Curated OER
Writing Using a Visual Prompt: Snowman and Girl
Learners can use this simple worksheet as a guide when writing a short essay. This activity, which features a little girl with a snowman, could be used to spur students to use their imagination to write a paragraph.
Curated OER
Summarizing Key Information
Imagine the surprise when small groups present their Evidence Charts to the class and discover that each group has studied a different version of the Cinderella story. Irish, Ojibwa, Egyptian, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Mexican, and...
Curated OER
Experience This!
What would you do if you had to go to school all day every day? Tillie tackles this problem in Sharon Creech’s A Fine, Fine School. After a discussion of how Tillie got the principal to change his ways, brainstorm with your class...
Curated OER
Magical and Mystical Details
Identify magical and mystical details in the tales The Legend of Bluebonnet and The Legend of Old Befana. Talk about seemingly impossible details and illustrations in order to demonstrate the qualities of legend and magic. Encourage...
Curated OER
Write a Tanka Poem
In this Tanka poem worksheet, 6th graders analyze a Tanka poem for number of syllables and content parameters, then write one about a journey, real or imagined using the 6 step writing process.
Curated OER
The Diamond as Big as the Ritz Quiz
Can you imagine an entire mountain consisting of a solid diamond? It is possible, though a bit farfetched in The Diamond as Big as the Ritz by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The story is meant to be a satire about wealth and greed; the quiz asks...
Curated OER
Do You Know Gone With the Wind?
A story that captured the entire nation's imagination, Gone With the Wind portrays the struggle of the Civil War from the perspective of the South. Do you remember some of the details? Test your understanding and that of your pupils with...
Curated OER
Roboteacher
Present this slide show to your class and see what they think. It's the story of Roboteacher, obviously written and perhaps illustrated by a student. It could be used to reinforce story boarding, story telling, story retell, or creative...
Curated OER
What's Important to You?
What are the most important things to your second graders? Learners read the poem "There Isn't Time" as inspiration to list things that are important to them. They list five things they would like to do in order of priority. Then,...
Curated OER
Bud Not Buddy Pre-Reading Activity
Before you embark on reading Bud Not Buddy with your class, have them imagine they are in Bud's shoes. They must prioritize which of 13 items listed on a printable worksheet they would take with them to survive as a Depression-Era...
Curated OER
Fahrenheit 451: KWHL Strategy
Turn your readers into "examiners, critics, knowers, and imaginative creators," with a KWHL strategy designed for Fahrenheit 451. Individuals fill out a KWHL graphic organizer about censorship and then share responses with a group. The...
Curated OER
The Pearl: Problematic Situation
Is money the root of all evil, or the answer to everyone's dreams? Analyze the role of money in John Steinbeck's The Pearl with a writing prompt where kids imagine that they have won the lottery, and must think about the ways it will...
Curated OER
Wuthering Heights Reading Guide
The chapter-by-chapter questions on a Wuthering Heights reading guide are sure to help readers keep the events straight in Emily Bronte’s masterpiece. One can well imagine unquiet slumbers for the readers of this tale of love and revenge.
English Linx
Commas Worksheet (Part 2)
Imagine the world if English speakers did not understand that commas are similar to pauses when you speak—it would be a run-on world that is closer to the apocalypse then we would like to admit. Do your part to keep humanity alive, and...
Curated OER
Create Your Own Hero
Chinese legends are the focus of an interesting lesson plan that combines social studies with writing. Learners read the Chinese folk tale, "Li Chi Slays The Serpent." After the story is over, they make a list of the courageous things...
Shmoop
ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.5: Structure of an Argument
Imagine a cross-curricular project that not only rewards learners for examining the textbooks used in their other classes but builds literacy skills as well! Groups compare the formats and writing style in their various textbooks. Teams...
Classroom Jr.
Running for President Story Starter
Most American children have, at one point or another, imagined what it would be like to run for president. Offer this creative writing prompt to young writers and discover how the world would change if kids were charge.
Film English
World Builder
If you could build your own world from the ground up, what would you include? Ask your pupils this question, and have them write about their worlds and share with partners. Then, show the short film, which includes some impressive world...
Curated OER
Castle in the Sun
Students use the internet to find pictures of castles throughout Europe. After reading stories about castles, they use recycled boxes to build their own. To end the activity, they write their own script and act it out in front of their...
School District No. 43
Writing a Greek Myth
Ask your learners to dream up a myth set in modern day. These mythology writing prompts require individuals take on the role of an ancient Greek citizen who just woke up to a totally different world. Through this lens, class members...
K5 Learning
An Honestly Fun Camp
Six short answer questions challenge scholars to show what they know after reading a passage about a boy not so keen on his first trip to summer camp.
Hildegard Center for the Arts
Mardi Gras Masks
Laissez les bons temps rouler! Create your own festive Mardi Gras masks with a lesson that provides background information on the celebration and instructions about constructing the masks.
Curated OER
Activity Guide for Snow
Create a cross-curricular learning experience around a shared reading of Cynthia Rylant's book Snow. From writing poetry and a singing a song about snow, to creating paper snowflakes and solving math story problems, this resource uses...
Scholastic
My Favorite Activity (Grades K-2)
Scholars discuss the many ways they use persuasion in their everyday lives and brainstorm specific ideas for encouraging someone to do something. With the list of persuasive techniques they made, young writers complete a graphic...