Curated OER
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Young scholars read chapters 1-5 of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. They are asked to describe each of the four siblings-their personalities, actions, and relationships with one another. Students discuss the definition of...
Curated OER
Kafka's Metamorphosis
Students explore the concept of symbolism through reading The Metamorphosis by Kafka. For this literature lesson, students discuss the using of symbolism in Kafka's The Metamorphosis and create a composition that details a symbol of...
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Discovering Dickens
Students restate facts and details in text to inform and organize ideas and have a choice of four activities to enhance learning,
Curated OER
Searching for Me in You
High schoolers explore their own culture and identity through the study of literature and artwork of other cultures. Students read and discuss Last of the Breed and identify cultural values. They create a presentation that incorporates...
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The Treasure of the Sierra Madre: An American Grail?
Students discuss the possibility of a treasure lost in the Sierra Madre mountains that could be considered the American holy grail. After reading a novel, they examine the relationship between the grail, gold, and characters. To end the...
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Recognizing Lifestyle Changes
Students discuss the changes they are going through in their lives. Using literature, they relate the stories to their own lives and discover how to properly deal with them. They also make a list of how the scenery, transportation and...
Peace Corps
Defining Culture
How has culture shaped you? Middle and high schoolers examine different aspects of one's culture, including religious beliefs, social customs, and family traditions, and discuss the ways that their personalities have been formed by these...
Curated OER
Using Algebra to Explore Problem Space
Students apply their knowledge of math by rewriting word problems using equations. In this word problem lesson, students build upon previous knowledge as they set up the correct steps to solve word problems. This lesson is full of hints...
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Holes
Sixth graders read and analyze the importance of setting in character development in a five week unit for the novel, 'Holes,' by Louis Sachar. In groups, they participate in a jigsaw writing activity, and analyze the descriptive writing...
University of Southern California
Coming to America After the War
As part of their exploration of the American dream, class members examine primary source materials to compare immigrant experiences of those arriving early in our country's history to those arriving in the US after World War II. To...
Curated OER
Underground Railroad
Fourth graders use internet cites to explore the Underground Railroad. They also learn the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation. Focus questions are included.
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Historical Episodes
Students choose a historical book set in the Civil War. They create a flow chart of the steps involved in producing a film. They select one scene and prepare props, costumes and setting for the scene.
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Multiple Intelligences and Holistic Models
Tenth graders identify different genres of literature and the characteristics which identify each genre. They identify which genres best suit their interests, read a novel and perform a skit from the novel or present original artwork...
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Immigrants & Community
Students examine how different groups of immigrants contributed to the growth of specific communities. After reading a novel, they keep a journal on the important elements found and create a map of the community portrayed. Using the...
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William Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury": Narrating the Compson Family Decline and the Changing South
Students read "The Sound and the Fury" and consider the changing narrative structure and voice throughout the novel. They trace the decline of the Compson family.
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Dancing Feathers
Fifth graders read and analyze the novel, 'Dancing Feathers.' They identify the main story elements, develop personal and fictional narratives, retell the story from a different point of view, create a mask, and design a postcard.
Curated OER
Website Layout
Eleventh graders finish presenting their one minute novel evaluations while choosing one of the novels to read independentally. They view a variety of graphic organizers to strategically plan out their website content. In addition, they...
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Race & White Privilege
Students read and analyze the Tomas Rivera novel "...And the Earth Did Not Devour Him." In small groups they select three paragraphs from the text that are relevant to the issues of racism or white privelege, conduct Internet research,...
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Hell Island by Matthew Reilly
Learners read, analyze and discuss the novel, "Hell Island," by Matthew Reilly. They assess the anticipating action, the synopsis, what's in a name, the greater good and the prologue introducing the anticipating action of the novel.
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Book Review
Learners write a five paragraph theme that explains how the novel which they read in this unit effectively utilized various literary elements to portray the impact of a disease on a population. They then decide which three literary...
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Lyddie
Seventh graders read the novel, Lyddie, while studying the reform movement. They complete assignments for each chapter and write essays about Lyddie's development through the novel.
Curated OER
Erie Canal: Journey Back in Time
Fourth graders read the novel, The Eric Canal, identifying the characters and setting. They respond to daily reading by writing in journals and complete a short answer test upon completion of the novel.
Curated OER
Bless Me, Ultima: Dialogue Journals
Tenth graders read Chapter 1 of the novel "Bless Me, Ultima" and respond to the text. They answer and ask questions and record their impressions of different aspects of the book in a dialogue journal format with a partner. Students...
Curated OER
Finding My Hat
Sixth graders explore the Korean culture through the book, Finding My Hat. They read and discuss the book in literature circles and write in response journals after each chapter. Comparing the main character to themselves, they note the...