Curated OER
Dark Name-Play in Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book
Explore the symbolism of characters' names in The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. This fantasy children's novel lends itself to symbolism and many parallels with other works of literature and time periods. Names of the ghosts and...
Novelinks
The Graveyard Book: Concept Analysis
Neil Gaiman's award winning children's fantasy novel, The Graveyard Book, is the focus of a literary analysis overview. Those new to the novel can decide whether the book is appropriate for whole-class discussion or as a book circle...
Novelinks
The Graveyard Book: Student Questioning For Learning Strategy
Questioning a text is a very effective way for kids to develop their reading comprehension skills. Designed to engage all class members, a reading activity prompts pairs to develop and share their own questions about the ending of Neil...
Harper Collins
Fly Away with Books Poster
Put up a poster near your class library to encourage your pupils to take trips to different worlds and times through books. The poster features one large hot air balloon made out of book covers and several smaller balloons, some with...
Curated OER
Whispers in the Graveyard
In this Whispers in the Graveyard instructional activity, students answer questions for each chapter in the book relating to grammar and writing. Students answer two hundred questions relating to adverbs, descriptive writing,...
Curated OER
Cemeteries Are Historical, Not Solely Grave
Students reflect on the value of graveyards as places of great historical importance and information. They create an epitaph for and a brief biography of a deceased historical figure whom they admire.
Curated OER
Reading and Activity Suggestions for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Middle schoolers learn about characterization techniques in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. In this Adventures of Tom Sawyerlesson, students write a description of one character through the eyes of another character and identify...
Curated OER
Find the Oldest
Students track down their town's oldest standing man-made landmark. By learning more about the oldest structure in their area (whether it's a church, store, graveyard, bridge, etc.), they discover interesting details about their town's...
Curated OER
Arkansas Careers - Paper Makers
Students listen to the story The Lorax. They identify natural, human and capital resources in the book. They identify the scarcity problem and brainstorm solutions. Students view a map of Arkansas which shows natural resources. They...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Vengeful Verbs in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
It's time for pupils to read, examine, and contemplate literature to explore the difference between vivid and generic verbs. Pupils distinguish between the two types of verbs as they read the ghost scene from Shakespeare's Hamlet. They...
Novelinks
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Concept Analysis
Ready yourself for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer with this analysis of the novel. Included here is a summary of the plot, a list of themes, notes on vocabulary and other issues, a brief analysis of plot elements, and project ideas...
Curated OER
Unwind: Discussion Strategy, Chalk Talk
Readers of Neal Shusterman's young adult science fiction novel, Unwind, engage in a silent discussion, posting their responses to a series of statements about characters in the story.
Curated OER
Peace
Ninth graders explore through research changes in Japan following A-bomb, discuss how people of all ages can model tolerance and peaceful coexistence, examine Constitution of Japan, and identify its three basic tenants.
Curated OER
Work Sayings Exercise
In this English vocabulary practice worksheet, students respond to 12 questions that require them match idioms to their meanings. Students also write and explain 3 additional idioms.
Curated OER
Bones and Muscles
Third graders are introduced to bones as the body's means of support and protection. They research bone facts and conduct an experiment with chicken bones. They identify and observe involuntary muscles at work.