Unit Plan
Curated OER

Positively Poetry

For Teachers 6th
Students complete a unit on poetry. In this poetry lesson, students complete 19 lessons that focus on reading and writing poetry as well as learning about literary elements and sound devices. Students read poetry orally, debate poetry in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identifying Science Fiction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss works of science fiction that they read, highlight aspects that made each a part of science fiction genre, identify formal literary elements, and discuss ways each can be developed through science fiction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Literature Pyramid

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learners create a literature pyramid. They review and discuss their assessment task and rubric and select the literature for their pyramid. They read the literary selection and complete a pyramid sheet for one of the four literary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Characters Across Two Short Stories

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders listen to a read aloud of two short stories focusing on literary devices. The write about the settings and realism of the stories, and decide each main character handles the conflict he faces with nature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Two Literature Pyramids

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers create literature pyramids. They read selections of various societies, eras, and ideas. They complete two pyramid sheets for the same literary element including either plot, character, setting, or theme. They color-code...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Fiction

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners write a science fiction story.  In this science fiction lesson plan, students read selections of science fiction and compare them to supernatural stories from the Bible.  Learners identify themes and discuss elements...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Story Time

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders watch soap operas online.  In this English lesson, 9th graders explore the story elements of the soap opera.  Students write a journal on their own interpretations of characters. 
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Poetic Justice: A Study of Poe's Famous Works

For Teachers 8th
Students explore Edgar Allan Poe's most famous short stories. In this Edgar Allan Poe lesson, students complete a 25 page packet of activities where they recognize the features of genres and literary devices Poe uses. Students read "The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hidden Messages

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners take a closer look at literary elements within the horror genre. In this literature lesson, students identify themes in the horror genre as they read and analyze War of the Worlds and Cemetery Path.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Much Ado About Nothing Plot Lesson Plan

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore tone in "Much Ado About Nothing." In this literary elements lesson plan, students  list the main points of the plot, identify shifts in tone, and select love songs that reflect the tone of events and/or characters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critic's Choice

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read three to five genres and choose one as a favorite. They write an essay persuading the class to read the genre. This lesson serves as a nice introduction to different styles of literature.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Study Guide: Fahrenheit 451 "The Hearth and The Salamander"

For Students 7th - 10th
For this study guide for Fahrenheit 451, students must complete a variety of activities to review the reading. Students define vocabulary and literary terms, describe characters and answer comprehension questions based on the reading.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Integrating Anime and Manga into an Art of Motion Picture Course

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the art of Anime and note its characteristics. Using scenes, they identify the plots, characters and themes trying to be portrayed. In groups, they compare and contrast the animation in America to that of Anime...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

"Et tu, Brute?" - The Characters, Conflict and Historical context of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

For Teachers 6th
Students analyze the Shakespearian play, "Julius Caesar" in this seven lesson unit. Through readings, hands-on projects, and the study of plot development, comparisons are made to the movie and the historical records available.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monster and Myths: Scripts

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore characteristics of the myth genre.  In this myth lesson, students become familiar with various myths and the cultures they were derived from. Middle schoolers compare in a graphic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Guide your class on an adventure 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with this Hampton-Brown outline. It provides educators with a guide to increase reading comprehension, critical thinking, literary analysis, and reading strategies. This...
Lesson Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Using Literary Elements to Compare Fiction Texts

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore language arts by reading and reflecting on literary examples. In this fiction writing instructional activity, students read several different cultural versions of the story "Cinderella" and discuss their interaction with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fiction vs. Nonfiction

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore fiction and nonfiction writing. They identify the elements of fiction in a short story and identify the criteria necessary in a nonfiction piece. Students distinguish the author's purpose in an expository text,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evaluate Problem-Solving in the Context of Culture and Time-frame

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars examine literary elements in non-fiction literature. In this problem solving lesson, students read Rosa Parks, My Story and Beyond the Limits. Young scholars make oral presentations based on the causes and effects,...
Lesson Plan
Bantam Books

The Martian Chronicles: K-W-H-L Activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Prepare your class for a unit on Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles with an activity that works for pre-reading, during reading, and post-reading. Learners fill out a K-W-H-L chart to reflect on what they already know, what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scene Writing

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders create an original scene or short one-act play within specified guidelines. Assessment is based upon the performance of student-created scenes during class time. Rubrics for assessment and connection to state standards...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Health Grade 5

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders understand conflict and how to solve them. In this lesson about conflict resolution, 5th graders explore different factors that cause conflict. Students are put into groups and develop a list of examples for a specific kind...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Too Can Haiku

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students conduct Internet research and explain the history of Haiku. After listening and reading various examples of Haiku, students use their own vocabulary and practice their math skills to determine the correct number of syllables...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fabulous Fairy Tales

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners examine how story telling using literary elements found in fairy tale genre is one way to read and retell, discuss and analyze, as well as write and produce their own fairy tales.