Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's in the Elements - Lesson Four

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars compare and contrast story elements in two versions of Cinderella.  In this literature elements lesson, students are read two different versions of Cinderella, they identify the characters, plot, and setting, then...
Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

"Old Southwest" Humorists and George Washington Harris

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars discover the work of George Washington Harris and his influence on American humor.  For this George Washington Harris lesson, discuss cultural differences in the United States and read Sut Lovongwood stories by George...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Describing a Story Event or Character

For Teachers 1st
First graders discuss story events and characters. In this story event or character instructional activity, 1st graders work in tiered groups to read George Ella Lyon's, Together. They complete reading the story before talking about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sticks and Stones

For Teachers Pre-K - 4th
Students explore bullying.  In this character development lesson, students discuss verbal and nonverbal bullying. Using the "sticks and stones" adage, students write a sentence describing a hurtful act on a gray piece of paper,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

No Regrets: a Poetry Analysis

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students read a poem and use the TPCASTT strategy for analysis. In this poetry analysis lesson, students journal about their future goals and read John Updike's "Ex-Basketball Player." Students discuss the purpose of the poem and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Literature Analysis

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students explore the concept of literature analysis.  In this literature analysis instructional activity, students discuss the story elements of a book.  Students also discover how to pair share and use each other as a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seedfolks

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Young scholars explore sequencing. In this sequencing lesson, students sequence events to analyze character actions as cause and effect or the plot of the story. Young scholars discuss character actions and list them on a chart.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analysis Through Character Action/Beliefs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore characterization. In this characterization lesson, students give analytical responses to questions and determine a character's beliefs. Students use the school mission statement to develop two beliefs that the statement...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fun Plays on Famous First Ladies

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers inquire about the lives of the First Ladies in our country. In this First Ladies lesson, students build knowledge about the contributions of First Ladies and how their childhood made them the person they are. Middle...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Reading Comprehension

For Students 5th
For this reading comprehension worksheet, 5th graders complete 3 long answer questions. Students must explain the setting and main characters of a story they read and give a paragraph summary.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Hatfield and McCoy Feud

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the main characters in the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. In this Hatfield-McCoy lesson, 4th graders gather information about the feud from the Internet and books. Students research the main characters involved and write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Pollution

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars explore ocean pollution.  In this ecology lesson, students view a video entitled This Pretty Planet and identify common biodegradable products. Young scholars participate in activities designed to simulate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading and Activity Suggestions for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students learn about characterization techniques in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  In this Adventures of Tom Sawyeractivity, students write a description of one character through the eyes of another character and identify scenes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Character Development: Cancer - A New Treatment

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners explore the concept of character development. In this character development lesson, students watch a video segment regarding a family's struggle with cancer. Learners examine the personality, situation, motivation, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kindness Counts Book

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students make a book about kindness.  In this character lesson, students read a story about kindness and discuss how it applies to life.  Students complete a kindness counts page and then assemble them into a book. ...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Litmus Lozenges: Sweet and Sorrowful (Because of Winn Dixie)

For Students 4th - 5th
In this Because of Winn Dixie worksheet, students explore characters and their relationships. Students complete a character web showing the relationships between seven characters in the story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Character Education Podcasts

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study character traits. In this character education lesson, students create podcasts highlighting a particular character trait. Students broadcast one podcast per week.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Characterization

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Learners read the book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. In this character traits lesson, students read the book and identify character traits. Learners draw pictures of a character from the book and describe the character traits.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tales From Around the World

For Teachers K - 4th
Students read stories. In this culture lesson, students read stories from different regions around the world. Students look for each region on the map and listen for interesting cultural details in the story. Students then discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Makes a Hero?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the characteristics of a hero. In this character development and writing lesson, students listen to music with a hero theme and discuss the common traits of heroes. Students explore individuals and charitable...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Character Map

For Students 2nd - 5th
In this character analysis instructional activity, students explore two characters. Students fill in the graphic organizer, similar to a story map, for two characters and compare and contrast them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Split" Character Studies in Crime and Punishment

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students write an essay evaluating split character traits on major characters in Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment. In this instructional activity students are guided through discussion questions, group assignments, and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Literature to Teach Bullying

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students explore signs and types of bullying. In this "building character" lesson, students listen to several read alouds based on a bully theme. Four groups are formed to discuss "gossip", "exclusion", "physical bullying", and "verbal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Picture This!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore and generate story elements for wordless picture books. In this collaborative writing lesson plan, students review wordless picture books and write a story based on the illustrations. Students use post-it notes to...