Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Silly Stories: Challenge Activities (Theme 1)
This packet, the first in the series of support materials for the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt thematic units on silly stories, contains enrichment activities for learners who have mastered the basic concepts of the lessons.
Curated OER
Because of Winn-Dixie
Take an in-depth look at a passage from Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie. Included here is the reading passage as well as a step-by-step procedure for reading the text, a set of text-dependent questions, and a final writing...
Curated OER
Demian - Essay Questions
If your class is reading Demian by Hermann Hesse, consider printing this list of essay questions to help them explore the text. There are 13 questions provided; some are basic recall questions, but others encourage a deeper analysis....
Curriculum Corner
Book Study: The Polar Express
All aboard! Pair a reading of The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg with a set of literacy activities. The packet of worksheets includes task cards, sorting activities, a synonym match, comparing and contrasting activities, writing...
Fabius-Pompey School District
Paired Passage Practice and the Extended Response Question
How do pupils relate paired passages to each other? Here's a resource that helps! The lesson includes a short story and a poem as a set of paired reading passages, followed by some analysis questions. It also includes an essay template...
Novelinks
Nightjohn: Bloom's Taxonomy Questions
After completing Nightjohn, Gary Paulsen's young adult novel about slavery set shortly before the Civil War, readers respond to a series of questions crafted to reflect Bloom's taxonomy.
Writing Educators Symposium
Asking the Right Questions
It can be difficult to find the theme of a book or story if you don't know the questions to ask. Teach your kids to discern the universal theme in works of literature with a set of activities that promote critical thinking and active...
Orlando Shakes
Hamlet: Study Guide
Hopefully, learners do not sleep during a performance of Shakespeare's Hamlet. A helpful study guide introduces theater goers to the popular Shakespearean tragedy and includes activities to accompany a production of the play. Activities...
Curated OER
Historical Fiction: A Wealth of Interpretations
Students read a book from the Dear America series and contrast different points of view. They respond to the book either by participating in a literature circle or completing a journal entry. They compare and contrast two books or a...
Curated OER
Day Six Lesson- The Whale Rider
Students recognize Maori sayings, identify major characters, and discuss major story lines in The Whale Rider. In this The Whale Rider lesson, students repeat and define common words of the Maori and discuss the setting of the story. ...
Curated OER
Understanding Stories
Students engage in a lesson that is about the increase of reading comprehension. They read the book "The Mitten" by Jan Brett and then list the main characters of the story. They discuss some of the main ideas in the story like having...
Curated OER
The Master Puppeteer
Middle schoolers write a diary from Jiro's point of view that includes dates and locations. Jiro is the main character of the book The Master Puppeteer. They role-play their favorite scenes from the book using dress-up, and correct...
Curated OER
Responsibility and Jobs
Students identify community helpers. In this philanthropy lesson, students read Strega Nona and identify different characters' responsibilities in the story. Students use character traits to describe the main characters and make a list...
Curated OER
Sheila Rae, the Brave
Students read Sheila Rae, the Brave, and make predictions about the main character.
Curated OER
Faces of the Family
Pupils and teachers share their individual concept of families to begin the lesson. As they read different pieces of literature, they keep a journal of the activities and problems each main character gets into. To end the lesson, they...
Curated OER
Not for a Billion Gazillion Dollars
Students discover what debt, saving, and credit are. In this personal finance instructional activity, the teacher reads Not for a Billion Gazillion Dollars, and the students discuss what the main character does in the book in relation...
Curated OER
Catherine, Called Birdy: February and March
Learners discuss characterization and relate to the main character in Catherine, Called Birdy. In this Catherine, Called Birdy lesson, students discuss passages that are comedic and sad and the effect they have on their understanding of...
Curated OER
Metis
Fourth graders examine the Metis culture. In this Metis living lesson, 4th graders read Things I did Last Summer by Martin Shulman and discuss the life of the main character, Bonnie. Students recreate their favorite scenes of the story...
Curated OER
Cuentos
Students revise Spanish mystery stories. They sequence the events from a group's mystery story and suggest revisions for the setting. They revise their stories using the suggestions from classmates and describe characters in folktales....
Curated OER
Cubby Bear's Big Responsibility
Students continue their examination of character by being introduced to the concept of responsibility. As a class, they are read a story and identify when the main character was being responsible. They share wha they are responsible...
Curated OER
Create Learning Experiences with The Polar Express
Center content-integrated lessons around the timeless holiday book, The Polar Express.
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Cinderella
Reading fairy tales is so much fun! Learners use dramatic play to assist them in defining and expressing the main theme found in the story of Cinderella. Each group is given a story card and will create a tableau based on the main point...
Curated OER
Making A Story Map
Sixth graders learn to plan a story by using a story map. They analyze a detailed sample story map and answer 5 questions about it. Then, plan their own story using a story map template.
Curriculum Corner
“I Can” Common Core! 3rd Grade Reading
Third grade readers are given clear learning goals with this Common Core checklist. By turning each reading standard into an I can statement, children can focus on mastering the required grade level skills.