Curated OER
Story Map
In this graphic organizer worksheet, students read a story and then answer questions. They list the main characters, describe the setting, main events, problem and the solution in the story. This graphic organizer is one page in length.
Curated OER
Describe and Compare: Teacher Edition
Note: This is the teacher's guide to Pimsleur's French lesson called "Describe & Compare." The guide discusses the lesson's purpose, objectives, and designed learning outcomes. It presents information on each of the activities the...
Curated OER
Using Evidence to Describe a Character
It's all about the details found in the text, when children attempt to describe the main character from the story, Burnt Toast on Davenport Street. They first discuss the process by which one would go about using textual evidence and...
EngageNY
Gathering Evidence and Drafting a Two-Voice Poem (Chapter 13: "Los Duraznos/Peaches")
Begin class with a short comprehension quiz and review and then move into a new genre: two-voice poems. The activity provides information about this type of poetry as well as a video example made by eighth graders that you can show your...
Reed Novel Studies
The Lions of Little Rock: Novel Study
A true friend sticks with you through thick and thin. Marlee and Liz, main characters in The Lions of Little Rock, have that type of friendship. Scholars learn vocabulary and answer comprehension questions as they read how the two girls...
Curated OER
Chrysanthemum
Our uniqueness should be celebrated, not teased. The story Chrysanthemum addresses having a distinct name and dealing with different perceptions. Pre- and post-reading questions are listed to help your learners understand and make...
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Finding the Main Idea
You can mix almost any subject with an arts curriculum. Find out how to use drama to find the main idea of a literary text. You'll read a story, and then learners will make tableaus showing what happened, or what they think will happen...
EngageNY
Collecting Details: The Challenges Ha Faces and Ha as a Dynamic Character
What is a dynamic character? Using an interesting resource, scholars set out to answer the question. They create graphic organizers to collect details about character development as they read the novel Inside Out & Back Again. They...
Penguin Books
The Curriculum Guide for The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer
The death of a parent can turn a child's world upside down. A curriculum guide for The Secret Hum of a Daisy explores defining moments in the main character's life, including the loss of her mother. Chapter-by-chapter discussion...
Curated OER
Inferring Character Traits
Here is a lesson plan which is "flexible," and can operate as an individual or whole class activity. After reading a book of their choosing, with the use of a semantic map, learners identify character traits. They infer how their...
Curated OER
A Rat's Life
Here is a two-page instructional activity on rats and mice. Learners answer nine true/false questions about rats and mice, then compose answers to seven short-answer questions about these two rodents. Finally, they must compose a...
Curated OER
Book Report--Mystery
Use this mystery novel activity to have learners answer several specific questions about details in the book, the atmosphere of the book, and the main characters in the book. This impressive, four-page activity will serve as an excellent...
Curated OER
Chain Together A Book Report
Individuals examine a book's components, including key events, characters, and vocabulary and develop "chain book reports" with their peers. Strips of paper containing the book's important events are staples together and hung.
Polk Bros Foundation
I Can Analyze a Story or History Completely and Carefully
Start off analysis of a text with a worksheet that asks pupils to complete several tasks. Class members note down a couple of characters or people and their distinguishing traits, describe the most important event, summarize the text...
Curated OER
Describe a Character in a Story
Second graders should be familiar with characters of a story and adjectives. The students should have some knowledge of Kidspiration. After reading a story, they will use Kidspiration and create a character web to describe a character in...
EngageNY
Close Reading of Thank You, Mr. Falker: Identifying the Superpowers of Reading
Third graders read excepts from the story, Thank You, Mr. Falker in order to gain practice in understanding an unfamiliar story by focusing on the details. They use a worksheet, embedded in the plan, which directs them to certain...
Curated OER
Character Traits: Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear
Lensey Namioka’s Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear provides an opportunity for young readers to observe how writers bring their characters to life. Each class member selects a character to trace through the novel, recording...
Curated OER
Printing and Publishing
Explore African literature and artwork in a multicultural literacy and art lesson. Begin with a read aloud of Tiger and the Big Wind: A Tale from Africa, and afterward, have kids retell the main events in the story. They identify and...
Curated OER
James and the Giant Peach Character Study
Every book has a few great characters, but James and the Giant Peach is the only one whose characters travel in a piece of fruit. The class creates T-charts for the main characters of the novel, while reading the book. They write actions...
Curated OER
Story Pyramids
Young writers generate descriptive words. They use pictures of various landscapes (from books, magazines, or the Internet) and complete a story pyramid. The pyramid (included here) asks to describe the main character, the setting, and...
Mr. Mansour
Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
Take an in-depth look into Beverly Cleary's story, Ralph S. Mouse, with a 10-question learning exercise that focuses on story elements. Scholars describe the main character, point of view, conflict resolution, and more! Then, conclude...
Curated OER
Make an Alarm!
Students read the story, Dear Mr. Henshaw. They build an alarm system for something in the classroom, as the main character Leigh does to protect his lunchbox from thieves. Students explore alarms and use their creativity to create an...
EdHelper
The Kid in the Red Jacket by Barbara Park
If you're reading The Kid in the Red Jacket by Barbara Park, use a handy reference sheet to help kids format a book report. After filling in the basics of the book, such as author, main characters, and setting, learners answer several...
Curated OER
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
Third graders complete activities for the book The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, by Tomie dePaola. In this literature lesson, the students read the story and summarize the main events. They look for story elements focusing on the...