Curated OER
Farewell to Manzanar
Students investigate themes of justice and rights while reading the novel Farewell to Manzanar. They research contemporary civil rights issues and write reports. They also research the background of internment camps during World War II.
Curated OER
The Nineteenth Amendment: Susan B. Anthony
What would your scholars do if Susan B. Anthony walked into class? Shock them to attention with this instructional activity, which has the school secretary (or any willing participant) dress as the famous suffragette and answer questions...
Curated OER
Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird: Fun Trivia Quiz
You could use this Fun Trivia Quiz to get ideas for making your own assessment on To Kill a Mockingbird, but because anyone can make these online quizzes, I do not recommend giving it as a class assignment without a thorough review of...
Curated OER
The House on Mango Street
Young scholars discuss identity and what they consider their identities to be. In this The House on Mango Street lesson, students participate in a pre-reading activity before reading The House on Mango Street. Young scholars preview...
Curated OER
Stars and the Sun
Sixth graders research and state the differences between different stars and the sun. They tie the magnificence of space with the science fiction novel, "I Robot." Several worksheets and discussions are also covered within this lesson plan.
Curated OER
Circle of Gold Guided Reading
Students participate in a variety of Guided Reading activities including comprehension questions, discussion, prediction, characterization and inferring meaning while they read Circle of Gold by Candy Dawson Boyd.
Lafayette Parrish School System
Teaching Tone and Mood
Tone and Mood are not synonymous! Introduce young readers to these literary devices with a series of exercises that not only point out the significant differences between the terms but also shows them how to identify both the tone and...
Smithsonian Institution
Mary Henry: Journal/Diary Writing
A great way to connect social studies with language arts, a resource on Mary Henry's historical diary reinforces the concepts of primary and secondary sources. It comes with an easy-to-understand lesson plan, as well as the reference...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Nanotechnology Invention and Design: Phase Changes, Energy, and Crystals
What does it take to be considered a smart material? Learners investigate the properties of Nitinol, a smart material, through a hands-on lab activity. They examine the crystal lattice structure and the conditions required for Nitinol to...
Curated OER
Hoot: List-Group-Label
Word association is a great way to explore vocabulary and new ideas. In a unit about Carl Hiassen's Hoot, kids think about the word environmentalist and come up with additional words that they associate with environmentalism on sticky...
Curated OER
Plot and Conflict
Students review the literary elements of plot and conflict. In this plot and conflict lesson plan, students read a story and answer questions about the plot and conflict within. Students create a concept map for the novel to identify the...
Curated OER
Across Five Aprils-Civil War Virtual Field Trips
Eighth graders explore the Civil War by reading Irene Hunt's novel, Across Five Aprils. They take virtual field trips to these battle sites and answer questions that guides them in their study of the Civil War.
Curated OER
Mildred Taylor: Understanding the Author of "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry"
Middle schoolers complete various activities related to the analysis of the novel "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry." They create a collage of words and images of what it was like to live in the South in the 1930's, conduct Internet...
Curated OER
Literature: Esperanza Rising
Young scholars read and discuss the book, Esperanza Rising. After analyzing and identifying the novel's structural elements, they examine working conditions for migrant workers in the 1930s. As part of the activity, students in groups...
Curated OER
On My Honor-Marion Dane Bauer
Students read and examine the novel On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer. They choose to complete a variety of intriguing assignments on this novel. Critical thinking skills are intertwined throughout this lesson.
Curated OER
Effective Literary Analyses
Twelfth graders discuss a fictional text that they are given, they identify passages, which highlight the author's style, language naances and textual ambiguities. Pupils brainstorm possible topics for an analytical essay, they are...
Curated OER
Catherine, Called Birdy: April and May
Learners create an etiquette book for women of Medieval times. In this Catherine, Called Birdy lesson, students discuss the setting and work in small groups to list things expected of women in the 1200s. Learners then compare the...
Curated OER
Philanthropy in A Christmas Carol
Middle schoolers explore philanthropy in literature. In this cross curriculum literacy and character development lesson, students read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and note charitable acts described in the story. Middle schoolers...
Curated OER
Lights, Camera, Action...Crossing the Delaware in 9 Scenes
How does reading a drama differ from reading a novel? Middle schoolers become playwrights and explore these differences. After viewing the A&E movie,"The Crossing," groups create stage directions, write dialogue, and design sets and...
Curated OER
"Be the Kiwi" Whale Rider
Students compare and contrast the movie and the novel. In this Whale Rider lesson, students work in groups to find similarities and differences in the book and the movie. Students discuss the Maori culture and the importance of the...
Curated OER
The American
Students engage in the study of "The American" by Henry James. They read the novel and watch the film to create the context for a variety of activities. Students conduct research about the novel and the author using different resources.
Curated OER
Out of the Dust (High School)
Fourth graders read Hesse's "Out of the Dust". They respond to questions about the novel and write a free-verse poem modeled after the author's.
Curated OER
Farm Life During the Great Depression
Fifth graders examine the plight of farmers during the Great Depression. In this Nebraska history lesson, 5th graders discuss the era prior to reading the novel Out of the Dust by Karen Heese.
Curated OER
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American Dreamer
Young scholars explore how F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the most important writers of the twentieth century. In novels such as Tender is the Night, This Side of Paradise, and The Great Gatsby, he captured the mood and manners of his time.