Newseum
Today's Front Pages
Take a close look at a number of newspapers with collection of lessons and activities. Using a poster (which can be found under the materials tab), learners examine the hard copy of a local newspaper. This leads into an exploration of...
Curated OER
How Do Adjectives Improve Writing?
Using adjectives to create vivid descriptions is the focus of exercises in this resource. A cloze reading activity asks class members to add missing adjectives to passages from Mark Teague's The Lost and Found. They then read...
Curated OER
Storytelling
Show young readers how to put some personality and voice into their storytelling with an in-depth assignment. Kids practice saying the same thing, such as counting from one to ten, in different tones and perspectives, and then work on...
Novelinks
Walk Two Moons: Guided Imagery
Sensory details can enhance the reading experience, especially during a guided imagery reading. Young readers close their eyes and listen to a passage from Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons before responding to discussion questions and...
Reed Novel Studies
Redwall: Novel Study
Many dream of a place of refuge to escape from the harsh world. That is exactly what Redwall is for the creatures of the forest. Redwall is a fantasy novel that tells of the trouble that comes to a quiet and peaceful forest....
Curated OER
"Three Shots": Ernest Hemingway's Nick Adams
Analyze characterization in literature. Readers use "Three Shots," from The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway and complete classroom activities that require them to apply literary analysis techniques. They write their own short...
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension 5: Level 10
Whether used as a reading comprehension assessment, as the basis of a mini-lesson on reading strategies, or as extra practice, this exercise will prove to be valuable because of the answers and explanation key that accompanies the...
Curated OER
Leads for Descriptive Writing
Students write two descriptive leads to learn how to reel in readers. After their leads have been written, they will share with a partner to decide which was the most appealing. In this leads lesson, students can also write a reflection...
Curated OER
Financial Security
Students take an economic angle on social security, working in small groups to create a reader's guide to the program and the current debate.
Curated OER
Egyptian Dynasties
Sixth graders read the chapters in their social studies books and answer questions about Egyptian Dynasties. In this Egyptian Dynasties lesson plan, 6th graders research in their book, and then work in groups to answer the questions.
Curated OER
Jigsawing with Nebraska Golden Sower Award Books
Students investigate the Nebraska Golden Sower Award and nominated titles for the current year. They explore the Nebraska Golden Sower website, read a chapter from a Golden Sower book using the jigsaw method, and create a concept map and...
Curated OER
Ulysses by James Joyce
In this online interactive reading comprehension activity, students respond to 18 short answer and essay questions based on Joyce's Ulysses. Students may also access an online quiz on the selection using the link at the bottom of...
Literacy Design Collaborative
Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
Was that supposed to be funny? Scholars analyze The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County to determine if Mark Twain's story is indeed based on humor. Learners work through short response questions, vocabulary, and active reading to make a...
Scholastic
Ask the Author
Here is a quick activity that could help your kids with their reading comprehension. They practice a classic strategy that gets them to start asking questions about what they are reading, while they are reading it. They write out...
Curated OER
U.S. Imperialism PowerPoint Project
Eighth graders explore U.S. Imperialism. They explain why stronger countries take control of weaker countries. Students research Imperialism in other parts of the world. In groups, 8th graders create a PowerPoint presentation discussing...
Curated OER
The Faithful Friend
Students work in co-op groups to create a Reader's Theater production of the story. Students create a flow map that sequences the major events in the story. Students research the island of Martinique and create a travel brochure...
Curated OER
Keeping safe from carbon monoxide
High schoolers research tips on what to do to avoid problems or to recognize dangers if they exist. Find local gas companies and fire department officials who have background in this. Then plan an article telling your readers what they...
Curated OER
"Intelligent Design" and Ohio's Science Curriculum
Students explore the debate between intelligent design and Darwinism. They research both topics by accessing primary sources. Students interview school administrators to determine what its science curriculum is and the timeline for any...
Curated OER
Protecting Your Identity - and Helping Others Protect Theirs
Students examine the growing problem of identity theft. Using the internet, they research how it occurs, how to avoid it and what to do if you have been affected. They discover how state governments are dealing with the issue and...
Curated OER
Anticipation Guide for Death of a Salesman
"It is better to ignore something unpleasant than to face reality." Readers of Death of a Salesman complete an anticipation guide before tackling Arthur's Miller's tale of Willy Loman and his sons. After completing the play, class...
Curated OER
Editorial Cartoons
Do your classes love reading and drawing cartoons? Middle schoolers read an editorial cartoon from a newspaper. They discuss the cartoonist's topic, audience, and purpose. Next, they brainstorm questions they have about the cartoon and...
Curated OER
Measuring, Drawing and Naming Angles
Upper graders examine all angles. In this angle instructional activity, pupils practice measuring, drawing, and naming angles. They create posters regarding angle vocabulary.
Curated OER
Harmony and Expression in Writing Form
How do you write an interesting beginning, middle, and end of a story? With this activity, young writers look to other stories as examples. Then, they use some of the attached graphic organizers to help them create their own story. Note:...
Curated OER
The Power of Mental Images: Visualizing Literature
With a chapter book in hand, readers practice visualizing the events and characters of the story. The lesson gives suggestions of novels that are rich in detail to help facilitate the process. Drawings from what they read act as the...