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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Tall Tale Rollers
Students explore American tall tales. In this tall tale lesson, students discover the six characteristics that are included in tall tales. Students survey their class to find each student's favorite tall tale character and organize the...
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The True Story of Abbie Burgess
First graders read a story from their textbooks about women in the 1850's. They discuss what it was like to be a woman living in American during this time period. They brainstorm heroines of American history and then discuss woman...
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Do You Prefer Your Children's Book Characters Obedient or Contrary? Opinion Writing
With this New York Times "Learning Network" exercise, high schoolers read an article about the death of Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are and then respond to several prompts that require them to shape their own opinions...
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Chapter-by-Chapter Journal Entry- The Outsiders
Learners can respond to each chapter of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton by composing journal entries. This page lists several prompts for each chapter that pupils can choose from. The prompts are based on the content of the chapter and...
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Make Your Own Constellation Myth
Young scholars explore constellations, as well as facts and myths about them. They read three myths about three particular constellations. In groups, students perform activities and discuss how to connect the stars in a constellation....
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Firebird
Elementary schoolers read the Firebird reading list of fantasy and complete discussion questions about fantasy. In this fantasy books lesson plan, young scholars read a list of books and pick one to read.
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Mythical Beasts
Students explore literature and art forms containing creatures that are part human and part animal, such as the Greek Sphinx, Neptune, or the Green Centaur. Individually, students write a poem or short story to create a character with...
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The Antagonist's Point of View
Analyzing literary antagonists is a first step to creating memorable characters in student writing.
McGraw Hill
Study Guide for Island of the Blue Dolphins
Dive your class into a reading of Island of the Blue Dolphins with this in-depth study guide. Breaking the novel into three parts, the resource begins each section with a focus activity that identifies a specific theme or question...
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A Picture Book of George Washington
Students discuss the character traits of George Washington. In this George Washington instructional activity, students read A Picture Book of George Washington, discuss the book, and complete worksheet activities about Washington's...
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Power to the Little People
Students explore the classic story theme of good versus evil as relayed in folk tales.
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American Idols
Students design a biographical web for a famous American figure. They identify key research questions and organize information as a prewriting strategy. This can be done individually or as a class, depending on your needs and students.
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Greco-Roman Origin Myths
Students explore myths that explain the world, recognize some characters of Greco-Roman mythology and their symbols, and Make personal connections to the theme by writing and drawing a myth of their own.
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Core Book Guide for The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss
Students read and discuss The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss.
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The Twelve Months: A Slavic Cinderella Variant
Students locate Slavic countries and identify a few characteristics of those countries. They read and/or listen to the Slavic tale, "The Twelve Months," and compare this version with another Cinderella story.
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Technology Rich Native American Unit
Student groups retell stories from Iroquois storytellers. They role-play Iroquois women, men and children and explain their roles. They read "Knots on a Counting Rope" and make up their own stories. They create timelines. They visit a...
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Incorporating Reading Comprehension Using Cinderella Stories from Different Lands
First graders investigate Cinderella tales from different lands to discover their commonalities in this unit. They perform their favorite Cinderella story.
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Multicultural Fairy Tales -- The Stuff of Magic
Third graders are introduced to the characteristics of fairy tales. After being read some examples, they write their own fairy tale based on their adventures on a magic carpet ride after making a chart to organize their thoughts. To...
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Greek Mythology
Young scholars try activities like this one: Assuming the role of your favourite mythological character, you will be leading a dangerous journey to capture the head of Medusa. Before you go, you must order the necessary supplies. ...
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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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Comparing African, American, and European Folktales
Students find compare an African, Native American, and European folktale. In this folktale lesson, students listen to three different folktales before finding the similarities and differences in them. They complete a worksheet of...
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Make Your Own Constellation Myth
Students examine constellation myths. In this constellation myth lesson, students read "Orion, the Hunter", "Ursa Major, the Great Bear", and Taurus, the Bull". Students discuss similarities and differences in the 3 myths, create...
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Science Fiction
Learners write a science fiction story. In this science fiction lesson, students read selections of science fiction and compare them to supernatural stories from the Bible. Learners identify themes and discuss elements that...