EngageNY
Understanding Themes in Esperanza Rising
Determining a theme or central idea is greatly emphasized in the Common Core standards. Target that skill though big metaphors and central symbols in Pam Muñoz Ryan's Esperanza Rising. Help your class reach the standard through...
Museum of Tolerance
Immigration Journeys
Through the journey of four stories of immigration, scholars complete graphic organizers and apply knowledge to create a visual representation of their findings on a large poster. Third and fourth readers write a letter to their...
Perfection Learning
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: Clouds on the Horizon--Foreshadowing
The seeds of tragedy are planted early in John Steinbeck's story of migrant workers George Milton and Lenny Small. Nurture the imagination of readers by asking them to craft predictions about what will grow out of events in chapters one...
Curated OER
A Picture Says a Thousand Words
Use photographs to trigger memories. Writers use a personal photograph as a starting point for an autobiographical writing exercise. They complete brainstorming activities that have them study their photograph before actually putting pen...
Curated OER
Fable Writing - Interdisciplinary Approach to Social Sciences
Before writing their own fables, class members select an animal or insect to use in their story and research its character, habits, movements, etc. After reading a wide variety of fables and identifying the elements of a fable, writers...
Prestwick House
Rhyme and Repetition in Poe's "Annabel Lee"
Many and many a year ago Edgar Allan Poe crafted the chilling tale of "Annabel Lee." The poem is the perfect vehicle to introduce Poe's concept of unity of effect, the idea that every element in a poem or story should help to develop a...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan 17: Novel, Take 2
It's all about using peer resources in this writing process instructional activity, which includes a fantastic novel revision worksheet packet. Learners have read a partner's story draft the night before, and groups have a...
Curated OER
Rudyard Kipling's Rikki-Tikki-Tavi: Mixing Words and Pictures
Create meaningful illustrations to accompany stories in a web-based art and literacy lesson focused on "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling. The class takes a virtual art safari with the Museum of Modern Art and then discusses how...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Drawing Conclusions Based on Literary Elements
Students compare versions of Cinderella and draw conclusions based on the story elements identified. In this literacy comprehension and story elements lesson plan, students read several versions of Cinderella, complete a "Comparing...
Curated OER
Walking the Line
Students participate in activities that engage all learning styles (such as picture walks, tracing lines, movement/theatre technique) as an introduction to the art element of line and its importance to art.
Curated OER
One Story, Many Tales
Students compare and contrast various versions of the fairytale Cinderella. In this folktale activity, students read The Korean Cinderella and The Egyptian Cinderella and analyze the differences between the two stories. Students identify...
Curated OER
A Pixie Biography Report
Students practice biographical writing after completing research on the subject. In this journalism activity, students read a story of an important person's life and discuss the important moments along the way. Students...
Curated OER
How can we write a silly story?
Second graders use the writing process and create a silly story. In this silly story lesson plan, 2nd graders will review person, event and setting and complete a chart for each. Students will put a person, event and...
Curated OER
What a Character!
Students look at the role of characters in a story. In this character lesson, students discuss how different types of characters change the plot of the story. They see how storytellers use their body, face, and voice to tell stories.
Curated OER
Narrative Writing Outline
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.
Curated OER
Theatre Lesson Plan, Performing a Story
Second graders read the story, The Bundle of Sticks, and discuss the story elements within the story; setting, plot, conflict resolution. For this readers theater lesson, 2nd graders reenact the story in small...
Curated OER
Web Quest on "How to Write a Mystery."
Students complete a Web Quest on How to Write a Mystery. They listen to or read a short mystery story and discuss its elements. They write an outline of a mystery story using all of the elements.
Curated OER
Book Letters
Students study language. In this writing lesson, students listen to a story and then compose a friendly letter, about the book, to a friend. They work independently to compose their letter depicting what happened in the story,...
Curated OER
The Literary Element of Theme
In this recognizing the theme in a story worksheet, pupils read and review the five main steps of how to identify the theme in a story.
Curated OER
Story Elements
Middle schoolers in particular will benefit from this simple presentation. Forty slides cover story elements like the protagonist, antagonist, and setting, and literary devices are also included. Some examples are given, but for the most...
Curated OER
Post Assessment: Plot Elements and Characterization
Learners use the provided worksheet to identify plot elements and then fill in these elements on a plot diagram. Also included is a template for a character map that asks readers to choose a character, identify two traits, and supply...
Curated OER
The Memory Invention
Young writers edit their writing to make sure it shows good meaning and clarity. In this writing lesson plan, students are given a variety of "What If?" scenarios to choose from as writing prompts. A class discussion ensues, which...
Curated OER
Who Wants To Be a Millionaire--Little Red Hen
This literature study PowerPoint enables students to review the main story elements of The Little Red Hen. In this PowerPoint, students participate in a game similar to "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" that is based on the events in the...
Curated OER
War Story Documentary
Students research and create an aspect of a war. They practice on writing a bibliography and essays.