Curated OER
Understanding Genres
Young scholars identify genres of literature. In this literature instructional activity, young scholars read definitions of the various genres. Young scholars choose books and list clues in the texts that help them identify the...
Curated OER
Native American Heritage Month
An exploration of Native American culture can lead to art, literature, and poetry activities.
Curated OER
Six Trait Writing with Kenneth Grahame and Ogden Nash
Third graders complete a unit of lessons on the process of six trait writing. They identify good writing traits, read and evaluate poems, literature, and myths, utilize a rubric to evaluate their own writing, and evaluate classmates...
Curated OER
Folktales Reflect Daoist and Buddhist Traditions
Tenth graders compare three Chinese folktales for their "messages" and literary techniques to see how they reflect Chinese Confucian and Taoist values. They discuss how folktales share certain subjects, characters, plots and themes.
Curated OER
Being in the Noh: An Introduction to Japanese Noh Plays
Students analyze the conventions used in Noh plays and write an introduction to a Noh play of their own. In this Noh play lesson, students identify the conventions of the Noh form and analyze the realizations the main character achieves....
Curated OER
Storytelling: Using the Arts to Enrich the Curriculum...
Students explore the art of storytelling and stories from various cultures. Students experience Japanese and Chinese culture as well as Greek mythology. Students create and present their own Greek mythology topic to the class.
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The Wolf's Tale: Louise Cooper: Extension 2
In this wolves worksheet, students complete 3 pages of extension activities pertaining to wolves, their endangered status, and fear of wolves in history and literature. This is intended to be an extension after reading The Wolf's Tale by...
Curated OER
Personal Experience Narratives
Help your middle schoolers identify personal experience narratives in their own lives through telling stories themselves and from family members or other adults. They study personal experience narratives in Swapping Stories and compare...
Candlewick Press
The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
Using the graphic novel version of The Odyssey? Here' s just the thing. A teacher's guide complete with background information, discussion questions, and activities.
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Perspective on the Slave Narrative
High schoolers examine narratives of two slaves: iam W. Brown and Frederick Douglas. They produce an essay explaining how Brown's narrative challenged the prejudices of readers in his own time and how it challenges prejudices today.
Curated OER
Multicultural Sun, Moon, and Star Activities
Students research the multicultural stories and artistic representations of the Sun, Moon, and stars. In this multicultural space lesson, students discuss the symbols and stories for the sun in various cultures. Students construct a...
Curated OER
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
Sixth graders demonstrate the ability to process and evaluate content from a variety of sources and apply comprehension skills to the material read. They organize information for practical use and design and develop an informational...
Curated OER
What is a Folktale?
Learners are read an apache folktale and discuss the characters in the story. Using the text, they identify the factors that make it a folktale and not a fairy tale. On a map, they locate where the Apache people live. As a class, they...
Curated OER
Children's Books
Students explore daily dilemmas students face. They write and illustrate a story book dealing with one dilemma. Students write reviews of their books. They read their books to second grade students. Additional cross curriculum activities...
Curated OER
Introduction to African Folklore
Students are read "Anansi the Spider" to begin their discussion on continents. Using a map, they locate the continent of Africa and the country of Ghana. They discover who the Ashanti people are and view examples of their artwork. They...
Curated OER
Tell Me a Whopper!
Sixth graders investigate tall tales as a literary genre. They listen to a number of tall tales to discover how exaggeration is used as a story element. They write and publish a tall tale using word processing software. They illustrate...
Curated OER
Dragons: Dinosaurs in History?
Students read the scripture that cooresponds with this lesson on dinosaurs. Using the text, they identify where dragons are mentioned and determine if they match the description of what we would call a dinosaur. They discuss whether...