Learners explore nature by reading stories in class. In this animal characteristics lesson, students read the story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," by Rudyard Kipling and identify the different animals mentioned in the book. Learners review the...

Fourth graders participate in reading and listening to poetry. They are exposed to a variety of poems and examine and identify basic elements of poetry. They write their own poems and recite a poem with enthusiasm, expression, and props.

Students explore how various artists use color, line and composition to create a mood. In comparison, students explore various elements of specific art forms that affect the viewer's emotions in dance, theater music and the visual...

Young scholars discuss their experiences on a ranch. As a class, they tell the best part of their experiences or one thing they gathered from being on the ranch. They listen to the story and identify five items to focus on in the...

Students research personal bias towards the story Marriage is a Private Affair. In this tradition research lesson, students read the story and discuss the ending. Students free write about the topic and complete a Venn diagram to compare...

Students create and present a short science fiction story. In this Bible studies lesson plan students work in small groups and are assigned characters and a scenario to develop a play about.

Third graders view various murals and explore the characteristics of heroes and how heroes can be represented in art. They choose a hero, then write and illustrate a short report on his or her life.

Students create a full-length portrait of the Emperor Hadrian that conveys his role through attributes and explain how this bust of Hadrian conveys a story about life as an emperor in ancient Rome.

Students recreate characters from the story, "The Fairytale Cake." In this fairy tale characterization lesson, students first listen to fairy tales read aloud. They then use play dough and plastic bowls as pretend "cakes and icing", and...

Students read Zora Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God and explore her life history as well as novel analysis activities. In this novel analysis lesson, students identify elements in the novel and its overall literary impact. Students...

In these math word problem worksheets, students help solve the mystery about 'The Colossal Circus Caper.' Students create a table to help organize the time and measurement elements from the story. Students must determine how tall Ella...

Young scholars read "Young Goodman Brown" by  Nathaniel Hawthorne and write an essay about the theme. In this theme analysis lesson, students read and discuss themes. Young scholars then write their essay about the theme in the text.

Students produce their own self-portraits and use them to create a book in iPhoto. They explore the visual symbols used by artists to communicate their feelings, interests, and identity.

Khaled Hosseini’s video “Using Real People and Events” motivates learners to reflect on their own experiences and to use those experiences as the basis of a graphic novel that expresses a universal truth. The richly detailed plan...

From Mr. Merdle to Mr. Madoff? A viewing of the PBS adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “Little Dorrit” launches an examination of greedy characters in literature and a study of greed, unfairness, and economic hardship today. The richly...

Develop a better understanding of "Blackbeard's Ghost" with this differentiated activity. Working in groups on a creative project, middle schoolers can reinforce their reading comprehension and literary analysis skills. Use this...

For classes tackling To Kill a Mockingbird, this lesson plan sets readers up for discussions or essay writing with questions and prompts. The prompts encourage individuals to explore beyond the novel itself, looking at...

Need an extra challenge for your best readers? Check out a unit that uses Hannah Webster Foster’s epistolary novel, The Coquette, published in 1797, as the anchor text. The resource is packed with project ideas; each with its...

Introduce literature circles with Roland Smith's novels. Your seventh graders will see the activity modeled as you read The Three Little Pigs together and apply the format to a Roland Smith novel of their choice. The lesson includes...

Upper elementary and middle schoolers examine and research the history of the Timber Industry in the state of Arkansas. An economic component is quite prevalent in this lesson as well. Groups of learners work together to write essays...

Third graders read three to five genres and choose one as a favorite. They write an essay persuading the class to read the genre. This lesson plan serves as a nice introduction to different styles of literature.

Students compare and contrast versions of The Three Little Pigs. In this fairy tale lesson, students read 3 versions of the fairy tale and dramatize them in order to analyze the similarities and differences.