Handout
Other

Stephen Collins Foster: American Dreams

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a wealth of information about the American songwriter, Stephen Foster. This link leads you to the biographical information which is divided into five sections: beginnings, his life's work, the legend, the problems, and...
Article
Buddha Dharma Education Association

Buddha Net: Daily Life of a Thai Monk

For Students 9th - 10th
Buddhanet profiles the daily lives of monks in Thailand and an itinerary of a monk's day-to-day activities.
Website
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Land of Golden Dreams: California in the Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
A rich site on the California gold rush, 1848-1858. An online exhibit traces the gold rush using primary sources, a teacher page gives lesson plans from 4-12 and a kid's page offers further online adventures. Takes a long time to load.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Young F. Scott Fitzgerald

For Students 9th - 10th
In this video [6:35] from the American Masters film F. Scott Fitzgerald: Winter Dreams, students learn about the early life of F. Scott Fitzgerald. The accompanying activity asks students to examine the events of Fitzgerald's youth and...
Unit Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Journeys and Crossings: Langston Hughes and His Poetry

For Students 9th - 10th
Watch and listen to a webcast of David Kresh, Reference Specialist in Poetry at the Library of Congress, discuss Langston Hughes, including his poetry and other writings, and the impact of his life and work both during the Harlem...
Website
PBS

Pbs: The American Novel

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Information and analysis on the central concerns, characteristics, and distinguishing features of American literature, presented in timeline format. With synopses of classic works, biographical sketches, overviews of literary movements,...
Activity
University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas: Ransom Center: Edgar Allan Poe

For Students 9th - 10th
Investigate Edgar Allan Poe's life and work in this multimedia site that goes beyond Poe's writing and looks at how others have responded to his work. Listen to readings of some of Poe's best-known poems and try your hand at imitating or...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Independent Lens: What's Your Calling?: Educator Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
This educator guide is designed for young adults on the verge of making important life decisions, defining who they are, and determining how to achieve their hopes and dreams. Short film modules and highly customizable lesson plans allow...
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Documenting the Dust Bowl

For Students 9th - 10th
The Dust Bowl and resulting western migration that occurred in the 1930s is explored in this video [5:44] segment from the American Masters film Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning. The agricultural devastation and ensuing migration...
Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Students 3rd - 8th
This biography of Martin Luther King Jr. includes a timeline and addresses the life of the civil rights leader from childhood to the legacy he left behind.
Unit Plan
Other

Shakespeare Is Elementary!

For Students 3rd - 8th
Designed as a resource for teaching Shakespeare to elementary students, this site includes student work, ideas for teachers, a PowerPoint of Shakespeare's life, some Shakespeare Web site links and recommended plays.
Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: Langston Hughes

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a biography of Langston Hughes, followed by several of his poems (some complete with audio clips) and a bibliography of his more influential works.
Primary
Bibliomania

Bibliomania: William Shakespeare

For Students 9th - 10th
Here find links to the full texts of William Shakespeare's plays as well as study guides. (Note: Some of the links may no longer work.)
Handout
Other

Mlksb: Why We Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn why we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a holiday. Also gives a brief description on the life and work of Dr. King.
eBook
Blackdog Media

Classic Reader: Authors: Pedro Calderon De La Barca

For Students 9th - 10th
This site features the author Pedro Calderon de la Barca including the full text of the drama Life Is a Dream.
Website
Authors Calendar

Author's Calendar: Fyodor Dostoevsky

For Students 9th - 10th
This site presents an accurate account of the events in the life of Fyodor Dostoevsky. Also includes a bibliography of works by and about the author.
Website
Middlebury College

Middlebury College: Biography of Dostoevsky

For Students 9th - 10th
This Midlebury College site offers an interesting account of the life of Russian author, Fyodor Dostoevsky. Stresses the tragedies and difficulties of his life, particularly the mock execution he was forced to endure before being exiled...
Lesson Plan
Louisiana Department of Education

Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: English Language Arts: Grade 5: Shutting Out the Sky

For Teachers 5th Standards
Focused on immigrant life in the United States and how families sought the American dream, this unit offers students an understanding of how members of a culture meld into communities while trying to maintain cultural identity and honor...
Unit Plan
PBS

American Masters: F. Scott Fitzgerald

For Students 9th - 10th
Companion site for a PBS film version of Fitzgerald's short story "Winter Dreams." Contains a great interactive timeline of Fitzgerald's life as well as video clips of people discussing aspects of his works.
Unit Plan
Other

Qrisse's Edgar Allan Poe's Pages

For Students 9th - 10th
From this page, access information on Poe's life and career. In addition, read full-texts of Poe's stories and poems and check out an audio file of "The Raven."
Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: Edgar Allan Poe

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource provides a brief biographical overview of Edgar Allan Poe including information on his life and links to selected poems. A column of links to additional reading information on Poe is also provided.
Article
Other

Reef Quest: So You Wanna Be a Shark Biologist

For Students 9th - 10th
If becoming a shark biologist is your dream, check out this article on how to break into the field, written by a real shark biologist.
Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Chris Van Allsburg Lesson Plans

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Explore the informative links found within this site to gain an insight into the life and work of Chris Van Allsburg. This site provides lesson plans, teaching ideas and activities for several of his works.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Gains and Pains

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the legal gains made by the civil rights movement, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, juxtaposed against the real-life actions meant to deny African Americans their right to racial equality not just legally, but...