Maryland Department of Education
The Concept of Identity Lesson 3: The Archetypal Approach to Literary Criticism
As class members continue their study of approaches to literary criticism, readers examine the symbolism and archetypal patterns in John Knowles' A Separate Peace, and how these parallels are used to develop a theme...
Bantam Books
The Tempest: Chalk Talk
Discussion doesn't always need to be spoken. Before you begin The Tempest by William Shakespeare, have kids connect their ideas and experiences to central questions of the play with a silent discussion activity. Once they have...
California Education Partners
Women
Alice Walker's poem "Women" provides ninth graders the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to identify how a writer's choice of syntax and diction contribute to the development of the theme of the work.
Curated OER
The Old Man and the Sea: Directed Reading Thinking Activity
Can you find the themes from Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea in other books? What about picture books? Compare the novel to a picture book with a lesson about making predictions and finding textual evidence.
Australian National Schools Network
Habits of Mind Posters
If you are implementing the 16 Habits of Mind into your class and curriculum, check out this set of posters that you can display in your room. Each poster highlights one Habit of Mind and includes a brief description of...
Curated OER
Storytelling
Show young readers how to put some personality and voice into their storytelling with an in-depth assignment. Kids practice saying the same thing, such as counting from one to ten, in different tones and perspectives, and then work on...
Curated OER
Phonics Help: The Phonic Alphabetic Code Chart
Phonics is a fundamental key to reading success. To help your learners with dyslexia or learning disabilities, try using the phonic alphabetic code chart. The chart and full instructions on how it can be used in the classroom are...
Curated OER
WH AT' S Y O U R A M B I T I O N?
Students read and analyze an excerpt from Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain. Students use the Six Traits of Writing to compose an essay on a personal life ambition that each students may have. Students use prewriting strategies and...
Curated OER
Where No Student Has Gone Before
Students create a story about an unknown planet invaded by humans as a pre-reading activity for the novel, A Wrinkle In Time. They discuss good versus evil, and identify examples of the theme good vs. evil in books, film, and their own...
Curated OER
Pennies of My Life Part 1
Fifth graders read and discuss "The Hundred Penny Box". They write their own autobiographies, collect pennies for each year of their lives, and illustrate their favorite yearly activities.
Curated OER
Famous Peacemakers - Creating a Declaration of Peace
Students create written reports about a famous peacemaker. For this peacemaker lesson plan, students use books and the internet to research someone who is famous for creating peace in the world and write a report on it.
Curated OER
Jalapeno Bagels
Students read the story Jalapeno Bagels and then write a summary about it. For this summary lesson plan, students retell the story as if someone else has not read the story.
Curated OER
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Students complete vocabulary activities for Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Students review a list of vocabulary words from the text and rate the words. Students write each word and a definition. Students discuss the...
Curated OER
Pre-Trip Readiness
Students demonstrate an understanding of one of the forces, floods, affecting Yosemite. After watching a video of a 1997 flood of the valley, students go to a website imbedded in this plan and answer questions.
Curated OER
Making Text-to-Text Connections
Model for your class how to make text-to-text connections by following the script presented by this resource. No specific texts are offered as examples.
Curated OER
Write to Remember
Students read the book "Dinner at Aunt Connie's House" by Faith Ringgold. They choose a woman in history to research and prepare oral presentations for the class. They participate in a tea party to honor women in history.
Curated OER
"how To Think Like an Archaeologist" Suggested Pre-visit Activity for Historic Jamestowne
Young scholars study grocery receipts to simulate the archaeological activity of classifying items. They discuss the receipts as if they were find lists.
Curated OER
"How to Think Like an Archaeologist" - Suggested Pre-Visit Activity For Historic Jamestown
Learners examine how archaeologists use artifacts to explore other people and their cultures. They discuss types of artifacts, analyze receipts for clues, and discuss how what the items bought reflect about people.
Curated OER
Harriet The Spy
Fourth graders investigate the style of diary writing as its own genre of literature. They read Harriet The Spy in order to have a text for this literature study. Students use the skill of prediction to preview the story, and then...
Curated OER
An American Childhood
Students discuss themes found in the story. In this language arts lesson, students brainstorm words associated with childhood and categorize the words they came up with. While reading students locate a passage related to the assigned term.
Curated OER
I Can Do This! Systems of Equations
Students solve systems of 2-by-2 linear equations using tables,
graphs and substitution. In small groups, classmates work together to discover strategies for solving equations. They use a calculator to graphically represent their answers.
Curated OER
How Do The Colors of Light Mix?
Students investigate the mixing of light. They form a hypotheses to reason why color changes occur and they write conclusions and ask new questions arising from the investigation. Students identify the primary and complementary colors of...
Curated OER
Persuasive Speech
Tenth graders participate in a lesson that is focused on the concept of writing persuasive speechs. They conduct research from a variety of sources in order to gather information to write well informed speeches.
Curated OER
Global Literature: Nectar In A Sieve
Students write a persuasive essay explaining how religion and/or spirituality serves as both a guide and a source of conflict for both an individual and their culture. They develop a definition for the terms spiritual and religious...