Curated OER
Tales to Live By
Students explore the concept of theme. In this fairy tales lesson, students read several tales and complete hands-on activities, art projects, and dramatic play that lead to an awareness of the themes of the tales.
Curated OER
Study Guide: Fahrenheit 451 "The Hearth and The Salamander"
In this study guide for Fahrenheit 451, students must complete a variety of activities to review the reading. Students define vocabulary and literary terms, describe characters and answer comprehension questions based on the reading.
Curated OER
Plot and Conflict
Students review the literary elements of plot and conflict. In this plot and conflict lesson, students read a story and answer questions about the plot and conflict within. Students create a concept map for the novel to identify the...
Curated OER
The Chocolate Touch
Students read a book. In this story elements lesson, students share their favorite food, predict what the story will be about and discuss how they would feel if they got to eat their favorite food everyday. Students read the book The...
Curated OER
The Lorax Explorations
Middle schoolers read and debate the purpose of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, analyze its story elements, and write their own The Lorax II.
Curated OER
What Happens in the First Nine Months?
Students identify their feelings and learn constructive ways of handling conflict. In this conflict lesson students discuss their feelings and when they are feeling a certain way what they can do to remedy the situation.
Curated OER
Relationship Between the Protagonist and Antagonist
Young scholars read Hansel and Gretel, and discuss the conflict in the story, while determining who the protagonist and the antagonist are. For this fiction lesson, students chart the conflict in the story they have just read.
Curated OER
Design a Book Cover
Class members take on the role of graphic designer and craft a cover for a book they are reading. Individuals formulate a proposal outlining the images they will use to not only grab the interest of readers, but hint at the mood and...
Scholastic
Midnight Magic Discussion Guide
This discussion guide accompanies the fiction book Midnight Magic written by Avi, enforces story elements, inferences, and theme/plot. Have the class work on it over time, it will engage even your reluctant readers.
Curated OER
Scene Writing: Literacy and Playwriting
Drama is ever-present in our daily lives and eloquently depicted on stage. Middle schoolers practice writing scenes based on different prompts and frameworks, and then perform those creative scenes for their classmates. The activities...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
El Bronx Remembered
Use a instructional activity to cover different types of conflicts from El Bronx Remembered, a series of short stories by Nicholasa Mohr. The questions address "A Very Special Pet," "Shoes for Hector," "Mr. Mendelsohn," "A Lesson in...
Hampton-Brown
Esperanza Rising
Accompany a reading of the novel, Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, with a series of lessons that dive deep into the literary world of a young girl and the journey she takes to start a new life. Lessons and their...
Curated OER
Design a Book Cover
Learners explore character, plot, setting, symbolism, and conflict for a book that they are reading. Sample book covers are provided and students apply what they have learned by designing a book cover.
Curated OER
Stump the Dump Maze Game
Students complete reading Because of Winn-Dixie individually or as a class. As students reunite Opal and Winn-Dixie in this timed reading comprehension maze game, they demonstrate their understanding of the novel's plot, theme, and...
Curated OER
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Teachers who are about to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer with their class may want to check out this PowerPoint. It goes through all of the literary elements present in the book: Characters, Setting, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax,...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan 11: Beginnings
Every good novel needs a solid beginning! Setting the stage can have your budding authors stumped, so use this lesson to get them thinking. After examining the plot rollercoaster image (included) they consider the four places their story...
Curated OER
Expository Journal Prompts
Stuck for a journal topic? Download CAHSEE’s 21 “Expository Journal Prompts” as a pdf handout for yourself or class. A great resource for your writing program, print it up and add it your curriculum library.
Curated OER
The Social and Economic Impact of Wildlife and Natural Resource Management
Students develop an understanding of environmental laws and regulations. In this research lesson, students utilize information that involves controversial issues of wildlife and society.
Curated OER
What is cooperative negotiation?
Tenth graders differentiate between positions, interests, and values. In this current events lesson, 10th graders analyze, in a response to literature, the failure of a fictional negotiation. Students demonstrate the ability to use...
Curated OER
Religion in Japan
Students engage in a lesson that has them investigate the major religions of Japan. The primary concern of the research is for students to search for the true meaning of tolerance.
Curated OER
The Nature of the Antagonist
Pupils explain the differences between protagonists and antagonists and recognize the fundamental purpose of an antagonist or villain in storytelling. They also explain conflict as used in literature.
Curated OER
Panther in the Basement
Students produce an ongoing journal in which they relate their personal response to literature. They examine the theme of the rights of the individual versus the whole. They explore conflict in Panther in the Basement.
Curated OER
Peacekeepers in Haiti
Students facilitate a list of peacekeepers heading to Haiti. Students answer the question What is the UN? Students introduced to the concept of conflict. Students relate peacekeeping to the 20th century and even in their own backyards.