Curated OER
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Third graders listen to "The Sorcerer's Apprentice". Using the music, they identify the high and low parts in the orchestal composition. They compare the elements of a story to the piece of music and respond to the music and state how...
Curated OER
Novel endings
Students explore writing techniques. They investigate stories and their endings. Students discuss good ending tips. Students write a story about a main character overcoming a problem and write a good ending.
Curated OER
Using Picture Books to Teach the Holocaust
Students compare a photo of a child's room during the Holocaust to their room. In this WWII lesson plan, students read picture books and evaluate the roles of characters in the book. Students create either a poster about the roles, a...
Curated OER
Book Club Sheet
In this "book club" worksheet, students complete a sheet on a book they bring to the "book club." Students fill in basic information about the book, then information about characters, scenes, genre, etc.
Curated OER
One Person Makes a Difference
Students discuss how a person can make a difference. In this peace lesson, students read books in literature circles about characters that made a difference. They get together in groups and discuss what it means to make a difference and...
Curated OER
My Owl Babies Miss Momma
Students investigate the relationship between children and parents by reading a book about owls. In this story analysis lesson plan, students read the book Owl Babies and participate in a role play based on one of the characters....
Curated OER
Catherine, Called Birdy: February and March
Middle schoolers discuss characterization and relate to the main character in Catherine, Called Birdy. For this Catherine, Called Birdy lesson, students discuss passages that are comedic and sad and the effect they have on their...
Curated OER
Let the Leader Beware
Young scholars consider the tone of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. In this drama lesson, students read the first two acts of the play and discuss tone of the acts. Young scholars also respond to questions about the characters and...
Curated OER
Cause and Effect with "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs"
Fourth graders explore reasoning by reading a book with their classmates. For this cause and effect lesson, 4th graders read the children's story Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and discuss the story elements, characters and plot....
Curated OER
Grandfather's Journey
Third graders explore world cultures by reading a children's story in class. In this Japanese heritage lesson, 3rd graders read the book Grandfather's Journey and identify the characters, setting and plot that takes place. Students...
Curated OER
A Moroccan Fairy Tale vs. European Folk/Fairy Tale
Second graders explore world geography by reading two different fairy tales. In this cultural storytelling lesson, 2nd graders read Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and the Moroccan story The Girl Who Lived with the Gazelles. Students...
Curated OER
Not Hurting Others
Young scholars are encouraged to use gentle persuation rather than bullying and recognize how their behavior affects others. Students reflect to themselves with provided questions, read a story and reflect about how the characters...
Curated OER
Lots to See and Learn There Is
Students investigate hands-on learning opportunities. In this current events lesson, students visit the Star Wars exhibition, the National Gallery, or Global Leap online or in-person to discover the learning opportunities that each...
PB Works
George Washington’s Socks: Short-Answer Questions Chapters 1-9
Build a literature unit around the book George Washington's Socks with this series of short answer questions. Broken up in two- and three-chapter increments, these reading comprehension questions allow young readers to demonstrate...
Syracuse City School District
Reading Comprehension Unit Plan
A unit plan uses short texts to teach literary elements such as theme and characterization. Included are passages by authors such as Walter Dean Myers and Sandra Cisneros. Activities include quick writes, filling in graphic organizers,...
Curated OER
Sticks and Stones
Students explore bullying. In this character development lesson, students discuss verbal and nonverbal bullying. Using the "sticks and stones" adage, students write a sentence describing a hurtful act on a gray piece of paper,...
Curated OER
Fear and Loathing in Othello
Students research the ideas that people had of African people during Shakespearean times and examine Othello's descriptions of himself as written by Shakespeare.
Curated OER
Typecasting Roles
Students read and discuss various news articles where an element of surprise was present about the criminal and the crime. They research a news story, present the information in the form of a newscast, and write an opinion piece.
Penguin Books
A Teacher's Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
A 24-page teacher's guide to Romeo and Juliet includes scene-by-scene plot summaries, focus, discussion questions, and suggestions for individual and group projects.
Curated OER
"The Story of an Hour" Lesson 2: Teacher's Guide and Notes
After reading background information about Kate Chopin, pupils complete their shared reading of her short story, "The Story of an Hour." Participants then consider the irony of the ending.
Curated OER
Themes in Literature - Langston Hughes "Thank You Ma'm"
Eighth graders study Langston Hughes, "Thank You Ma'am" to discover the elements of plot, character motives and reactions. They express the effects of trust and kindness by writing a reflective personal narrative. They illustrate the...
Curated OER
The Travels of Babar: An Adventure in Scales
Students become familiar with the musical notify that are associated with the character in Monstel's The Travels of Babar: An Adventure in Scales, so that they can listen attentively to the performance and understand and appreciate ow...
Curated OER
The Beagle Brigade
Students brainstorm how to handle conflict scenario. In this character education lesson, students read a story and respond as to how the characters should handle the conflict. Students examines feelings of characters and...
Curated OER
Boys' Self-Esteem, Friendship, Managing Emotions, Media Literacy
Students explore their emotions, feelings and reasons for their feelings. After watching a commercial, they identify emotions the characters in the story experience. In groups, students examine the commercial script and predict what...