Curated OER
Coyote and Anansi
Students explore the structure of folktales. In this coyote and Anansi lesson, students discuss the attributes of folktales as they read versions of tales featuring coyote and Anansi. Students collaborate to write and perform their own...
Curated OER
Acting Like a Bunch of Animals: Fables and Human
The video "The Tales of Aesop" traces for viewers the history of fables and identifies their characteristics. The class then goes to the web site "The Fisherman and the Little Fish" where they examine the classic and a modern version of...
Curated OER
Reader's Theater, Get Ready
Students recognize what features make a play. In this reader's theater lesson plan, students read the play Master Man: A Tall Tale of Nigeria told by Aaron Shepard and determine what features make this a play and what the author's...
Curated OER
Native American Literature: A Paradigm Shift
Learners explore Native American literature. In this cultural diversity lesson plan, students read selected Native American books and analyze the themes of the books and familiarize themselves with the vocabulary used in the books.
Curated OER
The Memory Play in American Drama
Students take a closer look at a memory play. In this American drama lesson, students read Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie and analyze it as a memory play. Students discuss the linear and non-linear aspects of the play prior to...
Curated OER
Wild Things
Students draw a literacy response picture demonstrating knowledge and appropriate use of computer hardware components (monitor, mouse) using KidPix and Kidspiration software with a minimum of two different pictorial details on their...
Curated OER
How Does Ancestry Affect Folklore?
Students break into groups of 4 or 5 and choose an option to demonstrate a different cultural perspective in a fairy tale or other folklore that they are familiar. Possible choices are: PowerPoint presentation, video, digital...
Curated OER
Reflections and Revisions
Learners reflect upon and express affective and cognitive learning experience as a result of a direct service experience. For this service learning lesson, students examine and analyze symbolism portrayed in literature and its...
Curated OER
Exploring the Poetry of Pablo Nueruda
Students read selected poems by Pablo Neruda. They also read short biographies of the author online to gain a better knowledge of the types of adversity Neruda faced throughout his lifetime. They begin to explore the concept of imagery...
Curated OER
Heroic Images: Visualization and Media Messages
Students examine media messages. For this media awareness lesson, students analyze online messages about heroism as they complete a jigsaw reading activity.
Curated OER
Collaborative Book Club Groups
Students participate in book club forums where they write descriptive, evaluation, analysis, synthesis, or inference essays. They take on the role of a character in their bok and publish a web page.
Curated OER
Blubber: Discussion Guide
Students read Blubber by Judy Blume. In this Blubber discussion lesson, students answer pre-, during, and post- reading of the novel to assist them with comprehension. Themes addressed are problem solving, perspectives, leadership, and...
Curated OER
Independent Novel Project
Students complete activities for an independent novel project. In this novel project worksheet, students follow the 13 steps to analyze and complete a comprehensive project about a novel they've read.
Curated OER
Responsibility: Caring for Classroom Virtual Pets
Young scholars define the term "responsibility". As a class, they participate in voting on different ideas presented to them and develop a graph showing the results. They use the internet to virtually take care of the adopted pet of the...
Curated OER
Making Real-Life Connections and Introducing Expository Text
Third graders write directions. In this real-life connections lesson, 3rd graders write the steps for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. After writing, students share their papers and actually make the sandwiches following...
Curated OER
Words to Warm the Winter: Keeping Things Organized
Fifth graders are in Literary Circles according to the book they've chosen and choose roles.
Curated OER
Past and Future Heroes
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.
Curated OER
African Art and Personal Adornment: African Folktales
Students write a folktale based on an African adinkra symbol. They research its meaning and relate it as the theme.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Miss Nelson Is Missing Key Details
Where did Miss Nelson go? We look at the key details in the text to determine what is happening throughout the story. Students will locate and record key details about story elements (characters, setting, problem, solution, and theme) in...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Interpreting Characters, Setting, Plot, & Theme: Triangle...
Middle schoolers will view video documenting the real-life story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911. Students will complete a story elements graphic organizer. This organizer will help them distinguish various story elements...
Success Link
Success Link: Characters, Setting, Plot, Conclusion, and Summarizing a Story
This lesson plan offers a step-by-step procedure for teaching students how to identify story elements and to summarize a story. It explains how to use a "Who Am I" activity, as well as a linkage activity in identifying characters and...
CPALMS
Cpalms: Five Little Monkeys: Comparing and Contrasting
[Free Registration/Login Required] Five little monkeys sitting on a bed or sitting in a tree? In this close reading lesson, students will compare and contrast the actions of the characters in two of Eileen Christelow's beloved books,...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Planning Story Characters Using Interactive Trading Cards
Learners use trading cards to examine fictional characters in a story.
Read Works
Read Works: Grade 2: Three Lesson Unit: Plot
[Free Registration/Login Required] A series of three lesson plans designed to teach young scholars to identify story elements, retell a story using story elements, and see how characters affect the plot. Lessons are based on the books...