Alabama Learning Exchange
Interactive Reading Project
Students discuss books they are reading during the semester through e-mail with other students. They complete a reading interest survey, e-mail their partner weekly, and read and suggest six novels by the end of the semester.
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Holes
Students read and analyze the story elements of the novel "Holes" by Louis Sachar. They play a "Holes" matching game, complete a timeline of story events, complete a Cause-and-Effect graphic organizer, conduct research on Louis Sachar's...
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Author Study: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Students read novel, Little House in the Big Woods, explore web sites and other resources devoted to author, Laura Ingalls Wilder, complete Venn Diagram showing ways they and author are alike and different, and create diorama, read...
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Harry Potter Debate
Students read a short article about the upcoming release of the new Harry Potter novel. They debate the issues surrounding the marketing of students's books and films after internet research to support or oppose the topic.
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Number the Stars, Lesson 3
Students consider how an author creates a feeling of suspense in a reader's mind. They analyze characters in the story. Students make a character map for Peter. They discuss how suspense unfolds in the novel Number the Stars.
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Number the Stars, Lesson 11
Students analyze point of view in the novel Number the Stars. Their writing prompt is how would this chapter(11) be different if Peter were telling the story? Students create a class concept web about pride on the board.
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Number the Stars, Lesson 10
Students analyze the literary element mood in Chapter 10 of the novel Number the Stars. They explain why the literary element mood is a feeling that a story creates in readers. Students share their thoughts on the topic of mood and its...
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Literature: Watching Anna
Students view the PBS presentation of Leo Tolstoy's, "Anna Karenina." Prior and after each episode, they discuss plot and characterization and in one lesson, use adjectives to describe each of the main characters. Then, students create...
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Literature-Based Skill Building: Freak the Mighty By Rodman Philbrick
Students complete a variety of comprehension activities related to the novel "Freak the Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick. They complete a learning log for each chapter, examine the purpose of signal words "because" and "but," define key...
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Who is your favorite character from Charlotte’s Web?
In this Charlotte's Web worksheet, students utilize a form with tally marks to gather information on people's favorite characters from the novel Charlotte's Web and then graph out their results.
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Character Trading Card
For this character trading card worksheet, learners utilize a trading card template to develop more details about their favorite character from a novel they have read. Students interview their fictional character.
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Portraits Visual and Written: Louisa May Alcott and Samuel Clemens
Learners discover the life and work of an American author, either Samuel Clemens or Louisa May Alcott. In this study of visual and written portraits instructional activity, students take a look at the authors through four different...
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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Students create a presentation in which they retell the events of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. In this A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court lesson, students are introduced to Mark Twain in a PowerPoint, then...
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The Power of Fiction
Students explore fiction that moves individuals to social action. In this literature lesson, students read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair and analyze its literary worth as well as its investigative journalism. Students investigate other...
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Night Lesson Plan: Stereotypes and Scapegoats
Young scholars read the novel Night by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and complete related activities. In this novel analysis instructional activity, students prompt write and discuss the answers. Young scholars take notes on stereotypes...
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Imagery and Sound Devices: In Preparation for Reading Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine
Twelfth graders analyze Ray Bradbury's use of techniques and elements of fiction as well as nonfiction in the novel Dandelion Wine. In this novel analysis lesson, 12th graders analyze the sensory techniques in Dandelion Wine. Students...
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The Grapes of Wrath: Scrapbooks and Artifacts
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary sources. In this Great Depression lesson, students read John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and use ethnographic research processes...
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Summer Reading and Writing Assignment: Fahrenheit 451
Twelfth graders explore Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In this reading and writing lesson, 12th graders read the book and think of five books to save from the fire. Students write an essay explaining why they'd save them. The essay...
Read Works
Predicting Events in Realistic Fiction
Predict what will happen next in The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson. Class members can use their prior knowledge of the story and other experiences to determine what will happen next. Active readers make predictions as they...
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Textual Analysis Lesson: Taking Stock of the Stock Market
For this reading comprehension lesson, 6th graders read and analyze the novel, The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin. Students, after reading chapters 3-5, answer 8 reading comprehension questions about the stock market. Students add on to...
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Character's Motive
Create a list of possible suspects for a crime based upon each character's motivation. Middle schoolers discuss the motives of each main character in The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. This lesson is part of a larger unit on this novel.
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Lesson 3: Identifying Clues to Help Solve a Mystery
In this reading comprehension lesson, 6th graders read the novel, The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin. Students practice exploring the process of drawing conclusions from details to solve a mystery. Students interact with a Clue Tracker...
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Charging Redchief
Read and analyze the novel, Ransom of Redchief. They identify the elements of character development, and participate in a mock trial, creating the witnesses through the use of character development.
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The Holocaust: Watching the Anchor
Students view a film about the Holocaust titled "Devil's Arithmetic" that is based on the novel by Jane Yolen. They write journal entries to predict which characters will live or die and explore their personal reactions to the film.