Curated OER
Beowulf
Students read the epic, Beowulf and examine the nature of good and evil. They compile a list of questions about loyalty tests and take turns asking and answering them. they create Beowulf comic strips and research other epic tales.
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Poetry Portraits
Students consider the attributes of heroes. In this literature lesson plan, students read selected poems from Hesse's Out of the Dust and then create their own bio-poems that feature themselves as heroes.
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Role Models, Fantasy vs. Reality
Students explore the qualities of a hero. Through a class discussion, they compare and contrast a reality hero to a fantasy super hero. Students watch television commercials and identify the influences in them. They determine positive...
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Oedipus Wrecks
Students explore the concept of the 'tragic hero' and how such characters are relevant in theatre, literature, and history.
Orange County Department of Education
The True Story of Abbie Burgess
First graders read a story about Abbie Burgess. They identify at least three specific actions exhibiting traits of courage and responsibility. Students explore ways children and adults become heroes by helping others out in a time of...
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Four Heroic Presidents
Students complete a series of lessons that explore the heroic qualities of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Students read books, participate in discussion, color pictures and complete worksheets.
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Stick Your Neck Out
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students investigate the "Giraffe Heroes Project" and read about service works that teens have completed.
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Defining Caring
Students demonstrate the philanthropic act of caring. In this character education lesson, students brainstorm synonyms for care or caring and think of ways to demonstrate caring qualities.
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Cultivating Legends
Students research individuals considered to be icons. After reading an article about Sylvia Plath, they create written analyses about them along with visual representations. Students discover the differences between icons and heroes.
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Stick Your Neck Out
Young scholars research stories of teens who care using a website embedded in the lesson. In this character education lesson, students read about young scholars who performed philanthropic acts and discuss the projects that most...
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Dealing with Tragedy in the Classroom
Students explore the concept of human tragedy. In this September 11 terrorist attacks instructional activity, students write condolence letters, discuss the qualities of heroes, and investigate volunteer opportunities.
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What Can We Do to Help End Hunger?
Students explore the problem of hunger and malnutrition. After discussing heroes, students select and describe those who worked against poverty or hunger to make a positive difference. An opportunity is given for students to participate...
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Local Leaders and Why They are Successful
Students discuss the concept of being successful. The class produces a web page that showcases leaders from their community. They describe their contributions to the community and state the qualities that led them to success.
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The Cay- Book Questions
For this literature worksheet, 5th graders answer 18 questions based upon the book The Cay. There are five open-ended extension prompts as well, such as making a map of the cay.
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Uncle Jed's Barbershop
In this Uncle Jed's Barbershop learning exercise, students read the book Uncle Jed's Barbershop and complete short answer questions about it. Students complete 10 questions total.
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Always My Dad
In this Always My Dad learning exercise, students read the book Always My Dad and answer short answer questions about it. Students answer 10 questions total.
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Call of The Wild
Prompt your class to interact with Jack London's Call of the Wild. By analyzing the events in the novel, middle schoolers discover how human experiences create who a person becomes. They critique and analyze the reading, focusing on...
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Comparative Mythology and the Common Core
Use comparative mythology to make myths relevant for readers and help prepare them for rigorous Common Core texts.
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Amelia Earhart: Pilot, Activist, and Legend
Ideas for introducing the concepts of heroism, women's rights, and the scientific method using the famous Amelia Earhart.
Prestwick House
The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls' memoir, The Glass Castle, grapples with the idea that loving someone may or may not include forgiving them for their past behavior. Take a look at a crossword puzzle that reviews characters, plot points, and key details...
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Nellie Bly's Newspaper Club: Introducing the Art of Writing
Students use video and the Internet to research the life of Nellie Bly, a famous female reporter from the 19th century. They research a writer and present their information to the class in the style of a news reporter.
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I Have A Dream - Pastel Drawings
Discuss the meaning of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech, explore figurative language, and read about Harriet Tubman and her courage. After the discussion, learners analyze painter/author Jacob Lawrence's use of...
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Romanticism: The Artistic Expression of Liberalism
The epic clash of reason and emotion comes to life in this informative presentation. Detailing the period of Romanticism in 19th century Europe, these slides contain pictures of the most famous pieces of art during this period. Viewers...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Charisma vs. Experience
Which is more important for a president: experience or charisma? Scholars consider this as they analyze 2 political cartoons in this analysis handout. Background information gives context through a quote from The Telegraph, and 3 talking...