Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

Little House In The Big Woods: Novel Study

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Author Laura Ingalls Wilder takes readers back to the good ole days. In Little House in the Big Woods, she tells scholars about a family living in the woods during the 1870s. While reading, they complete sentences with vocabulary words,...
Interactive
PBS

Figuring Out Figurative Language in The Outsiders

For Students 7th - 9th Standards
S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders is well known for its relatable characters and plot, but don't forget how effective the book's figurative language can be! Check out an interactive resource that explores how figurative language comes...
Lesson Plan
Scholastic

A Tale to Tell!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
A creative spin occurs when one pupil acts as author Ann M. Martin. Using a Q & A at the back of her book A Dog's Life, other classmates ask the "author" questions. They discuss the reasons why they know the book is from a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan 17: Novel, Take 2

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
It's all about using peer resources in this writing process instructional activity, which includes a fantastic novel revision worksheet packet. Learners have read a partner's story draft the night before, and groups have a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dear Diary

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Work on narrative writing with this lesson, in which middle schoolers analyze the characters from a selected piece of literature and write narrative diary pieces as the character. They work to understand the point of view of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

AWARD CERTIFICATE FOR A CHARACTER

For Teachers K - 1st
Connect to real-world experiences by having your primary learners create an award certificate based upon literal and inferential information from a story. They present the award to a character from a story and explain the criteria used....
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Close Reading of That Book Woman: How Did People Access Books in Rural Areas of the United States?

For Teachers 3rd Standards
For this ninth lesson plan in a larger beginning-of-the-year unit, close reading skills are used independently to find the gist of the story That Book Woman. Rereading for important details is the targeted skill to unlock a deeper...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Knights of the Round Table adapted by Gwen Ross

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Everyone loves the tales involving King Arthur and his knights. After reading Knights of the Round Table by Gwen Gross, learners draw inferences and conclusions, analyze story elements, and discuss figurative language, including...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Printing and Publishing

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Explore African literature and artwork in a multicultural literacy and art lesson. Begin with a read aloud of Tiger and the Big Wind: A Tale from Africa, and afterward, have kids retell the main events in the story. They...
Unit Plan
University of  Wisconsin

Teaching Things Fall Apart in Wisconsin: A Resource Guide for Educators

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
“There is no story that is not true, . . .” And uncovering the truths in Things Fall Apart is the focus of a 68-page resource packet designed to provide instructors with a wealth of materials that enhance understanding of Chinua Achebe’s...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's in the Elements - Lesson Four

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students compare and contrast story elements in two versions of Cinderella.  In this literature elements lesson, students are read two different versions of Cinderella, they identify the characters, plot, and setting, then they...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Brown Bagging with Short Stories

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students participate in a study of short story elements, applying their knowledge and understanding to a selection of short stories.  In this short stories lesson, students read five short story selections, identifying conflict,...
Activity
Orlando Shakes

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!): Study Guide

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What do Ebenezer Scrooge, the Grinch, and Frosty the Snowman have in common? They're all characters from beloved holiday movies that viewers revisit in the play Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!). Scholars conduct research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harmony and Expression in Writing Form

For Teachers 2nd
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:...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Convincing Characters

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create vivid, active characters for a story. In this character lesson, students discuss the characters in books they are familiar with. Students create a list of novels they have read and discuss the character types. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Country Mouse Comes to Tea: Exploring Animal Characters from Tales Real and Fanciful

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students study animal characters. In this language arts instructional activity, students analyze animal characters from a variety of books and create a story using animal characters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Chart

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars create charts for story elements. They read two selections that share a common theme and discuss the story elements. They create a chart for the characters, plot, and setting and complete it while reading the selections.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Story May

For Teachers 1st
First graders review the terms characters, setting and events in stories. They are shown how to access the Kidspiration Map, and how to add pictures in the correct spaces on the map. Students insert pictures in the map of the story...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Story Map Situations

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore a variety of ways to represent text. They represent text in story maps while on the playground. Students depict the elements of a story on a story map. They create a poster for character, setting, problem, and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Halloween Tales

For Teachers 3rd
At the beginning of this Halloween lesson, learners generate a list of spooky characters and words that they will use when creating their original stories. Teams of 3-4 members create the stories together. The lesson includes a handy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Main Events

For Teachers K
Identify main events in a text. Readers will read The Kissing Hand and discuss the main events of the story. They will use sentences strips to write down events and place them in order. Alternative books are suggested.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Fairy Tales

For Students 1st - 3rd Standards
Once upon a time are four words most children are familiar with when reading a fairy tale. But do they know that fairy tales are a great way to learn the literary elements of reading and writing? Use a thorough fairy tale unit...
Organizer
Ed Helper Clip Art

Character Problem Solution

For Students 1st - 5th Standards
Intended for younger audiences, children identify the main characters, setting, problem, events, and solution in a graphic organizer.
Lesson Plan
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Roald Dahl

Matilda - Miss Honey and The Trunchbull

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
As the instructor reads aloud several quotes from five chapters of the story Matilda, class members mime their interpretation of the scenes. Then, after reading "Miss Honey" and "The Trenchbull" (chapters seven and eight), the...