National Museum of the American Indian
Fritz Scholder: A Study Guide
In this engaging activity involving close analysis of abstract expressionist art, your class members will not only discover more about artist Friz Scholder's Native American art, but they will also have the opportunity to consider...
Curated OER
Students as Editors
Students read poems from a variety of authors. They write biographies of each poet and create a book full of the biographies and poems. They share their creation with the class.
Curated OER
Line It Up
Young scholars examine the structure of different poems by various artists. They discuss how the breaks in the poems change the way it is to be read. They also examine the use of tone in the poems.
Curated OER
Cinquain Lesson Plan
Learners read an example of a cinquain and look for patterns. In this cinquain lesson, students repeat the process with another poem and then compare the two. Learners will review the process and form of writing a cinquain as presented...
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Lesson Plan for Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood by Cynthia Rylant
Sixth graders examine the elements of writing poetry. In this creative writing activity, 6th graders discuss a book of poetry in the setting of Appalachia. Students incorporate childhood experiences into the development of visual and...
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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Slave's Dream"
Students examine Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's contribution to the anti-slavery movement. They read and analyze a poem, identify the poem's techniques, and write a critique of the poem, "The Slave's Dream."
Curated OER
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Learners read the story Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and read companion poems, make a bear book, blend sounds, and more. For this guided reading lesson plan, pupils take 5 days to read the book.
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Sandra Cisneros
In this Sandra Cisneros worksheet, students read about Sandra Cisneros, read quotes she said, and write self discipline vocabulary next to the quotes. Students read 10 quotes.
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Hawthorne: Author and Narrator
Learners examine the difference between a narrator and author. They read Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, 'The Scarlet Letter,' write a description of the narrator, and research how Hawthorne was impacted by the politics of the time.
K12 Reader
Alliteration in Literature and Rhetoric
Middle schoolers are asked to identify the alliteration used in John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address, Emily Dickinson's "May-Flower," and a passage from Robert Lewis Stevenson's Kidnapped.
Curated OER
How to See with your Eyes Closed
Students close their eyes and practice visualizing different images as the teacher makes different topical suggestions. They listen to the poem, "Daddy Fell Into the Pond" and visualize what is happening and thinking about the characters...
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Read It, See It!
Students review the concept of silent reading and discuss the meaning of visualization. They listen to a poem as it is read and close their eyes to try to make a picture of what is happening and think about the qualities the wind...
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Navajo Poetry
Learners listen to Navajo poetry and create various responses to what they have heard. Students may create an illustration for the poems, create an original work of poetry, or write about how the poem relates to Native American culture.
Curated OER
Turn Reading into Watching a Movie!
Students practice visualization by imagining what their favorite person looks like, what they are wearing and doing. They share their imaginings with a partner. Next, listen to a poem while visualizing. Finally, they read along as the...
EngageNY
Development of the Plot: Impending Danger and Turmoil
Danger! Scholars look closely at two poems, 'TV News' and 'Closed Too Soon.' While reading, learners think about Ha's country's increasing dangers and conflict. They record their thoughts in graphic organizers and discuss what details...
British Council
Christmas
Pupils learn more vocabulary and English language by taking a close look at the words Happy Christmas and working in groups to see how many words they can make of the letters. Scholars then take a quiz to test their knowledge about...
Curated OER
On the Beach: Disabled and Mother's Pride
What do an early 20th century poet and a 1980's rock star have in common with a novel from the 1960's? Using Wilfred Owen's poem "Disabled" and George Michael's song "Mother's Pride," learners answer questions about the lyrics and themes...
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Focus on Figurative Language
Using the poems "First Snow" by Ted Kooser and "Eating Alone" by Yi-Young Lee (or other suggested poems by Robert Frost or Sara Teasdale), middle schoolers search for examples of figurative language. Guide your learners by discussing...
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A Storybook Romance: Dante's Paolo and Francesca
Learners study the structure and artistry of Dante's, Divine Comedy. They examine how romantic love is interpreted in the episode of Paolo and Francesca while experiencing literary allusions.
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Imagine That! Analyzing Imagery
Poems by O. Henry, Marion Dane Bauer, Monty Roberts, and Langston Hughes provide the text for a study of symbolism, hyperbole, and imagery. Employing the “think-pair-share” strategy learners generate definitions of these terms and locate...
Curated OER
A House is a House for Me: Library Skills for Young Readers
Read Mary Ann Hoberman's book A House is a House for Me to introduce the idea that a library is a house for shelves of books. Young readers practice alphabetizing in the picture book (easy fiction) section of the library. They learn how...
Curated OER
Legend of The Lorax
Young scholars explore ecosystems. They read or listen to Dr. Seuss' The Lorax to draw conclusions and make predictions about the environmental impact and use of resources. They write poems about real forests and the wildlife which...
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Express Yourself Lesson Seed 7: Pronouns
Take a break from literature study to address some grammatical concerns. Using a text you've already read in your class, show how to analyze pronoun use. After watching the master, pairs analyze a short excerpt on their own, identifying...
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Pop Concert in Iran
Read, analyze, and critique a newspaper article about a concert with a Western singer and an Iranian band. Scholars will assess key vocabulary terms within the article, learn how to understand a short news report, and hone in on how the...