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Tracking Down Meaning in Great Expectations

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are assigned an unique theme, symbol, or character in Great Expectations. They becomes the class expert on that facet of the novel while learning the basic skills needed to write a research paper.
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Reading Puzzle

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine the elements of literature. They each read a chapter of a novel, sequentially list the main ideas, present a summary of the chapter to the class, sequence the events, and review the novel by summarizing the timeline.
Lesson Plan
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Native American Culture: The Light in the Forest

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders read the novel, The Light in the Forest. They work in groups to research and create artifacts for a Native American Living Museum. They complete a Powerpoint presentation of their virtual museum to classmates.
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Holocaust Literature Circle Discussion

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders participate in a literature circle regarding various novels of Holocaust literature. They read their selected novel and write a journal entry in response to the reading, and in small groups participate in a group...
Lesson Plan
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Jamestown Journey Part 4

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders review their prior knowledge from the previous lessons of this unit on Jamestown. After reading a novel, they examine and discuss the life of Pocahontas. Using the internet, they answer comprehension questions and write...
Lesson Plan
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Salinger and the Vocabulary of the Vernacular

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the use of slang expressions in literature.  In this literary analysis lesson, students examine the use of slang words and expressions in the popular novel Catcher in the Rye.  Students research the various...
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Woody Guthrie and The Grapes of Wrath

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine American idealism. In this literature and music instructional activity, students analyze the lyrics of Woody Guthrie songs as well as the themes of Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. Students examine parallels between the...
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Contrasting Characters

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners analyze characters in a story and contrast them in terms of their appearance, education, family, religion, and more. In this characters lesson plan, students fill out a worksheet provided.
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Tour of the Frozen Ground

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students discuss and observe permafrost features in their local community and compare and contrast these features with those described in a novel. In this permafrost instructional activity, students invite an elder from their community...
Lesson Plan
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The Grapes of Wrath: Voices from the Great Depression

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the Great Depression. In this Great Depression lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the plight of migrant farm workers during the Great Depression as they read Steinbeck's The...
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The Great Gatsby

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders investigate the concept of the American Dream. They use the novel "The Great Gatsby" as an example from literature. Students brainstorm in order to define the American Dream.
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Race and Genetics: An Integrated Approach

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners analyze racial issues related to the Human Genome Project. They participate in a mock symposium and write a reflection/position paper based on specific ethical principals.
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Let Us Do Your Selling

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders analyze several types of propaganda techniques and create a book cover using the techniques. In this propaganda techniques lesson, 6th graders analyze the propaganda techniques used in various ads. Students analyze the...
Lesson Plan
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Science Fiction

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Young scholars complete compare and contrast activities for two stories about racism and tolerance in the science fiction genre. In this literary analysis lesson plan, students read a Ray Bradbury short story and Walter Mosley poem,...
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Out of the Dust (High School)

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read Hesse's "Out of the Dust". They respond to questions about the novel and write a free-verse poem modeled after the author's.
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Hoot, the Movie And Classroom Activities Too

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Pupils complete various activities for the book and movie "Hoot." They read and analyze the novel, observe wildlife in their neighborhood, and compare/contrast Henry David Thoreau with a main character in the book.
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A Little Mystery and Intrigue in Writing Short Detective Stories

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Pupils read and analyze the twelve short stories in the novel "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." They create their own detective that has to solve a new kind of crime, and write and edit a short story with their original detective as...
Lesson Plan
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One Ring to Rule Them All

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students continue to read Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. In groups, they analyze the different metaphysical aspects of the ring and discuss the characters use of power in the story. As a class, they examine Frodo's reasoning for wanting...
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ESL Integrated Literature Unit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read and analyze information related to the book Island of the Blue Dolphin. They select appropriate information for the purpose of investigating part of the book.
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HyperStudio Book Reports

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders create a HyperStudio book report after reading a novel. They work in pairs or small groups to design a HyperStudio stack about a previously-read novel. They use a variety of graphic organizers to have Students gather...
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Cause and Effect with the Treasure of Green Lake

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students, after reading the book, "Holes," answer questions about the story's plot, make decisions about game play that involve cause and effect relationships and utilize problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination to navigate a...
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Fate vs. Mind: A Macedonian Folk Tale

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the work of Carla Bachechi as a Peace Corp volunteer in Macedonia. Individually, they read various folktales from the country and break into groups to discuss how it is different than a novel. To end the lesson, they...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Mark Twain's America

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students read Huckleberry Finn, analyze text for historical contexts, and write book report emphasizing historical elements, type report comparing and contrasting events in book to events of today, create Powerpoint presentation...
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Number The Stars

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this foreshadowing worksheet, pupils explore the technique of foreshadowing in the novel Number The Stars, by Lois Lowry. Students analyze chapter 9, page 76 for this technique of foreshadowing.