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Writing
Curated OER

Animal Farm: Theme of Dreams, Hopes, and Plans

For Students 8th - 11th
"Four legs good, two legs bad..." Focusing on the themes from George Orwell's Animal Farm, this reading comprehension worksheet prompts middle schoolers to respond to several short answer and essay questions. They may also complete their...
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Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

From The Mixed Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler: Novel Study

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Claudia Kincaid decides to run away to bring some excitement to her life, but she never expects the adventure she finds. A helpful study guide takes readers through the novel From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler....
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Lesson Plan
Missouri Department of Elementary

The Clique

For Teachers 9th
Mean girls and bully packs are favorite topic for films and TV shows that focus on the destructive power of cliques. High school freshmen are asked to reflect on both the positive and negative aspects of cliques by reading a short...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Peace through Literature and Song

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Negative effects of bullying come to light through listening to the book Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco. Class members identify philanthropic acts portrayed in the story and make illustrations to connect them to their own...
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Website
University of North Carolina

Audience

For Students 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Challenging pupils' perspectives by having them walk in the shoes of the reader. An informative resource discusses how to identify an audience and anticipate their needs before writing an upcoming argumentative essay. 
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Lesson Plan
Literacy Design Collaborative

"Masque of the Red Death" - Symbolism and the Development of an Allegory

For Teachers 7th Standards
Analyze chunks of Masque of the Red Death to determine Edgar Allan Poe's use of symbolism and development of allegory. Readers learn new vocabulary words, answer comprehension questions, and identify symbols throughout the story. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders listen to the story, THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF and in pairs, discuss the theme of the book and two things that they liked about it. They then read the book OOPS and discuss the theme of the book identifying the things they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What If?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read WHAT IF? up to the page that ends "Suddenly, across the field they saw..." and discuss how the animals are feeling. They then discuss their feelings and in pairs discuss a possible ending to the story.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acting as a Pre-write Tool

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders use acting to help them in a prewriting activity to develop a story. In this prewriting lesson plan, 2nd graders form a character map and brainstorm ideas for their story.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Five Parts That Contribute to the Whole

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students listen to and read an online story. Then they use a graphic organizer to learn the basic story elements. They select another online story and create a graphic organizer for its story elements.
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Poetic Justice: A Study of Poe's Famous Works

For Teachers 8th
Students explore Edgar Allan Poe's most famous short stories. In this Edgar Allan Poe lesson, students complete a 25 page packet of activities where they recognize the features of genres and literary devices Poe uses. Students read "The...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who, What, Where, When, Why, How

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students take a closer look at the organization of news stories. For this journalism lesson, students identify the elements of news stories and then write their news stories on the same topics using different types of leads. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genetics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify literary elements in each selection while learning about diversity and the struggle for equality in the United States. They use their knowledge to express the emotion and key literary elements in each piece through...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey to the Center of the Earth I

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify the elements of science fiction and write their own example.  In this Journey to the Center of the Earth lesson students complete several activities about science fiction, authors and novels.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

the Little Red Riding Hood

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students respond to the story of Little Red Riding Hood. For this Red Riding Hood lesson, students retell and discuss story elements.  Students practice phonic sounds.  Students role play, make predictions, use picture cards and practice...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Jungle and Readers Response

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the conditions that many workers faced during the Industrial Revolution. They work collaboratively to explain and identify key elements from Chapter 14 of The Jungle.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fairy Tales as a Genre of Literature

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine the literary elements of fairy tales. After reading the fairy tale "Rapunzel" and discussing the elements of fairy tales that occur as they read, they use a story web to help plan and create an original fairy tale. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where is Flat Stanley?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create a story map of the basic elements and significant events of the book Flat Stanley. Students brainstorm places they would like to visit if they had been flattened and then, write about an imagined experience. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Higher Power of Lucky

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students complete activities using the book The Higher Power of Lucky. In this literature lesson, students read the story and identify the parts of the story. They create a wind chime like that found in the book. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Book Report

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
In this literacy/writing worksheet, students compose a book report. Students identify the following literary elements: main characters, setting, beginning, problem and solution. Students then compose paragraphs for each of these story...
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Worksheet
PB Works

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

For Students 5th - 7th
Record the plot elements of The Cay on this activity. Pupils note basic information about the book and answer questions about the introduction, point of view, character, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Puss in Boots/Jamil and the Clever Cat

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read the story PUSS IN BOOTS identifying main characters, setting, and significant events. They then read the story JAMIL AND THE CLEVER CAT and compare it with the story PUSS IN BOOTS compiling a list of characters,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sand Horse

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are introduced to the book THE SAND HORSE and discuss the title and cover illustration. They listen to the story listening for words and phrases to describe the setting. They then brainstorm key words to illustrate the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Found Poem

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Teach your English learners about theme through this found poem project. Class members read two versions of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi": the original version and a synopsis. After learning about themes and connecting theme to their...