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Literary Terms: Allegory
Confused why a book about a third grade class is referring to outer space? The paragraph you're reading might be an allegory. The slide in this PowerPoint gives a detailed definition, as well as an example of an allegory. Tip: Assign...
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Irony
You will want to listen to the famous song, "Ironic," by Alani Morissette, after viewing this short PowerPoint. The three slides in this slideshow include a definition of irony, verbal irony, and dramatic irony. Tip: Ask your class to...
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Methods of Characterization
The best stories usually have the best characters and identifying characterization in literature is key to fostering good writing skills. The four most common characterizations are defined in this slide show. Each slide presents a...
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Language Arts Jeopardy
Be the next Alex Trebek in this language arts themed Jeopardy game! Categories include Lit Terms, Short Stories, Romeo and Juliet, Tom Sawyer, and The Miracle Worker. By clicking on each category (points from 1-5), a slide with the...
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Jeopardy: Seventh Grade Terra Nova Review of Literary Terms
This literary terms PowerPoint provides a structured game to review the literary devices. The Jeopardy-style review game includes instructions for play, the game board slide, and questions that feature examples of the literary terms.
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All the King's Men Theme of Drugs and Alcohol
In this literary analysis worksheet, students respond to 4 short answer and essay questions based on themes of Drugs and Alcohol in All the King's Men. Students also debate the validity of two thesis statements about the text.
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All My Sons Theme of Guilt and Blame
In this literary analysis worksheet, students respond to 3 short answer and essay questions about guilt and blame in All My Sons. Students also read and debate two thesis statements about how the suburban community is to blame in the...
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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to an essay question based on Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Students may also access an online quiz on the selection using the link at the bottom of the page.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Analyzing Literary Elements in Fiction
Students analyze the characters and events in fictional writing. In this literary elements lesson, students study the meaning of the words characterization and fiction. They listen to the story Pigsty by Mark Teague, or any other book...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Exploring Key Ideas and Details in Fiction and Nonfiction
Third graders participate in activities to differentiate fiction from nonfiction. In this fiction lesson, 3rd graders describe the elements of a fiction story. Students compare and contrast fiction and non fiction elements. Students...
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Creating Characters
Students examine the methods of effective characterization. In this writing skills lesson, students discuss how emotions, dialogue, actions, and physical descriptions build believable characters. Students then use the methods of...
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Conflict and Cooperation
Students investigate conflict resolution. For this world conflict lesson, students examine the roles of NATO, the UN, and the EU in diplomacy issues. Students look into the conflict in the Balkans that prompted the Bosnian War.
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Identifying Plot Conflicts
Fifth graders identify plot conflicts in the text. In this plot conflict lesson, 5th graders read Dogs Don't Tell Jokes and recognize examples of character vs. self and character vs. character.
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The Similarities and Differences of Setting
Sixth graders identify components of the setting in science fiction text. In this compare and contrast settings lesson, 6th graders read Only You Can Save Mankind and identify similarities and differences between science fiction text and...
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Retelling a Story with Story Elements
Second graders identify the events in a story using story elements. For this story elements lesson, 2nd graders review the story elements and read Dav Pilkey's book, Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis. Students practice...
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Genre Lesson: Fantasy
Students study the elements of fantasy in fiction as a whole group by dissecting fiction stories. In this story elements lesson, students work through a handout about fantasy to point out the elements that point to the story being...
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Compare and Contrast Settings
Third graders compare different lifestyles. In this settings lesson, 3rd graders read Colonial Life, determine similarities and differences between today and life in Colonial times and write a passage about these similarities and...
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Setting's Effect on a Character's Actions
Do the actions of a character in a story change based on the setting the writer provides? Learners explore the concept of character action in relation to story setting by investigating the setting and events in the story Science...
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Lesson 2: Using Setting to Make Predictions about Characters
Fourth graders look at the importance of setting in a story. For this setting lesson, 4th graders see how the setting of a story affects the actions of the characters and how you can predict these actions based on the setting. They read...
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Implicit Setting
Students draw the setting of a story. In this setting and context clues lesson, students learn how to use textual clues to determine and visualize the setting of stories. Students discuss the context clues they use to determine the...
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Author's Voice in Passage
Students explore author's voice. In this literary elements and reading comprehension lesson, students listen to two poems about snakes (included) and identify adjectives and other descriptive words and phrases that help them determine...
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Fantasy
How do you know the book you are reading is a fantasy? Explore the characteristics of the fantasy genre as you read the story Zathura with your class. Together you'll create a class chart that identifies the fantasy genre while building...
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Theme: The Search for Meaning
Students explore themes. In this literary elements lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation defining and describing examples of common theme traits. Students read several short passages, then infer the theme of each story.
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Do You Dare to Dream?
Third graders discover the meaning behind dream catchers. In this themes and symbols in art lesson, 3rd graders discuss the meaning of Native American dream catchers. Students use paper plates, beads, and feathers to make the dream catcher.