Curated OER
An Introduction to The Catcher in the Rye
Who is J.D. Salinger? Give your class some information on the famous recluse before reading his only novel, The Catcher in the Rye. His life and works are detailed, and there are even a few slides dedicated to controversies and criticism...
Curated OER
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: Chapter 3 Reading Check
"I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I got old an' a cripple." Young readers examine one of the ways Steinbeck brings his characters to life by closely examining what characters say and imaging why Steinbeck choose...
Curated OER
Complete Novel Guide: James and the Giant Peach
Before your class reads the book James and the Giant Peach, check out this very handy set of learning activities. The reading guide provides you with several excellent ideas for building vocabulary related to the text and reading...
Novelinks
The House of the Scorpion: Concept Analysis
Considering using Nancy Taylor's award-winning science fiction novel The House of the Scorpion as an option for book circles or as a whole-class reading? Check out this packet that includes background information, information about the...
Novelinks
The Graveyard Book: Student Questioning For Learning Strategy
Questioning a text is a very effective way for kids to develop their reading comprehension skills. Designed to engage all class members, a reading activity prompts pairs to develop and share their own questions about the ending of Neil...
Novelinks
Words by Heart: Guided Imagery
Sad, depressed, miserable, inconsolable, forlorn: so many synonyms have a lot of variety with their connotations. Through the guided imagery activity, writers explore the use of connotation and its influence on imagery and description by...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
One Land, Many Trails: Challenge Activities (Theme 5)
Bring history to life through literature. The first in a series of three challenge activities designed to accompany Theme 5: One Land, Many Trails does just that through unique projects connected to historical fiction and nonfiction...
Penguin Books
The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Young Readers Edition
As the saying goes, you are what you eat. A useful set of lesson plans encourage young readers to take a second look at their eating habits. Pre- and post-reading questions bring in reflective writing and discussion while extension...
Poetry4kids
Twenty Fun Writing Prompts for Kids
Twenty prompts reinforce scholars' writing skills of essays and poems. Prompts cover topics such as superpowers, holidays, the weather, and more!
Curated OER
Painting Modern Life
Students compare and contrast modern life art in the works of Hilaire-Germain Edgar Degas and Paul Cezanne. In this art analysis lesson, students compare and contrast the two paintings. Students complete image based discussion. Students...
Curated OER
The Seasonal Round and The Cycle of Life
Fourth graders are introduced to the concept of the seasonal round and how folklife traditions vary from season to season. They begin charting dates of personal interest on seasonal round calendars by starting with birthdays. Students...
Curated OER
Art and War
Students analyze art and war and the Futurist movement. In this art analysis lesson, students define manifesto and its role with artistic movement. Students explore art as a response to political and social issues through image based...
Curated OER
Life...Bring It On!
Eighth graders write their name however they see fit on a poster board. Individually, they write down their strengths that relate to them making important decisions around their name. To end the instructional activity, they use magazines...
Curated OER
Talk The Talk
Students create their own "talking sticks" that reflect personas they have invented in this Art lesson designed to introduce the Yoruba peoples from Nigeria. Emphasis is placed on personal reflection after completing the "sticks".
Curated OER
Putting It All Together: The Personal Plan of Study
Eighth graders discuss their plans for after high school and complete a portfolio. Individually, they use the information from their portfolio to create puzzle pieces of their past to help them plan their future. In groups, they put...
Curated OER
My Four to Six Year Plan (My Personal Plan of Study)
Eighth graders examine what they need to do to meet their career goals. They design a four to six year plan for the classes they need to take in high school after listening to high school mentor tell about their experiences with this...
Curated OER
Library Skills: Biography
Biographies deserve special attention when training youngsters how to use the library because they are alphabetized by subject rather than by author. Guide children through the process of finding biographies over a two-visit series. On...
Lesson Locker
The Chrysalids: Study Questions Chapters 13 - 17
Things get serious in chapters 13-17 of in John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids. Authenticate the conclusion with the broad inquiries that require the readers to figure out major plot movements, literary devices,...
Curated OER
Genres, Genres Everywhere
Young readers assume the role of Genre Sleuths to investigate the characteristics of folktales, fantasies, and mysteries. For this session you will need to collect a variety of books on a topic you have been studying. Groups then examine...
Curated OER
Learning to Organize Writing
Encourage focus and organization in the writing of your second, third, and fourth grade classes. Learners are asked to select a room in their house and narrow in on how it looks, smells, or feels. After writing a short paragraph...
Curated OER
Be a Celebrity and Share Your Life with Us
Sixth graders discuss their likes, dislikes, hobbies, goals, and special events in their lives. They write a five paragraph autobiography focusing on style, transitions, and details. This is well-suited for either explanatory or...
Lesson Locker
Fahrenheit 451 Study Questions: Part 1
These 18 questions for Part One of Fahrenheit 451 assess the basic understanding of the characters and their interactions within the plot. Only recall questions are provided.
Clark County School District
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
A thorough lesson plan takes your first grade class through Jane Yolen's beautiful Owl Moon. It crafts the unit with clear objectives, high-level guiding questions, cloze activities and sentence frames, and extension...
Scholastic
A Reading Guide to Sarah, Plain and Tall
Eliminate the hard work of creating an entire literature unit with this reading guide for the novel Sarah, Plain and Tall. From background information about the author and her motivation for writing the story to...