Curated OER
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Students work in groups to imagine, research and simulate a dinner party involving an author, a fictional character, and a significant historical figure as dinner guests. The activity uses Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and the time...
Curated OER
The Clever Monkey Rides Again
Learners explore a West African folktale. In this folktale lesson, students read the book The Clever Monkey Rides Again and discuss the trickster characters from the tale. Learners participate in a discussion about the folktale and...
Curated OER
King of the Playground by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Young scholars discover ways to resolve conflicts. In this bullying lesson, students read a book about a boy who is having problems on the playground. Young scholars discuss how the characters feel and what they do to stand up for...
Curated OER
"Declaration (of a Kgomotso Girl)"
Students explore the poem, "Declaration." Students discuss how elements of poetry such as tone work to convey meaning. Students compare and contrast their lives and the lives of the poem's characters from South Africa.
Curated OER
Whodunit?
Students bring in a variety of books to be approved for reading outside of class and then complete a book review on each one approved. They remember to include a description of the setting and characters, plot summary and a conclusion in...
Curated OER
Guided Writing: Writing a Story on the OHP
Students practice fluency as well as story-writing skills. They work together to prepare and write their stories. Students are told that they are going to write a story entitled 'A Wonderful Day' and that they are going to be the...
Curated OER
Unsent Letter: Canyons
As your class reads Gary Paulsen's Canyons, challenge them to assume the perspective of a character to write a letter. The plan suggests learners pair off, one person assuming the voice of Coyote Runs, and the other assuming the voice of...
Reed Novel Studies
Jacob Have I Loved: Novel Study
Twins always have double the fun, right? Sara, in Jacob Have I Loved, always is in the shadows of her twin sister. Scholars identify synonyms, answer comprehension questions, foreshadow, and create alliterations as they read about how...
School District No. 43
Writing a Greek Myth
Ask your learners to dream up a myth set in modern day. These mythology writing prompts require individuals take on the role of an ancient Greek citizen who just woke up to a totally different world. Through this lens, class members...
Wordpress
Notes on Romeo and Juliet – Act 2
If your purpose in using Romeo and Juliet with your classes is to share enjoyment rather than to just read the play by rote, come and inspect these materials designed for the scenes in Act II of Shakespeare's tale of star-crossed lovers.
Mythology Teacher
Eros and Psyche: Part 1
With Eros and Psyche, your learners will have the opportunity to combine the art of reader's theater with a study of the ancient Greek gods! This engaging reader's theater script will also serve as a fantastic way for your class members...
Channel Islands Film
The Legendary King of San Miguel: Lesson Plan 3 - Grades 9-12
The documentary, The Legendary King of San Miguel Island, introduces the fascinating tale of Herb Lester, his family, and their life on San Miguel Island. Viewers have an opportunity to expand their study of the island and of Lester's...
Channel Islands Film
Cache: Lesson Plan 4 - Grades 4-5
After viewing the West of the West's documentary Cache, individuals craft either a newspaper article chronicling the discovery of the cache on San Nicolas Island, a historical narrative of the placement of the cache in the cliff side, or...
Curated OER
Language Arts: Telling Your Story
Young scholars use information from a visit to an historical exhibition to write stories about someone who lived during that time period.. They use handouts to record information to use in their writings. Students choose identities, real...
Curated OER
Aesop's Fables: Fitting In
In this literature worksheet, students read one of Aesop's fables that has the theme of fitting in. Students then complete 7 pages of questions: detail checks, deeper meanings, imagination exercises, drawing characters and scenes, a...
Curated OER
Analyzing Plot Conflict
Fifth graders examine plot conflict. In this plot analysis lesson students study conflict between two characters in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Students imagine themselves as a news reporter watching the combating in Narnia.
Curated OER
Folktales
Fourth graders read a Haitian folktale. They study main characters in Haitian folktales and explore multicultural information about Haiti. They clarify understanding by retelling a sentence (paraphrasing) and a passage in their own...
Curated OER
What's the Point? A Lesson on Point of View
Fourth graders read the book, Good Dog by Alexandra Day. In this writing lesson, 4th graders re-write the story from a chosen character's point of view. This lesson can be used with many other wordless picture books.
Curated OER
Born on a Mountaintop? Davy Crockett, Tall Tales, and History
Learners name tall tale characters and locations, which are based on actual people and places, and describe how they are used in an exaggerated way. Students name created characters and events from tall tales. Learners write a tall tale.
Curated OER
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Learners read Sarah, Plain and Tall, and they write a journal entry for each chapter. They can write about anything that come to mind as you read the story. Students are able to draw in the journal. They write down key words or...
Curated OER
Chinese Puzzle Story
Students study the Chinese form of tangrams. They read the story, "Grandfather Tang's Story," by Ann Tompert and discuss how tangrams are used to tell the story. Using paper and scissors, they create animal tangrams and write stories...
Curated OER
Great Authors Group Creative Writing
In this creative writing activity worksheet, students collaborate to write a story using the words characters, captivate, focus, intrigue, imagination, plot, recognition, style, and wisdom.
Curated OER
Game Plans
Students consider the online game Neopets as a springboard to developing the characters, settings and plots for online fantasy games. They draft technical plans that describe how their games be presented and played on the We
Curated OER
Moving In Character
Eighth graders compare and contrast the motivations and reactions of literary characters from different historical eras confronting similar situations and conflicts. In this history lesson, 8th graders read excerpts from the books,...