Curated OER
Child Soldier
Students identify the exploitations of child soldiers. In this global issues lesson, students listen to a story that puts them in the shoes a 16 year old child soldier. Students discuss the plight of the teenager and then write creative...
Curated OER
Literature: Watching Anna
Students view the PBS presentation of Leo Tolstoy's, "Anna Karenina." Prior and after each episode, they discuss plot and characterization and in one lesson, use adjectives to describe each of the main characters. Then, students create...
Curated OER
Land as a Valuable Resource
Students investigate why the soil is important to our lives. In this natural resources lesson, students have a farmer as a guest speaker. Students begin to understand how farmers use and protect our natural resource. Students write...
Curated OER
Story Conflict and Conclusion
In this conflict and conclusion worksheet, students describe a problem or conflict of a story, then tell how the conflict was resolved and the story ended.
Curated OER
Understanding the Price Paid: America's Conflicts
Twelfth graders interview war veterans about their combat experiences and write newspaper stories about their interviews. They share their interviews with classmates. they discuss the impact of war on the veteran and the United States.
Curated OER
Story Books
Students discuss a narrative work of art, then write stories describing the action and publish their stories and illustrations in books.
Curated OER
Circular Story Map
In this story elements map activity, students use the blank graphic organizer to plan a story they will write. Students will write a story that takes place in the country they choose to study. Students think of the setting, characters,...
Curated OER
Writing Business Letters of Request
Tenth graders model proper format and elements of business letters. They review effective writing styles and write a request letter. Students also read a short story that includes conflict irony and symbolism They create a chart...
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...
Shmoop
ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.3
Teach your class the basics of narrative writing! The resource first describes the Common Core standard for narrative writing in-depth, and then moves into how to apply the standard. Show your class the example essay and quiz them...
Curated OER
Conflicting Views
Young scholars complete a Venn diagram comparing the United States and Afghanistan. They research the history of the Taliban and how they relate to the United States and its foreign policy. They write a paper on possible solutions.
Curated OER
Using Adjectives to Write
Fifth graders examine how to write a story using comparative and superlative adjectives. They listen to the book "Pig Pigger Piggest" by Rick Walton and identify the comparative adjectives used in the story. Students then write a rough...
Curated OER
Lead Me On - Writing Lively Leads for Book Reviews
Third graders use the concepts found in a PowerPoint presentation, and write leads for book reviews that attract readers and stimulate book interest. They are graded on their ability to engage the reader with their writing.
Curated OER
Panther Exam: Writing a Play
Students demonstrate their knowledge of panthers by writing a play on the subject. In this animal life lesson plan, students view a slide-show on school computers of a veterinary exam of a panther. Students utilize this...
Curated OER
Identifying Conflicts in Stories
Fifth graders practice analyzing story points by discussing Cinderella. For this reading comprehension lesson, 5th graders identify the four main types of conflicts in stories and how they are presented in modern day...
Curated OER
Plot and Conflict
Students review the literary elements of plot and conflict. In this plot and conflict lesson, students read a story and answer questions about the plot and conflict within. Students create a concept map for the novel to identify the...
Curated OER
Creating a Short Story
Pupils examine how to outline their story, to write a story and then edit their work. They illustrate their story using drawing features like squares, circles, and other shapes or a drawing program if they have it on the computer.
Curated OER
Printable Story Starter: Snow Leopard
This writing prompt about a hungry snow leopard provides students with the beginning of a story, including characters, a setting, and a conflict that the student can complete. The student can then compose an original middle and end of...
Curated OER
Printable Story Starter: Tired of the Snow
This writing prompt about Earl, the polar bear, who is tired of the snow, helps students complete the story by providing the first few sentences. The prompt also sets students up with the first conflict, which they can complete as they...
Curated OER
Elements of a Short Story
Students read a short story, The Tell-Tale Heart and create a story map identifying the elements of a short story included in the selection. Students complete an Accelerated Reader test on the selection.
Curated OER
Australia: Scriptwriting
Young scholars write a script of a play using Freytag's Pyramid on plot. For this scriptwriting lesson, students read a play and participate in a lecture/discussion about the main components of a play and the basis of drama. ...
Curated OER
Story Planner
In this literature learning exercise, students write an original animal story filling in a graphic organizer with the setting, characters and a problem/conflict. Students include an introduction and conclusion and write the title of the...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Ellis Island—The “Golden Door” to America
Are you one of the 100 million Americans whose ancestors passed through the doors of Ellis Island? Learn about the historic entry point for immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with an informative reading passage. After...