Readers of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings are asked to craft an essay in which they compare how Maya Angelou uses figurative language to depict herself and Mrs. Flowers. 

A speaker, a message, an audience. After analyzing these elements in Queen Elizabeth's speech to the troops at Tilbury, groups analyze how other speakers use an awareness of events, and their audience to craft their arguments....

Middle schoolers analyze the speaker's ideas and tone in the Billy Collins poem "The Lanyard." After identifying how each of the five senses is addressed in the poem, they compare images to draw conclusions about the speaker and his...

Use this political cartoon handout to help pupils understand the role the Blue Dog Coalition plays with regard to Health Care Reform. Football is used metaphorically to represent a player (Blue Dogs) tackling someone on his team (Obama)....

What does your class think about big business bailouts by the U.S. Government? Find out with this activity, where learners analyze a political cartoon comparing the "Big Three" automakers with the Greek Myth of Sisyphus. Background...

If you are previewing the film Glory for your young historians, this packet may help you spark ideas for discussion and offer some interesting facts and quotations that may add to your presentation of this Civil War narrative. It...

Here is a rubric that can be used for your next current event assignment. It details what should be included in each paragraph of the event description and analysis, as well as other requirements for work habits and presentation.

Writing about and in response to what you read can help you process the text and lead to stronger analysis. Included here are four larger topics that students can write about, sentence starters to help pupils get started with their...

The terrible truth begins in a instructional activity that focuses on the final act of Sophocles' Oedipus the King. As ninth graders collect evidence that details the origin of Oedipus and how his birth relates to the prophecy everyone...

Considering The Scarlet Pimpernel as part of your curriculum? Check out this overview that provides a brief summary of the plot of Baroness Orczy's novel and a discussion of some of the issues presented by her tale of the french...

Students study paintings and use their knowledge of story elements to analyze the art. In this art analysis instructional activity, students review a novel for its elements. Students study the image At the Moulin Rouge: The Dance and...

Students analyze Dorothea Lange's photographs and identify key themes in her work. In this photograph analysis instructional activity, students discuss and analyze the images of Lange and identify her themes. Students research the...

In this film analysis worksheet, students compare and contrast one of the themes in "Lord of the Flies" using the film "Au Revoir Les Enfants." Students write a comparison and contrast essay for the activity.

In this poetry analysis worksheet, students read the poem "Mutability," by William Wordsworth and then respond to 6 discussion questions. The questions require students to consider the role of religion and the impact of sudden change as...

Students analyze how poetry can reveal themes of 'The American Dream.' In this poetry themes lesson, students discuss the elements of poetry and define imagery. Students read 'Lost Sister' by Cathy Song and complete a related worksheet....

In this study guide worksheet, students must define vocabulary words and literary terms used in "The Cask of Amontillado". Students must also cite examples of literary term usage and answer comprehension questions based on the reading.

Learners gain an understanding of the Holocaust through analysis of political cartoons. In this Holocaust lesson plan, students examine propaganda in political cartoons that were used in Nazi Germany.

In this poetry analysis learning exercise, students answer 5 short answer and essay questions based on the content and literary elements of Lewis Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky." Questions require students to compare good and evil forces in...

Students analyze population data. They convert population data into simple density maps to help make decisions about their world. They select the best location for a school store based on population density. They present their maps...

For this "One Art" worksheet, students discuss the poem as an exercise in self-deception.  Students answer four questions about the poet's view of loss and her attempt to come to terms with it by making it seem trivial.

Students create table to display GED Testing data located in paragraph provided by teacher, use information in table to create appropriate graph, and determine percentage difference between passing scores and failing scores.

Students examine kinds of data used to report statistics, and create their own statistical report based on any of the four sources of media information (Internet, newspaper, TV, magazine).

In this "Ode to the West Wind" activity learners discuss the poet's hope that the wind will transform him.  Students answer three questions about the transformation.

In this "Ode to the West Wind" worksheet, students discuss the speaker's concern that his ideas will die with him. Students answer three questions about the poet's plea to the West Wind to take his ideas and spread them throughout the...