ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: An Epidemic for Reading
This lesson plan explores the facts and the history behind historical fiction. Included in the lesson plan is an overview, practice, objectives, resources, preparation, and more.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Unit: Character Development in Historical Fiction: Bud, Not Buddy
Big Ideas: Authors write historical fiction to show the reader what it was like to live in a certain time period. Readers can use historical fiction to learn about new settings. People are influenced by and react to their setting so you...
Other
New Brunswick Museum: The Adventure Begins: A Historical Fiction
In this lesson plan, learners research New Brunswick in the 1800s using primary source materials and then write a historical fiction piece about a new immigrant. Click on the Word links to access the lesson materials.
Other
Scholastic Canada: Dear Canada Series
The Dear Canada historical fiction series features well known Canadian authors writing about different times and on a variety of topics. There are short author profiles, sample teaching activities and an interactive timeline of the book...
Other
Imaginary Evidence: The Historical Fiction of Alice Munro
An examination of Alice Munro's "A Wilderness Station," an example of Munro's use of "the imprecision of history to create a literature of history."
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Gotta Go Back in Time
Inspired by George Washington's Socks by Elvira Woodruff, students will write in the historical fiction genre.
Other
Wisewire: Grade 7 Playlist: Historical and Literary Comparisons
Learners will learn how to compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history. Included are lesson...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: The Past With Today's Technology:prezi for Historical Fiction
To prepare for reading a historical novel, such as A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck, Countdown by Deborah Wiles, Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos, or The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon, students research various aspects of a...
Other
Carol Matas, Writer for Children
Carol Matas writes historical fiction and fantasy for children. Her website has extensive biographical information and descriptions of her books.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Historical Journal Entries
In this instructional activity, writers will create a detailed journal entry from the point of view of a character who never actually existed. The journal entry will be for a day in history that the writer has researched and found...
Indiana University
Wright American Fiction Collection: Mark Twain
The full texts to Twain's lesser-known works can be accessed from this site such as "Celebrated Jumping Frog" and "The Innocents Abroad." Read facsimiles of the original books or plain text versions.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Go West: Imagining the Oregon Trail
A 2,000-mile trek across a continent-with no idea what awaits you on the other side. Tell your students to put on their traveling shoes and prepare for the journey of their lives! In this lesson, students compare imagined travel...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Bright Morning
Use this lesson plan to delve into the exploration of character development in fiction through the novel "Bright Morning," by Scott O'Dell.
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Emily's Dream Teaching Guide [Pdf]
Emily's Dream, a historical novel written by Jacqueline Pearce, is a sequel to her book Discovering Emily and goes on to look at the teenage years of Canadian artist Emily Carr. This teacher's guide includes a book summary, teaching...
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Discovering Emily Teaching Guide [Pdf]
Discovering Emily, a historical novel written by Jacqueline Pearce, looks at the childhood of Canadian artist Emily Carr. This teacher's guide includes a book summary, teaching ideas and the author's reflections on writing the book.
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Jo's Journey Teaching Guide [Pdf]
Jo's Journey, a novel by Nikki Tate, follows the adventures of an orphan girl named Jo as she heads north disguised as a boy to look for gold during the Caribou Gold Rush. This teacher's guide includes a book summary, teaching ideas and...
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Peggy's Letters Teaching Guide [Pdf]
Peggy's Letters, a novel by Jacqueline Halsey, is set in World War II London during the bombing raids and looks at the experience through a child's eyes. This teacher's guide includes a book summary, teaching ideas and the author's...
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Under a Living Sky Teaching Guide [Pdf]
Under a Living Sky, a novel by Joseph Simons set on the prairies during the Depression, is about a young girl whose treasured handmade doll disappears after her sister becomes jealous of it. This teacher's guide includes a book summary,...
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Runaway Teaching Guide [Pdf]
In Runaway, a novel by Becky Citra, a boy must make some difficult decisions about whether to help another boy that he has seen steal but who is also being physically abused. The story is set in the 1830s in Upper Canada. This teacher's...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Manifest Destiny, I Do Believe" by Bird Brain History
In this letter, Cordelia writes to her friend about her plans to become a pioneer, a common ambition during the "Manifest Destiny" era of western settlement in the 19th century. This site offers links to paired texts, questions and...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Characters and Setting
This lesson introduces the connection between characters and setting in fiction writing.
Penguin Publishing
Penguin Random House: "The Prince and the Pauper" Teacher Guide [Pdf]
Opens with valuable background information for "The Prince and the Pauper" as well as explanations of format. Features chapter-by-chapter summaries, historical notes, probing questions, vocabulary, and quotations. Also includes language,...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Exploring Cross Age Tutoring Activities With Lewis and Clark
Interaction and adventure draws high school and elementary school students together as they analyze stories about the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Telling Your Story
A lesson in which students gain empathy for people who lived during a historical time period by writing a first-person story with experiences that would have happened during that time.