Activity
Scholastic

A Reading Guide to Sarah, Plain and Tall

For Teachers 1st - 5th Standards
Eliminate the hard work of creating an entire literature unit with this reading guide for the novel Sarah, Plain and Tall. From background information about the author and her motivation for writing the story to...
Handout
Vanier College

Analyzing Short Stories/Novels

For Students 9th - 12th
Good questions can help focus readers' attention on the elements writers use to add depth to their stories. The questions on this worksheet do just that and encourage readers to think critically about a story and author's purpose.
Lesson Plan
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Maryland Department of Education

The Concept of Diversity in World Literature Lesson 11: The Historical/Biographical Approach to Literature

For Teachers 10th - 11th Standards
How affected is Thinks Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe's personal biography? Using a four corners strategy, and evidence from their readings, class members debate the degree of biographical influence in Achebe's novel.
Activity
Mythology Teacher

Eros and Psyche: Part 1

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
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...
Handout
Curated OER

The Metamorphosis: Concept/Vocabulary Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Historically, Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis has been difficult for many readers to grasp. From the difficult translation issues to the complex plot and themes, the novel's message and story can be lost when learners...
Lesson Plan
MENSA Education & Research Foundation

Book Review Writing: a Guide for Young Reviewers

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Encourage scholars to share their love of reading with informative and engaging book reviews. Here, you'll find a series of guides that walk learners through the review writing process. Included in the collection is information about...
Activity
Novelinks

The Lightning Thief: Concept/Vocabulary Analysis

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Before you begin reading Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, read over this comprehensive handout that gives you a plethora of information regarding the story's summary, organizational structure, central...
Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Core Analysis Frame: Fiction

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Dig into any piece of fiction with a series of analysis questions. There are two levels of questions provided: basic and in-depth. The basic questions can be copied double-sided onto a single piece of paper, while the in-depth questions...
Handout
Curated OER

The Martian Chronicles: Concept Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
If you're planning on including Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles in your science fiction unit, use a concept analysis guide to frame your instruction. It covers literary elements such as setting, narrative voice, and theme, as...
Handout
Novelinks

The View From Saturday: Concept/Vocabulary Analysis

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Design your unit on The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg with a concept and vocabulary analysis resource. It outlines the plot, literary elements, vocabulary issues, and any possible considerations for planning a differentiated...
Handout
Curated OER

The Last Lecture: Concept Analysis

For Students 9th - 12th
Designed as an overview for instructors using The Last Lecture for the first time, this packet provides an overview of Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow's book.
Lesson Plan
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IPDAE

Themes in Short Stories

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
"What is the theme of this story?" The very question can spark fear in the minds of readers and incinerate confidence. Here you will discover an exercise that shows how writers use the tools of setting, plot, conflict, and...
Handout
Ohio Department of Education

A Glossary of Literary Terms

For Students 7th - 11th Standards
If you're tired of defining allusion, onomatopoeia, and satire for your language arts students, hand out a complete list of literary devices to keep the terms straight. Each term includes a definition that is easy to understand and...
Handout
Novelinks

The Wednesday Wars: Concept Analysis

For Students 5th - 8th
The Wednesday Wars is the focus of this resource designed for first-time teachers of Gary Schmidt's Newbery Award winning novel. 
Activity
It's About Time

Volcanic Hazards: Airborne Debris

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils interpret maps and graph data related to volcanic ash. Then they analyze the importance of wind speed and the dangers of the ash to both life, air temperature, and technology. 
Handout
NPR

Theatre Vocabulary

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
From actor to volume, the 90 terms on a theatre vocabulary list are must knows for any student of the dramatic arts.
Handout
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Literature: Constructing Plot

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site has an explanation of the elements of a plot with clear examples. Click on "What goes into plot" for more information.
Handout
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Complication

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Notes that introduce complication in plot and show examples of how the conflict becomes more complicated throughout the rising action of a story. Examples are provided from Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and Virginia Woolf's "The Duchess and...
Handout
Yale University

Yale University: Elements of the Short Story

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This unit from the Yale University on elements of the short story is designed to develop student comprehension skills, particularly making inferences and generalizing. It also involves students in reading a number of short stories to...
Handout
SparkNotes

Spark Notes: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a Plot Overview of the entire book of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. Also provided are links to character lists, main ideas, quotes, and writing help.