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Bag It
Students create a book report in a bag. They include items that explain the elements of the story and share them with the class.
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Problem and Solution Lesson
Students explore problems and solutions in literature. In this literature activity, students identify problems and solutions in short guided and independent reading samples. Students also discuss characterization techniques used to...
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Determining Importance
Students observe pieces of art and look for the principle story the artwork portrays. They compare the techniques artists and authors use to focus on and support these essential stories. They create a piece of art that portrays a given...
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Cinderella Cinderella
Students compare and contrast various versions of the story Cinderella and create their own version. They read versions of Cinderella and identify their components including setting, characters, events/plot, magic and biographical...
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Movie Analysis
Fourth graders discuss main concept, supporting details, plot, setting, major events, problems, conflicts, and resolution in two short stories. They apply these terms to a movie of their choice. They compare analysis of movies to...
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Peer Editing
Sudents read and critique three of their fellow classmates' science fiction short stories on three consecutive days for mechanics, short story elements, style, and informational elements.
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Famous Authors Vocabulary Quiz
Audience, novel, plot, style. Young readers are asked to match words associated with literature to the provided definitions. Might be fun to use as part of a literature review contest.
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The Window
Students read a story entitled, "The Window," and discover how some cultures are rejected by others. Students write a letter expressing feelings of rejection and keep a journal of significant events in the story. Using a graphic...
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Identifying Science Fiction
Students discuss works of science fiction that they read, highlight aspects that made each a part of science fiction genre, identify formal literary elements, and discuss ways each can be developed through science fiction.
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Establishing a Point of View in Narratives
Fourth graders investigate the concept and take the opportunity to both identify and to construct point of view in narratives. Additionally, 4th graders practice identifying and sequencing main events.
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Reading Plot
In this problem and solution activity, 3rd graders read an Aesop fable and using a highlighter to highlight the problem and solution in the fable. Then students write the problem and solution in their own words. The activity gives 5...
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Picture the Process!
Students read "Chasing Vermeer," and then study the author's writing process. They make connections between the book and the author's real life experiences. They then write an original mystery story, following the writing process.
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A Little Advice
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a passage on how to write a fiction story. They then write their story using the ideas in the passage. There is a discussion point provided on this page. The students also complete...
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Animal Farm Theme of Lies and Deceit
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 3 short answer and essay questions based on themes in Animal Farm. Students may also complete their choice of 3 reading activities suggested.
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Animal Farm Theme of Rules and Order
In this reading comprehension instructional activity, students respond to 4 short answer and essay questions based on themes in Animal Farm. Students may also complete their choice of 3 reading activities suggested.
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Animal Farm Theme of Foolishness and Folly
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 2 short answer and essay questions based on themes in Animal Farm. Students may also complete their choice of 3 reading activities suggested.
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Animal Farm Theme of Cunning and Cleverness
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 3 short answer and essay questions based on themes in Animal Farm. Students may also complete their choice of 3 reading activities suggested.
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Animal Farm Theme of Religion
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 3 short answer and essay questions based on themes in All Quiet on the Western Front. Students may also complete their choice of 3 reading activities suggested.
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Animal Farm Theme of Violence
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 2 short answer and essay questions based on theme of violence in Animal Farm. Students may also complete their choice of 3 reading activities suggested.
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Animal Farm Theme of Pride
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 2 short answer and essay questions based on the theme of pride in Animal Farm. Students may also complete their choice of 3 reading activities suggested.
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Out of the Dust (High School)
Fourth graders read Hesse's "Out of the Dust". They respond to questions about the novel and write a free-verse poem modeled after the author's.
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Creating Characters
High schoolers examine the methods of effective characterization. In this writing skills instructional activity, students discuss how emotions, dialogue, actions, and physical descriptions build believable characters. High schoolers then...
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Developing Reading Comprehension
Developing reading comprehension is an ongoing process that begins the moment a child becomes engaged with literature. From learning the skills to navigate a picture book to reading an assigned chapter in a chemistry text, good...
The New York Times
Writing Fiction Based on Real Science - NYTimes.com
Refuse to alienate your scientific-minded young scholars during your creative writing unit. Learners explore how literary writing can reflect observable fact, and be based in actual science. The links include examples of fiction and...