Curated OER
Descriptive Writing-The Hobbit
Young readers write a descriptive paper on the fantasy characters in The Hobbit. They take notes as they read the novel in order to provide descriptions of the character traits of hobbits, dwarfs, trolls, wizards, and goblins. They pay...
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Reaching Your Potential - Personal Development
How do young people know the potential they possess? Middle schoolers explore their personal potential through two different activities and a class discussion. They examine where their aptitudes lie, and how they can use their gifts to...
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Provided here are activities and questions for Part I of To Kill a Mockingbird (although one activity is also included for Part II). Readers study the novel's plot, characters, and setting. I wouldn't recommend using this as the sole...
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Jacob Have I Loved: Semantic Feature Analysis Chart
Do not allow your pupils to ignore the connections among the characters in Katherine Paterson’s Newbery Medal winning novel, Jacob Have I Loved. Instead, provide them a semantic feature analysis chart that asks them to note things Louise...
Novelinks
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers: Literary Mandala
Explore the concept of yin and yang with this resource. On the first page, learners study a picture of George Bush. Then, have learners choose a character from The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. After brainstorming adjectives and choosing...
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Story Spinners
Students read a book orally using a "Snaking It" technique. The students make a curvy path around the room and take turns reading a sentence orally. They then create a project using paper plates and colored pencils to identify the main...
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Bio-Poem
Everyone can be a poet with this simple activity! After reading of Lucy Westerna's death, assign your class this bio poem on Professor Van Helsing. There's a specific format to follow, but it'll be interesting to see how your kids add...
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Pop-Up Puppets
Students read "Peter Spier's Circus!" and identify the literature's setting and characters. They work in small groups to create a circus stage set and puppets based on their reading. Students perform a puppet show using their set and...
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Perfect Pig Book Reports
Students research information about pigs and their habits. They read fictional books or poetry that include pigs as main characters. Students desgin and create a poster-sized pig on which to write and illustrate a detailed book report...
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Outside The Castle
Students examine pictures of people who lived during the feudal system. In groups, they research the role and lifestyles of the nobility and commoners. To end the instructional activity, they draw their own fictional person and write...
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Unsent Letter: Canyons
As your class reads Gary Paulsen's Canyons, challenge them to assume the perspective of a character to write a letter. The plan suggests learners pair off, one person assuming the voice of Coyote Runs, and the other assuming the voice of...
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Follow the Firefly
Students read stories and create a replica of their main character by using "Neon Twistables." They fold several sheets of paper and create several scenes from their book. Students create a booklet, place a title on it, and design an...
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Fearless Fish Lanterns
Students read about courageous characters who face and positively deal with new situations. They connect what they've read with their own experiences. Students construct fish lanterns to represent their courage in the face of new...
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Eyes That Talk
Students explore their personal strengths and characteristics and write a short description of themselves. Afterward, they create a dramatic self-portrait with an expression that identifies who they are. Students fill the areas around...
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Exaggerated Expressions
Students read literature, write poetry, plays, or explore historical information containing characters with strong emotions. After sketching a picture of the main character, they create a soft sculpture face. Students attach a the head...
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Count on Chinese Characters
Students research and use traditional Chinese characters to notate numbers. They compare and contrast Chinese calligraphy with Arabic numerals. Students demonstrate their comprehension of number concepts through their drawings and...
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Captivating Characters
Students read a book on their own and identify the characteristics of fantasy literature. After finding quotes from their favorite characters, they use construction paper to make models of them. To end the lesson, they use watercolors to...
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A Jewel of a Book
Students read a book, noting the characters, setting, plot, and events. They gather, synthesize, and then select the most important data from their book to prepare a book report by decorating a charm bracelet with pertinent information...
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Michelle Kwan: Heart of a Champion
Who is a champion to your class? Elementary and middle schoolers think of a role-model from their lives. Then, in their journals, they write evidence of that person's perseverance. They identify the character trait of perseverance with...
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After: A Study of Individual Rights
Use the dystopian novel After by Francine Prose to spark discussion about individual and student rights. Learners read the novel, evaluating how far a school can go to control its attendees. As they read, scholars fill out a chart...
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Reading Fiction - Character
The goal of this lesson is to have learners understand how character is created through a combination of what they say and do, and what others say about them. In pairs, learners construct a short dialogue between a parent and child after...
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Shakespeare Quiz 1
In this Shakespeare worksheet, learners identify the characters in the novels written by the famous author. Students complete 20 short answer questions.
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Art and Literature Quiz 4
In this art and literature learning exercise, students answer short answer questions about famous books, authors, characters, and more. Students complete 20 questions.
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Character Development Through Song
Learners use songs to analyze their sense of identity and self-worth. In groups, they discuss and explore their own character development and discover how far they have come in recent years. They also identify the positive and negative...