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Tales to Live By
Students explore the concept of theme. In this fairy tales lesson, students read several tales and complete hands-on activities, art projects, and dramatic play that lead to an awareness of the themes of the tales.
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Willy the Wimp
In this Willy the Wimp worksheet, students check their reading comprehension as they respond to 8 short answer, 1 drawing, and 8 fill in the blank questions regarding the book.
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Puzzle Mystery
Pupils sketch and give a title to a painting which they are given a small detail of. In this painting lesson plan, students share their titles and try to determine the theme and subject of the full painting based on these clues. At the...
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The Name You Once Gave Me, by Mike Phillips and The Dying Wish by Courttia Newland
Students read, analyze, critique and study the novels, "The Name You Once Gave Me," by Mike Phillips and "The Dying Wish," by Courttia Newland. They evaluate an extract from each novel and consider how a theme can provide a framework for...
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Wrapped in Mystery
Sixth graders can identify five basic elements that most mysteries contain. They put the elements of mystery into a graphic organizer they can follow. They construct meaning after reading Poe's short story and identify or infer the...
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Gift of the Magi Project
Students read "The Gift of the Magi" and review the elements and theme in the story. In groups, students sketch another students' outline on butcher paper. They use the body parts to relate the characteristics of Della and Jim. ...
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Gift of the Magi LP3
Students read the story of "The Gift of the Magi" and identify the theme and elements in the story. They discuss allusions, situational irony, simile, metaphor, allusion, irony and plot structure. Students share about sacrifices they...
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Mitty Test and Theme
Students read stories and determine the stock characterization, static/dynamic characterization and direct/indirect characterization. They read the story of "Mitty Test, "answer questions regarding the story, and discuss the themes of...
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Literature: Truly Fortunate Ahmed
Students gain an appreciation for Persian literature by reading "Truly Fortunate Ahmed." They select props such as turbans, rings, and clothing as they are revealed in the story. Among assessments from which students choose are:...
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Where's Walden and Why Henry?
Sixth graders understand how Thoreau can serve as both inspiration and model for the investigation of home places. They explore ways to become better observers of natural and cultural history. Students find out how to connect with their...
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Chocolate Chaos
Second graders demonstrate the ability to examine the elements of a story (theme, plot, setting, mood) and characters, by discussing and writing about each. They have fun with chocolate related activities and enjoy reading about some...
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Comparing Similar Themes in Art And Literature
Students view examples of Rembrandt's artistic works that include beggars and the unfortunate. They also read The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischmann. They use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the themes shared by each.
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William Tell Overture
Students explore the musical concepts of rhythm, melody, expression, and tone color in a three-activity unit about the William Tell Overture. They identify dynamics and tempo and play a vocal tone color singing game.
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Macbeth
Students discuss the changes the characters go through in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. They discuss the themes of the play write an essay comparing current events to the themes of the play.
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Haydn's Surprise
Students listen to Haydn's "Surprise" and use the score to create themes and variations with other rhythms. They create poems using Haydn's rhythm in the symphony and research his life. They also use "body percussion" to play parts of...
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Reading the Movies: Another Approach To Teaching Critical Thinking Skills And Writing
Students explore the elements of film to analyze character, action, and the themes in the movie, "Quiz Show." The lesson encourages students to make personal connections and real life applications as they view the movie, critically.
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Across Five Aprils
Students read the novel, Across Five Aprils and investigate the theme of the individual vs, community loyalties. They keep a daily journal, role-play situations, hold a mock debate, and write a research paper on "coming of age."
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I'm Nobody Bio Poem
Eighth graders analyze Emily Dickinson's poem, I'm Nobody. After discussing it, they create their own bio poem. They draw and label mandalas and display them in class.
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The Cause & Effect Model
Students analyze the plot of the story, "The Little Engine That Could" to provide a model for writing creatively, developing critical essays, producing themes, and making predictions.
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Learning Plot
Tenth graders identify certain literary elements such as conflict, and exposition within the text of a variety of studenT books. Aspects of literary elements such as theme, and allusion are explored in this lesson.
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Poster Made With Markers
Students create a poster with words, phrases, markers, colors, drawings to convey an idea or central theme.
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O Time, thou must untangle this": Tangling up the Love in Twelfth Night
Tenth graders are broken into groups to review a section of The Twelfth Night. They are then given a handout of the same material in which they are to break up material which conveys a single idea. They are to preform this idea to the...
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Why Thank You!
Fifth graders listen to a read aloud of Patricia Polacco's, Thank You, Mr. Falker! students examine the use of voice in the book, discuss the writing and theme ideas. They write a thank you not to their hero.
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Puzzle Mystery
Students solve the mystery of which painting they are reproducing by sketching. They determine the mood and imagery in artwork.