful to the major themes and conflict. They include the plot, setting, characters, and conflict while making them relevant to contemporary audiences.
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Economics: People as Producers and Consumers
Students examine the dual roles of producers and consumers in people by creating fictional stories that include examples of both. Their stories include descriptions of the tools and skills needed for the jobs of their characters and...
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Using Picture Books to Teach the Holocaust
Students compare a photo of a child's room during the Holocaust to their room. In this WWII lesson, students read picture books and evaluate the roles of characters in the book. Students create either a poster about the roles, a movie...
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Autobiographical Writing About Memories
Students reflect on fall memories in preparation for creating an autobiographical composition. In this composition lesson, students explore how many writers use the changing seasons, fall in particular, to describe a character's life...