The Kennedy Center
Fairy Tale Variations
Here are two great lessons that work together and are inspired by the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods. Young writers and actors will retell the story of "The Frog Prince" through games, improvisational script writing, and...
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The "Write" Stuff: Strategies and Conventions for Imaginative Writing
Fifth graders develop and practice the steps involved in imaginative writing. They follow the steps/worksheets included and write imaginative stories of their own.
New Class Museum
Lesson: Elizabeth Peyton: Portraits: Androgyny in Contemporary Culture
Portraiture, artistic expression, romanticism, and androgyny are discussed in a thought-provoking activity. Upper graders first discuss and examine the history of portraiture and the elements common to the Romantic style. Then they turn...
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The Roads Diverge...and the Essence is the Journey
Pupils examine the diverse and unique journeys of men. After reading various pieces of literature, they identify any rites of passage or change in the characters. They write in their reflective journals sharing their thoughts on the...
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Grandma Tells A Story
Students read a story with the teacher to reflect upon their own family history. The application of the story is when children create their own family tree and complete the questionaire.
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Natural Enemies
Fourth graders engage in the reading of an ancient Chinese fairy tale. The goal of the lesson is for them to become creative in the use of writing. The story creates a context for student's writing and ideas for future drafts.
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On Stage Tonight . . .
Eleventh graders explore the World Wide Web for information concerning the period known as "The Harlem Renaissance." They study the contributions made by African Americans in the areas of literature, art, and music during this period in...
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It's All in the Translation
High schoolers compare and contrast translations of Greek literature. In this dramatic literature activity, students read and perform passages from four different translations of Euripides's Hecuba. High schoolers discuss how the...
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A Friend Is...
Students investigate characteristics of friendship through literature and interviews then share their ideas through posters. They role play scenarios related to friends and problems they might have. This lesson reflects cross curricular...
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Digital Revolution
Learners take pictures in the style of Eleanor Antin. in this photography lesson, students work in groups to research a revolution and read a piece of literature that corresponds. They create an original image that represents that...
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The Witch of Goingsnake
Learners interpret a proverb and read examples of oral histories. In this The Witch of Goingsnake lesson, students read two samples of oral history and discuss quotations from each. Learners read "Calf Roper's Bandit Car" and...
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Individual Responsibility and Resistance During the Holocaust
Students examine the role of resistance during the Holocaut. Identifying misconceptions, they discuss them as a way to gather the truth about this time in history. They explore the roles of various groups of resistance and share this...
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The Task of the Mask
Students discover historical value and use of different African masks through research and literature. Students also relate different customs and traditions of ethnic groups to the masks.
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Mystery and Mayhem
Students use literature to examine the violence and loss of innocence during the 1960s. In this U.S. history lesson, students read Robert McCammon's Boy's Life to investigate the social unrest, violence and loss of innocence in the...
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Mythopoly: Where in the World Is Odysseus?
Students study Greek mythology. Among other activities, they evaluate a work of art and discuss the influence, significance, and history as it pertains to mythology. As a culminating activity they create a board game that shows their...
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The "Nobel"est People
Students study the history of the Nobel Prize, research Nobel laureates in all six categories of the award, and recognize the connecting thread of those who win the Nobel Prize--the contribution of outstanding work and the work's affect...
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Oedipus Wrecks
Young scholars explore the concept of the 'tragic hero' and how such characters are relevant in theatre, literature, and history.
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Core Book Guide for The Upstairs Room
Students read "The Upstairs Room" and participate in literature analysis regarding justice. In this Holocaust Literature instructional activity, students read a short story and discuss critical thinking questions. Students write journal...
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Zora Hurston Teacher's Guide
Students explore American culture by reading classic literature in class. In this African-American history instructional activity, students read the story Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree while identifying the work and contributions...
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James Whitcomb Riley
Students describe James Whitcomb Riley's poems and identify the themes they portray. In this poetry lesson plan, students read the history of James Whitcomb Riley and read some of his poems.
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The Odyssey and The Morte Darthur: Reading and Making Observations for Writing and Discussion
Young scholars read "The Odyssey" and "The Morte Darthur". In groups, they research the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology and the history of the places mentioned in the stories. Individually, they are to write a paper about a hero...
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Would You Like to Become a Millionaire?
Students answer questions written by other teams about literature in an attempt to become "millionaires." In small groups they write a motivational introduction to their teams selected books, publish their questions as a HyperCard...
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Understanding Greek Mythology
Middle schoolers explore the role of Greek mythology in ancient Greek life. They discuss the origins of the Greek gods and goddesses, conduct Internet research, and present a project in the form of a dialogue between a Greek god and a...
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Shadow Puppetry in South India
Students read a variety of literature from India, including folktales and fables. They then select a scene or story to script, work together to design and craft shadow puppets of characters and scenery, narrate a story, manipulate the...