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Setting Graphic Organizer
In this language arts worksheet, students consider the setting of a book by completing a graphic organizer. Students fill in details pertaining to where and when the story takes place as well as changes in the setting during the story....
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Planting Clues in Short Stories
Students examine short stories to determine how clues are planted in story stories of the mystery genre. They look at how Edgar Allan Poe planted clues in "The Purloined Letter." They write an original short story in which they plant...
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Identifing Elements of Narrative Writing
Pupils explore the concepts of narrative writing. They identify the basic elements in narrative writing such as the setting description, characters, conflict, climax and resolution. Using five adjectives from a previous spelling unit,...
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Turning the Tables: A Guide to Devising Your Own Story
Students observe and demonstrate how to decipher and organize the information in a math word problem and apply mathematical concepts to different story problems. They discuss the parts of a story problem, and write their own original...
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Solving an Original Character's Problem With Voice and Emotion
Students read the story A Bad Case of the Stripes and then write their own story conveying a lot of emotion. In this writing lesson plan, students select a title, an emotion, brainstorm, and then start writing.
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Story Webbing: Tennessee Blueprint
In this Tennessee Blueprint worksheet, 6th graders complete a story web for Tennessee Blueprint including setting, characters, point of view, and more. Students complete 9 sections.
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Is there a map in that story?
Eighth graders examine different pieces of literature from specific isolated Pacific islands. In this Geography activity, 8th graders read and interpret a written selection. Students construct a map of the stories setting.
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Connecting Families through Folk Stories and Fairy Tales
Students engage their families to write down a folk story from their primary language. In this family literacy activity, students rewrite the story or fairy tales in English. Parents and students are invited to present the stories in...
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Kate and the Beanstalk Lesson Plan
Young scholars read the story Kate and the Beanstalk in order to compare and contrast this fractured tale to the original fairy tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. In this fairy tale reading lesson plan, students first discuss the plots of...
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STORY MAPPING: THE HUNDRED DRESSES
Students illustrate and paraphrase each chapter of The Hundred Dresses, creating a graphic organizer through the use of story mapping. After students have completed their story maps, ask for a few volunteers to present theirs to the class.
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Short Stories and Sitcoms
Students compare 19th Century short stories to 20th Century sitcoms. They address seven questions as the watch a sitcom for homework and create a web to use for further comparison.
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Using Short Stories to Teach Vocabulary and Literary Terms
Students apply vocabulary activities to two short stories in order to increase their comprehension skills. They complete three lessons in which they examine irony, examine how it is used in text, and design an ironic skit. Also, the look...
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NEPANTLA BETWEEN WORLDS : A Story and Lesson Plan Addressing the Mexican-American Experience
Students read excerpts of "Neplanta" and discuss themes in the literature. For this bi-cultural education lesson, students analyze topics of race and Mexican American culture in the U.S. Students write a pledge to honor diversity and...
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Comparing and Contrasting Fiction and Nonfiction Using Graphic Organizers
Students compare and contrast fiction and non-fiction selections. In this writing skills lesson, students use different forms of graphic organizers to compare "The Three Little Pigs," to Wiesel's Night.
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Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Map for Me: An Original Story
Students read Blackbeard and brainstorm their knowledge of maps. In this language arts and geography lesson, students use landmarks on their playground to review north, south, east and west and discuss the compass rose. Students read...
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Introductions and Conclusions
Students discuss the importance of writing clear, well structured essays. They explore the use of introductions and conclusions when writing an essay. Students compose an essay using both introductions and conclusions.
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Narrative Writing--The Hobbit
Hobbits, dwarfs, wizards, trolls, and goblins. Readers track these fantastic creatures through J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit noting passages of character description and habitats. Using specific passages from the novel, class...
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Summarizing Story Events
Here is a way to build your pupils' public speaking abilities. The lesson describes a reader's report chair, which is used each week by a student who has just finished reading a book. The featured reader sits in the chair and talks about...
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Learning About Prediction
The skill of prediction as a reading strategy is explored. Learners are shown how to use clues within a story, along with pictures, to make predictions as to what's going to happen in the story. A clever in-class game which uses objects...
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The Memory Invention
Young writers edit their writing to make sure it shows good meaning and clarity. In this writing lesson plan, students are given a variety of "What If?" scenarios to choose from as writing prompts. A class discussion ensues, which...
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Build a Tasty Sandwich
The subject doesn't sound to interesting, but with a child's imagination even a trip to the store can be an adventure. The class writes a narrative story about a trip to the store. They organize their stories to include an introductory...
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Lesson Plan 2: Good Novel, Bad Novel
What are the characteristics of a good piece of writing? What makes a story interesting? Give your pupils a chance to define the qualities of good novels and what they see as the qualities of bad novels. Class members record these...
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Magical Creatures Land
The opening of J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit provides a model of how to use rich details to create a setting. After reading the description of Bilbo Baggins’ abode, young writers create their own magical home for a fantasy creature. The...
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"Swamp Monsters" by Mary Blount Christian
Using the book Swamp Monsters by Mary Blount Christian, young readers discuss key vocabulary terms and make predictions about swamp monsters. They complete a Cloze activity, explore past-tense verbs, and categorize vocabulary words.