Curated OER
Silly Sally
Students examine character traits. In this literary elements lesson, students read 2 short stories paying special attention to the actions and descriptions of the characters. Students add themselves as characters in the story.
Curated OER
Out of the Dust: Biopoem
As part of their study of Out of the Dust, readers create a biopoem for one of the characters in Karen Hesse's 1998 Newbery Medal winning verse novel.
Curated OER
Tortoise and Hare Races
Practice basic map skills with the story of The Tortoise and the Hare. After listening to the story, class members create a map that indicates the starting line, the path the animals took, where they stopped to rest, and the finish line....
Curated OER
Jack / Kate and the BeanStalk
Students compare/contrast "Jack and the Beanstalk," by Steven Kellogg to "Kate and the Beanstalk," by Mary Pope Osborne. They discuss their character traits, stereotypes and "Bend Stereotypes" by modeling and demonstrating them within a...
Curated OER
Pablita Indian Legends
Scholars are introduced to the characteristics of a legend. They read and discuss Old Father Story Teller by Pablita Velarde. Then, in groups, they write and illustrate a poem based on one of the legends from the book. This lesson plan...
Curated OER
Mirrors & Windows: Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”
“Mirrors” or aspects from a story that reflect a personal text-to-self connection, and “windows,” an aspect that gives insight into a different way of being, are the focus of an activity designed for Alice Walker’s story. Readers select...
Laura Candler
Bio Poems Made Easy
A creative way bring autobiographical writing to your poetry unit or back-to-school curriculum, this lesson plan guides you through a bio poem activity. Kids use the graphic organizer to describe themselves using adjectives, things they...
Curated OER
Hoot: Persuasive Writing Assignment
Can your class convince the townspeople to support the rally in Carl Hiaasen's Hoot? Have your young writers exercise their persuasive writing skills in a lesson that prompts them to write a letter or a speech based on Chapter 18 from...
Curated OER
Active Citizenship: The Civil Rights Work of Bob Moses
Students discuss and describe the impact of Bob Moses as an activist, compare and contrast the work of Bob Moses in the 1960's and today and develop an action plan regarding an issue they feel strongly about.
Curated OER
Unforgettable Personalities
Students read an essay titled, "Unforgettable Personalities" to study the influence of character's traits on the resolution of conflict in a narrative. They discuss and complete a worksheet that compares their own personality traits to...
Curated OER
December
Students create snowflake similes, Kwanzaa plaques, menorah banners, and more for the month of December. In this December activities lesson plan, students also analyze characters in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Curated OER
Inspirational Canadian Humanitarians And Activists
Eleventh graders investigate the concept of being a humanitarian or hero. They conduct research about the concept looking for historical figures in which the traits of a hero or humanitarian is displayed. Once people are found then...
Curated OER
The Play's the Thing: The Drama of Cyrano de Bergerac
Students practice dramatic 'living' through various drama activities. In this drama lesson, students define drama, view examples of dramatic elements in Cyrano de Bergerac and Roxanne, define characterization within the dramas, study the...
Curated OER
Story Elements
Eighth graders identify six story elements (setting, characters, character traits, plot, resolution, and point of view) and create short stories utilizing all six elements. They are introduced to story elements as the things that make up...
Curated OER
Developing A Balanced Lifestyle
Students engage in a study of the character trait of peace and how it is useful to becoming part of a lifestyle. The instructional activity asks students to read a story that illustrates the concept that is followed by targeted questions...
Curated OER
I'm Thankful For...
First graders engage in a instructional activity that demonstrates the character trait of thankfulness. The teacher enthusiastically shares something to be thankful for with the class. Then they spend the time to draw an idea of...
Curated OER
Maus: After Reading Strategy Instructional Routine
Class members create literary mandalas for two characters from Maus, Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel about his father’s experiences with the Holocaust. After finding quotes that reveal three good traits and three bad traits of each...
Curated OER
Oliver Twist Goes to Hollywood
How does Oliver Twist, the novel written by Charles Dickens, compare with its screenplay adaptation? Although the activity doesn't require learners to have read the novel, the similarities and differences of the highlighted passages...
EngageNY
End of Unit 1 Assessment: Close Reading and Powerful Note-Taking on My Own
As the final lesson plan in a larger beginning-of-the-year unit to establish routines and teach close reading skills, this plan is designed as an assessment piece. Using the story, The Librarian of Basra, learners independently complete...
Curated OER
Full Esteem Ahead
Young learners who feel good about themselves will fare better in the long run than those who do not have a high level of self-esteem. Introduce youngsters to what it means to like themselves. Discuss positive characteristics and...
Curated OER
Personality Development
Young scholars identify and explore the 5 traits that define personality. In this personality traits lesson, students build a character using 3 of the 5 personality traits and present their character. Young scholars create a chart about...
Curated OER
Much Ado About Nothing Masks Lesson
Students examine the personality traits of characters. In this characterization lesson, students read act 2 of "Much Ado About Nothing" and create masks to represent the characters in the play.
Curated OER
A Character's Decalogue Using "Because of Winn Dixie"
Students read the book Because of Winn Dixie and then create a personal decalogue, which is a list of 10 personal beliefs. In this decalogue lesson plan, students then write a decalogue of a fictional character and write a story based on...
Curated OER
Handling the Earth with Care
Eighth graders examine the characteristics of caring people. In this behavioral studies instructional activity, 8th graders differentiate between caring and uncaring personality traits. Students view a video about personality traits,...