Utah Education Network
Uen: Cinderella Stories From Around the World
In this lesson plan, 5th graders will compare and contrast different versions of the fairy tale "Cinderella." Students will use a compare and contrast chart chart. After the shared readings, students will use all the elements of a fairy...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Elements of a Story Interactive
Explore different ingredients, or elements, that go into stories and make them so much fun. Read the story, "Cinderella," and look at all the different pieces of the tale to see how they all fit together.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Common Themes in Literature
This tutorial focuses on common themes in literature, beginning with a slide show discussing 11 different, common themes and literary examples. This is followed by a 11-minute YouTube video with students acting out common themes in...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Themes in Literary Texts (English 6 Reading)
Learn how to infer the implicit theme in a work of fiction, distinguish theme from topic, and make complex inferences using textual evidence.
Education.com
Education.com: Compare and Contrast Non Fiction Stories: Extinct Birds
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students will compare two informational texts about two extinct birds, the Great Auk and the Dodo. A Venn Diagram is provided to be used when comparing an contrasting tests.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: There Is Something in Common: Finding Common Themes
Learners will synthesize information from multiple historical fiction books to find common themes and support them with evidence from the text. Working with a partner who has read a different book, they will share their theme from their...
Other
Curriculum Associates: Comparing and Contrasting Texts [Pdf]
In these activities, students are asked to compare and contrast two versions of each event with two pieces of writing that are about the same topic. Teaching notes with answer keys are provided as well.
Utah Education Network
Uen: One True Story, Told Two Ways
Analyze the different perspectives presented by two authors telling the same story.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Understanding Fairy Tales Old and New
A collection of digital resources for three different English Language Arts curriculum standards for grades 3-5 that address characters' traits and motivations in works of literature. They focus on modern retellings of old stories and...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Literary Elements and Techniques Collection
These animated shorts introduce or review literary elements and techniques like theme, setting, figurative language, characterization, and conflict. They can be used when students are just learning how to identify the most commonly used...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Storytelling With Words and Pictures
In this interactive lesson, students learn the basics of how stories are structured, gain vocabulary about storytelling elements, and explore how the arts, specifically drawing, can be a valuable way for students to tell stories.By the...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Fairy Tales Collection
A collection of digital resources for three different English Language Arts curriculum standards for grades 3-5 that address characters' traits and motivations in works of literature. They focus on modern retellings of old stories and...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Storytelling: Tales of Everyday Life
Students explore how events from everyday life can become stories, and how different types of narratives-such as ships' logs and journals-can tell the story of the same event. This is one of four storytelling lessons.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Storytelling: Writers' Workshop
Students draw on their understanding of different types of narratives to inspire and enrich their own storytelling. This is one of four storytelling lessons.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Storytelling: Oral Traditions
Students talk about what makes a good story, look at the oral tradition of storytelling, and compare and contrast stories from two different cultural traditions. This is one of four storytelling lessons.
Sacred Text Archive
Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, Etext
Indian Fairy Tales is a well-illustrated collection that includes a wonderful notes section giving source information, parallels to other stories and remarks by the author. Very valuable for upper level students of fairy tales.
Sacred Text Archive
More Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, Etext
More tales from the Emerald Isle that include a great notes section detailing the source of the story, parallels to it and commentary by the author.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Fable and Trickster Tales Around the World
The lessons presented in this website "introduce children to folk tales" and how these folktales are changed and affected by generational and cultural values. Includes several links to further related information on folktales, fables,...
Scholastic
Scholastic History Mystery
Students will choose from a variety of concepts and can play a game to enhance their learning.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Writing Workshop: Oral History
Great online lesson that takes students through the entire writing process- from prompt to publishing. Online or printable versions of each step are available. The prompt asks students to interview people and write about their oral...
University of Oregon
Pizzaz, Creative Writing & Storytelling: Creative Writing via Basket Stories
This PIZZAZ (People Interested in Zippy and ZAny Zcribbling) lesson plan will engage students in creative writing about items found in a basket. Examples of creative writing are provided. Examples of springboard ideas are included.
University of Oregon
Pizzaz, Creative Writing & Storytelling: Chain Stories
This PIZZAZ (People Interested in Zippy and ZAny Zcribbling) lesson plan will engage learners in writing chain stories. A variation of the lesson is provided as an extension during the publishing phase of writing.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Short Adventure Stories
Inspired by the interactive plot ideas here, writers will create an original three-paragraph adventure story. First, each writer will create an original adventurer. Next, each writer will place the adventurer in a brief, organized...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: To Imitate Two Nature Writers
In this lesson each writer will compose and revise a "showing" description inpsired by an object or a place in nature. Long before drafting, students will discuss and compare the writing styles and techniques of published authors who...