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Crane, London, and Literary Naturalism
Young scholars identify the key characteristics that comprise American literary naturalism in Jack London's "To Build a Fire" and Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat." In this naturalism analysis lesson, students identify characteristics of...
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"The Selfish Crocodile"
Students participate in various shared reading and writing activities related to the book "The Selfish Crocodile" by Faustin Charles. They identify descriptive words from the story, and write sentences describing how the crocodile...
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Probably Passage
Students apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency. They use their imagination and create their own short stories. They identify words as various parts of the story - including setting, character, problem, solution...
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After Hamelin
Middle schoolers discuss the story The Pied Piper. In this reading comprehension lesson, students participate in a variety of activities designed to enhance and further their understanding of the story. Middle schoolers interview an...
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Beatrix Potter: Author Study
Students are introduced to the life and works of Beatrix Potter. Individually, they use the site to read about one character in her books and print out a picture. They create a report and share their information with the class.
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A Little Advice
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a passage on how to write a fiction story. They then write their story using the ideas in the passage. There is a discussion point provided on this page. The students also complete...
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What's the Big News?
Students investigate healthy eating by choosing a variety of foods. In this personal health lesson, students read the story Big News! Straight from the Heart, and discuss which characters ate which foods. Students list other healthy...
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To Tell the Truth
Students participate in a discussion designed to help them discern the truth from lies. They discuss picture cards and make true and false statements regarding the information on the cards. Students also listen to various fables about...
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Strega Nona Lesson Plan
Pupils explore story characters as well as cause and effect. In this Strega Nona lesson plan, students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United...
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My Owl Babies Miss Momma
Students investigate the relationship between children and parents by reading a book about owls. For this story analysis lesson, students read the book Owl Babies and participate in a role play based on one of the characters. Students...
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Circle of Friends
Learners investigate the meaning of friendship and how to make friends. In this friendship lesson, students make Venn Diagrams showing the similarities and differences of characters in two stories. They discuss their own circle of friends.
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A Turkey for Thanksgiving - Lesson #2
Second graders investigate realistic fiction, holiday celebrations, making tally charts. In this multi-disciplinary lesson, 2nd graders listen to a story about Thanksgiving and one about the Chinese New Year to develop an understanding...
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Characters' Feelings Or Motives
Fourth graders use the text, "Fair's Fair" to examine how characters' feelings and motives are built throughout a text through descriptive phrases. They look at what a character does and says to record on their writing frames. Finally,...
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Meet Danitra Brown Lesson on Friendship
Students discover the qualities of friends. In this character education lesson, students read the poem "Coke-bottle Brown" by Nikki Grimes. Students then discuss the Golden Rule and how it applies to friendships.
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Scatter Cat!
First graders read the story Hairy MacLary, Scatter Cat by Lynley Dodd, to provide a context in which to use the language of movement and position and to provide opportunities to move themselves as they act out parts of the story.
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Optimism
Learners engage in a lesson to build the character trait of optimism. They use two quotations to begin the class discussion. Students brainstorm to come up with a definition of optimism. Then they read a story that is used as an...
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Pollution Solution!
Students listen to the story "Clean Air, Dirty Air" by Lynne Patchett and discover the main types of pollution and how these affect their bodies. In this pollution lesson, students work in small groups to create a machine to prevent...
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Monsters
Students explore the idea of 'monsters' in society. In this character instructional activity, students define what a monster is, what purpose they serve and why they are necessary. They will go on the read Beowulf and Grendel and design...
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Teaching Guide: Can You Make a Piggy Giggle?
Students explore the book Can You Make a Piggy Giggle?. In this language arts lesson, students focus on a variety of aspects within the book. Students study the illustrations, listen for rhymes, and attempt the tongue twisters in the text.
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Literature Response for Home-School Connections:
First graders explore learning skills that can be practiced at home in the ten lessons of this unit. Oral reading, letter formation, fairy tale identification, and phonic awareness exercises are provided in this unit.
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Posting Personal Testimonies on the Web
Students read literature based on family heroes. They discuss the concepts of friendship, loyalty and death. They write their own stories of courage and post them to a webpage.
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King Henry's Meat Group
Second graders hear a story about King Henry the Egg, Little D and the meat group. They act out the parts as the story is read aloud and complete a worksheet. They pantomime activities that use and build muscle
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Harry S Truman National Historic Site
Students examine the early years of Harry Truman to determine how his upbringing influenced his character. His political career from county judge to president is explored and some of the decisions made as a politician, evaluated.