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Masks and Aesop's Fables
Students study and perform Aesop's fables. In this Aesop's fables instructional activity, students read and/or listen to a number of the famous fables. They make masks based on the characters and perform a fable using the masks. They...
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Children's Book
A great way to publish students' stories is by having them create a picture book using Pages. This simple lesson has them take a short story they have written and create a book with a title page and dedication. After they have printed...
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Creating Comic Strips
Students recognize the elements needed to create a comic strip. In this comic strip lesson, student understand that comic strips need words and pictures. Students find differences and similarities in comic strips. Students describe how...
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Exploring A Streetcar Named Desire
High schoolers investigate the dramatic elements of a Streetcar Named Desire. In this drama lesson, students explore the theme of the Tennessee Williams play as they read the play and watch performances of some of the acts. High...
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Writing Myths
Learners read and write myths. In this world mythology activity, students read and analyze myths from various cultures and then recognize their attributes as they write their own myths that explain natural phenomena.
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Heroes, Legends and Folktales
Fourth graders read classic stories including "The Magic Brocade" and "St. George and the Dragon". They complete a series of lessons in which they compare stories and produce original narrative legends.
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The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Students examine the breaking out of traditional gender roles in this story by Avi Wortis, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Gender limitations are explored in this lesson.
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Students explore the components of racismas they read through Horton Foote's, "To Kill a Mockingbird." The trial of the main character reveals instances of justice in the face of prejudice and forms the focus of the instructional activity.
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Creative Characterization
Students write a character description journal in which they take on the voice of one of the character's made-up friends or relatives. They write a sketch of that character from the friend or relatives' point of view.
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Create a Playbill!
Students examine the variety of elements for a written play and create a playbill. They read about and define literary elements on a worksheet, and participate in a dramatic reading. Each student then creates and publishes a playbill.
John F. Kennedy Center
Acting Up, A Melodrama: Performing Like Jo March and Her Sisters in Little Women
Lights, Camera, Action! Pupils read Little Women and create, act, and direct a melodrama that Jo March and her sisters would enjoy. The lesson plan comes complete with resources for the educator on melodrama as well as examples for drama...
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Teaching Story Elements: Jack and the Beanstalk
Students define fictional story elements. In this reading comprehension instructional activity, students read Jack and the Beanstalk and view an included SMARTboard instructional activity. Students use the SMARTboard to match the story...
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The Chocolate Touch
Students read a book. In this story elements instructional activity, 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...
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Charlotte's Web
Fourth graders focus on fluency by reading the book Charlotte's Web. In this reading strategies lesson plan, 4th graders partner read, do guided reading, and independent reading to increase fluency. Students use Venn Diagrams, discuss...
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Mississippi River
Students study scanning and skimming techniques. In this research skills lesson, students use the research techniques on print literature about the Mississippi River. Students prepare book talks on the literature they read.
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Creating Characters
Students examine the methods of effective characterization. In this writing skills lesson, students discuss how emotions, dialogue, actions, and physical descriptions build believable characters. Students then use the methods of...
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Ending At Owl Creek
Students engage in a reading of "An Occurrence At Owl Creek" in order to work on the reading comprehension skills of prediction with looking at the ending. They predict the next events leading to the ending and summarize how it could...
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Creating a Book Review Using a Multimedia Stack
Third graders identify the title, character, setting and plot of a story they have read. They state their opinions of the story read and provide information about themselves as a reviewer, using Multimedia Software.
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Oreo Cookie Writing
Students explore the concept of response writing. In this writing lesson, Oreo cookies are used as motivational tool and writing prompt. Students develop a summary of the events that took place when the Oreos were given out.
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Punctuating Dialogue
Sixth graders use narrative strategies (e.g., dialogue and action) to develop characters, plot and setting and maintain a consistent point of view. They create and accurately punctuate dialogue necessary to help the plot progress,...
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Much Ado About Nothing
Students explore the genre of romantic comedy through their reading of Much Ado About Nothing. In this literary genres lesson plan, students study the genre of romantic comedy through their reading of Much Ado About Nothing. Students...
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Dracula
Students read the book, Dracula and complete a variety of listed activities including: class discussion, vocabulary study, rewriting a section of the book in modern language, drawing characters, making a family tree of the characters, etc.
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Character Study in Macbeth
Eleventh graders analyze a Shakespeare soliloquy by writing a prose summary of it. They keep a character journal, following one character through the play and analyzing what the character does and says, as well as, might have done or...
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Classic Short Stories- Locked Room Settings
Students read the short story "The Problem of Cell 13" and examine the plot devices that build suspense. In this instructional activity students create their own short story using the same locked room setting.