Curated OER
Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": Mixing Fact and Fiction
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," from The Jungle Book, offers young readers a chance to examine how Rudyard Kipling uses setting and personification to bring to life the brave mongoose who battles cobras to protect his family. Class members...
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Cinderella Stories
Students read and compare Cinderella stories using a worksheet. They write and illustrate original tales with a twist.
Curated OER
Story Starters
Students orally tell different types of stories using the assistance of props. For more advanced students, stories may be told according to a specific genre, or the story may have to include a given condition, setting, situation or theme.
Curated OER
Aftermath and Universal Lessons of the Holocaust
Students reflect on the information given to them during the examination of the Holocaust. In groups, they answer hard questions about what they have learned and how they could make a difference in the world today. They also analyze...
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Tales of King Arthur
Students discover how historical events led to the stories of King Arthur and his Court. Students read stories about chivalry and the Round Table, discuss the Holy Grail's symbolism, and role-play an Arthurian character.
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Read On
Young scholars consider the question "Why do we read?" through creating and sharing individual timelines of their own histories as readers. They then choose a book on which to write a personal essay.
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Freak the Mighty - Rodman Philbrick
Students read and examine the novel Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. A variety of assignments involving this novel is offered for the students to complete with higher order thinking skills.
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Understanding Character
Students are introduced to literary elements and definitions in the worksheet Understanding Character but reading through each of the elements and definitions aloud. They read the story, "La Bamba" and identify examples of the literary...
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Introduction to Traditional Oral Narratives
Learners are introduced to the idea of traditional oral narratives and divide them into genres. They explore the genres of context, motifs and variants. Each student finds oral narratives in their own lives and practice retelling them in...
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May Writing Ideas
In this writing instructional activity, students explore and discover a variety of ways to help make writing more interesting and creative.
Learning Station
Audience Appeal
In this writing worksheet, students learn that authors create books aimed at a particular audience of a certain age and interest. Learners read the names of 10 kinds of books and write the name of someone they think would enjoy it, and why.
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The Greek Gods
In this Greek mythology activity, learners solve and answer 15 clues pertaining to the Greek gods. Students fill in their answers to the 18 clues in the crossword puzzle provided for them.
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I am a Hero for Animals!
Students explore the humane treatment of animals. In this character development and civic responsibility lesson plan, students define "hero" and brainstorm related attributes. Students complete an action plan using the "rational...
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A Day in the Life of a Homeless Person
Learners examine the day in the life of a homeless person. In this humanitarian activity, students examine the life of a homeless person while discovering the importance of social justice in our society.
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What's Being Done?
Middle schoolers explore the concept of animal welfare. In this philanthropy lesson plan, students examine legislation that supports animals in their state as well as the role of the American Society for the Prevention of...
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Thanks for Your Service
Young scholars thank their freedom fighters. For this Veteran's Day lesson, students honor members of the U.S. Armed Forces by designing a program to pay tribute to them. Young scholars use technology tools to conduct interviews, take...