Organizer
Curated OER

Writing Organizers

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Eight graphic organizers to choose from? That's right! Each of these organizers relates to writing or reading. From narrowing a writing topic, to responding to literature, to planning a writing project, you'll find many purposes for...
Assessment
Fluence Learning

Writing About Literature: Comparing and Contrasting Characters in Heidi

For Students 5th Standards
Scholars read excerpts from the story, Heidi, in a three-part assessment that focuses on comparing and contrasting characters. Each part contains three tasks that challenge learners to discuss, answer comprehension...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

A Persuasive Writing Project That Aligns to Common Core Standards

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Create a writing project that focuses on the Common Core ELA Standard for writing an argumentative essay.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reader Response

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders reflect upon different concepts of Language Arts while reading literature. In the novel Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt, the characters discover a spring of eternal youth. After reading the first several chapters of...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Literature-based Skill Building: Holes by Louis Sachar

For Students 4th - 5th
In this literature response worksheet, students answer 7 essay questions about Chapter 11 of the book called Holes by Louis Sachar.
Activity
Novelinks

The Lightning Thief: Problematic Situation Strategy

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
In the novel, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Percy is faced with a major decision. After reading, chapter 19, discuss the decision-making process Percy took, what he decided to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Michelle Kwan: Heart of a Champion

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Who is a champion to your class? Elementary and middle schoolers think of a role-model from their lives. Then, in their journals, they write evidence of that person's perseverance. They identify the character trait of perseverance with...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Literature-based Skill Building: Holes by Louis Sachar Chapter 14

For Students 4th - 5th
In this literature response worksheet, students answer 20 short essay questions about Chapter 14 of the book called Holes by Louis Sachar.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Analyzing Literature Through Book Projects

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Here are ideas for book projects to help students analyze literature.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

A Year of Reading

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Utilize literature books for youth as a means to engage new readers and celebrate reading accomplishments.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Lesson Ideas for Comparing and Contrasting Content

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Here are three lesson ideas to help students learn how to compare and contrast information in any content area
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Author In The Spotlight

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Complete an in-depth study of the works or a specific author. Working in pairs, students read at least four works by the same author. After completing the reading, they create an essay comparing and contrasting the works and create an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coming to America

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Students read one book together about the immigrant experience. Teacher asks students to identify some of the themes around immigration contained in the book (example: prejudice).
Unit Plan
Gwinnett County Public Schools

Analysis of the Tuck Everlasting and The Birchbark House Text Exemplars

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Looking to introduce some text-based questions into your ELA lessons? Practice the kinds of skills the Common Core demands with the seven text-based questions and the essay prompt provided here. Designed to be a three-day lesson, day one...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Developing Listening Skills With Folktales

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students answer questions about a folktale that is read to them. For this listening skills lesson, students practice listening to folktales and answering questions about what they hear. They listen to repetitive readings of the same...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Nonfiction Lessons That Motivate

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Incorporating nonfiction lessons into literature instruction can be interesting and engaging for all students.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading About Children from Other Places in the World: Structured Research Project

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students read about children in Ghana, Sri Lanka and Haiti. They compare these children to themselves in a structured lesson that focuses on note taking and research skills. Students work in groups to write a short essay about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Aerial Age

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students infer America's attitude towards aviation in the early 1900s. In this The Aerial Age lesson, students analyze early 1900s literature, music, advertisements, and popular culture in reference to aviation. Students represent their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Narrative Writing Outline

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the elements of a narrative for its purpose, type of audience, mood, main character, minor characters, setting, and conflicts in the story. A story outline is developed and a five paragraph essay composed in this lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In The Eye Of The Beholder

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students, in groups, research Rembrandt's life and works. They find critiques of his work, as well. Each group reports their findings back to the rest of the class. Finally, they create abstract drawings and write interpretations about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hyper for Expository Writing!

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use the internet to research a plant or animal they read about in "The Talking Earth". Using notes, they develop a graphic organizer and use the main topics to create a HyperStudio stack. Using all of this information,...
Unit Plan
McGraw Hill

Glencoe Literature Library: "Where the Red Fern Grows" Study Guide [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 6th
Great reading guide for "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls. Provides pre-reading material, including an author bio, book introduction, background articles, and journaling activities, as well as charting and brainstorming ideas...
Unit Plan
McGraw Hill

Glencoe Literature Library: "Missing May" Study Guide [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 7th
A great resource for students reading "Missing May," complete with a brief biography of author Cynthia Rylant, pre-reading material, diagramming activities, personal response and analysis questions, and an essay prompts for students who...