Young scholars study examples of each trait in literature. They discuss how each trait adds to the craft of writing and practice revision of a writing piece with a particular trait in focus. They rate their writing on the trait of Ideas...

Students explore literature dramatization. In this Shakespeare lesson, students discuss the characters from the play A Midsummer Night's Dream and construct costumes and a set.

Third graders explore and develop interest in reading of foreign lands through the reading of The Arabian Nights and a variety of Cinderella stories. Students participate in a variety of folk literature activities. Students recognize the...

Students study scanning and skimming techniques. In this research skills lesson, students use the research techniques on print literature about the Mississippi River. Students prepare book talks on the literature they read.

Learners explore historical perspectives through literature. For this King Arthur lesson, students discover the attributes of dramatic monologue as they read selected literature. Learners then discuss the legend of King Arthur and...

Students analyze the meaning and process of categorizing items, people and events as 'the best.' students then defend pieces of literature, images, and sounds that they feel most represent 'the best of the 20th century.'

Third graders listen to literature about the North Pole, bakeries, Mrs. Santa Claus, ginger bread and follow directions to assemble a gingerbread house out of icing, graham crackers and candy. They write directions for making a...

Fourth graders examine how a change in attitudes about death took place from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth century and was embodied in gravestones, literature, and art.

First graders use literature, maps, and globes to explain how physical environments in various parts of the world are similar to and different from one's own, and that certain areas have common characteristics and can be called regions.

Sixth graders investigate the ideas, literature, music, and art of the Romantic Movement. They apply romantic ideals to their original writing and art, analyze poetry, discuss key vocabulary, and analyze artwork from this era.

Second graders investigate self- and teacher-selected literature (e.g., picture books, nursery rhymes, fairy tales, poems, legends) from a variety of cultures. They re-enact and retell stories, songs, poems, plays, and other literary...

After learning the main ideas of the Decadent movement, students work in small groups to read and translate poems by the French poet Charles Baudelaire using basic etymology skills. They then read the accurate English translations to see...

Fifth graders explore sequential dramatization through children's literature. In this drama instructional activity, 5th graders act out and record scenes using digital and video cameras.  Students create a digital poster using...

Students study the historical time of the Harlem Renaissance, including key events and figures. They read literature that weaves fiction and history and survey some of the references to the Harlem Renaissance in the novel, Jazz, by Toni...

Learners study newspaper articles and rewrite events from literature into news stories about kindness. In this news article lesson, students read sentences from newspaper articles and identify the purpose of the article. Learners...

Students explore the fairy tale genre of literature. In this Cinderella lesson, students read fairy tales and discuss their attributes and cultural background. Students examine and write their own fractured fairy tales.

Young scholars compare and contrast story elements in two versions of Cinderella.  In this literature elements instructional activity, students are read two different versions of Cinderella, they identify the characters, plot, and...

Students explore how their choices affect others.  In this character development and ecology lesson, students debate choice-making issues.  Students listen to The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and identify choices the characters made...

Learners study the settlement of the American frontier through literature. In this literature lesson, students read and discuss works by James Fenimore Cooper, Bret Harte, Mark Twain, Willa Cather, and Hamlin Garland. Learners compare...

High schoolers consider the implications of the Salem Witch Trials. In this literature lesson, students read Arthur Miller's The Crucible and compare the witch trials to McCarthyism of the 1950's. High schoolers rewrite scenes from...

Students confront fear through literature. For this literary elements lesson, students discuss fear and what they know about the horror genre of literature. Students then examine the painting "The Scream," by Edvard Munch and listen to a...

Students create a relief print. The chosen image for this print be a setting from a novel that played an important role in the plot of the story. They conclude this lesson by writing a literature response about their setting.

Second graders read literature about Africa, examine physical characteristics of the continent, explore animals native to Africa, and discuss distance between Africa and locations in the United States.

Seventh graders analyze the stereotyping of wolves in children's literature. They compare stereotypes and facts about wolves. They rewrite a fairy tale from the wolf's point of view.