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Al Capone Does My Shirts
Students are introduced to the novel "Al Capone Does My Shirts". Using primary source documents, they identify the unique geographical differences between where they live and the setting in the novel. They complete a Venn diagram...
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Parts of Speech: Active Verbs
Students use White Fang to help them study active verbs. In this grammar lesson plan, students define active verbs and find examples in the the novel White Fang. Students then use ProQuest to research a place they'd like to visit....
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William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying
Students analyze William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying. In this literature analysis instructional activity, students compare a modern novel and play. Students analyze Faulkner's interior monologues. Students write a paper about the ways As I...
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First Class Mail
Students read The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and write a friendly letter to Elizabeth George Speare, the author, discussing their points of interest in the novel with her.
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Parable of the Sower
Students read passages from the Parable of the Sower. They discuss the topic of religion in the story. They write key points and discuss any concerns they have.
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Out of the Dust: Open Form Poetry
Students write a description of their own life in the same style used in the first poem in Out of the Dust. In this Out of the Dust lesson, students discuss open form poetry and how the spacing and line breaks create a flow to...
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Their Eyes are Watching
Fourth graders create a character map for each character in the novel, adding to each as he or she is revealed in "Their Eyes Were Watching God." They document how each character deals with attitudes and injustices.
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Timeline - United States and Germany, Before, During, and After World War II
Students read novel Rosa's Miracle Mouse, research assigned years in small groups, and create timelines and Powerpoint presentations detailing interaction between Germany and the United States before, during, and after World War II.
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Day Six Lesson- The Whale Rider
Students recognize Maori sayings, identify major characters, and discuss major story lines in The Whale Rider. In this The Whale Rider lesson, students repeat and define common words of the Maori and discuss the setting of the...
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The Fear Place
Students use the strategy turn and talk to discuss inferences they have while reading the book The Fear Place. In this inferences lesson plan, students answer discussion questions and read independently as well.
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Stadium Voices
Students watch NEW YORK VOICES special "New York Sports: Big Shots and Bad Guys," read excerpts from famous novels/essays in hopes of understanding the feelings that sports stadiums inspire, and create a tourist brochure that highlights...
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Holocaust Case Studies
Seventh graders become familiar with the events of the Holocaust. They research information on the Holocaust using the Internet, novels, and videos. Students present case studies involving the Holocaust to the class. They develop and...
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"Julie of the Wolves"
Fifth graders research life in Alaska and compare life there to their lives in this lesson. They read "Julie of the Wolves." They research through the novel and other reference books facts about the Alaskan climate and geography. They...
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"Be the Kiwi" Whale Rider
Young scholars compare and contrast the movie and the novel. In this Whale Rider lesson, students work in groups to find similarities and differences in the book and the movie. Young scholars discuss the Maori culture and the...
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Tracking Down Meaning in Great Expectations
Fourth graders are assigned an unique theme, symbol, or character in Great Expectations. They becomes the class expert on that facet of the novel while learning the basic skills needed to write a research paper.
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Erased Faces
Students decode certain passages from the book, Erased Faces. They connect pictures from a picture book previously seen to the chapters in Erased Faces.
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Summarization Mapping
Students observe and demonstrate the strategy of summarizing the main idea. They discuss six rules of summarizing, and observe the teacher summarizing the first chapter of the novel "The Incredible Journey." Students then read chapter...
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Figurative Language and Symbolism
Young scholars identify figurative language and symbolism in poetry as well as prose. In this literary elements lesson, students read and discuss the role of symbolism in Yellow Man by Moonlight, A Christmas Carl, The House of Wings, and...
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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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Comparing Characters Across Two Short Stories
Ninth graders listen to a read aloud of two short stories focusing on literary devices. The write about the settings and realism of the stories, and decide each main character handles the conflict he faces with nature.
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Students use Maya Angelou's novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings to identify themes about adversity in the text. In this adversity, students read chapter 36 of the novel and discuss the examples of adversity in the book. Students...
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Out of the Dust
Students choose an individual project or a group project to culminate the reading of Out of the Dust. In this Out of the Dust lesson, students have a choice of creative projects to complete after they have finished the reading.
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Famous People Research Project
Fourth graders research a famous person in Michigan history. They will use at least three different resources including technology to conduct their research. They then will use various forms of technology to create individual research...
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Day Eight Lesson- The Whale Rider
Students examine cultural differences through the reading of The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. In this language arts lesson, students work in groups to analyze chapters 11 and 12 of the novel; these chapters highlight...