National Endowment for the Humanities
Elements of the Epic Hero Cycle
Here's a handy worksheet applicable to any study of epic heroes, including those in epic poetry. Readers record examples from their text that identify the quest, the tests, helpers and companions, as well as the low point, the...
Freeology
Summarizing
Scholars draft a summary using a graphic organizer featuring a story's characters, setting, main events, conflict, and resolution.
Orlando Shakes
Les Misérables: Study Guide
A writer has the responsibility to defend the less fortunate members of society. At least that was the view of Victor Hugo, author of Les Miserables. The novel is the subject of a study guide from Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Learners...
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...
Curriculum Corner
Summary Writing
Nineteen stylish worksheets offer lesson ideas and practice opportunities designed to reinforce summary skills. Scholars recall events over the weekend as well as favorite books—main characters, problems, solutions, the beginning,...
SEN Teacher
Literacy Dice
Reinforce literacy skills using a six-sided die that focuses on phonics and story starters. Scholars roll, and show what they know about blends, plots, and more!
Curated OER
Do You Know The Merchant of Venice Story: Fun Trivia Quiz
This multiple-choice quiz tests pupils' ability to recall information about plot and character, making it a possible resource to check for understanding or completion of reading. Immediate feedback and scoring make Fun Trivia Quizzes a...
Curated OER
Reviewing Literary Elements
Students identify the elements of fiction, and work on compare and contrast skills.. In this comprehension instructional activity, students read different versions of Cinderella. Students use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the...
Curated OER
Imagining Your Science Fiction Short Story
Twelfth graders brainstorm ideas for their own science fiction story. Using worksheets, they sketch the plot and setting for their story. They create appropriate characters and develop their interactions among each other. They share...
Curated OER
Egg Carton Stories
Students create stories with better structure when they are able to focus on its characters, setting, and plot. Teacher creates settings, character, and problem cartons with information written on strips of paper.
Curated OER
Reading Short Stories
In this graphic organizer worksheet, students fill in the graphic organizer with the predictions, settings, characters, background, and more for short stories. Students complete 5 sections.
Curated OER
Parts of a Story
Young scholars read a short fiction book and demostrate comprehension by identifying the main characters, setting, conflict, theme, and summarizing the main points. They organize the information in Inspiration and create a powerpoint to...
Curated OER
Story Map
In this graphic organizer worksheet, students read a story and then answer questions. They list the main characters, describe the setting, main events, problem and the solution in the story. This graphic organizer is one page in length.
Curated OER
Elements of a Story
Fifth graders use text to identify the elements of a story. They compare and contrast the elements and explain them to the class. They discover why each element is needed to make a good story.
Curated OER
Making a Magical Story
Students create their own magical story. In this story writing lesson, students listen to the story The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe b C.S. Lewis to find the basic elements of a story. They come up with their own magical characters,...
Curated OER
Using Evidence to Describe a Character
It's all about the details found in the text, when children attempt to describe the main character from the story, Burnt Toast on Davenport Street. They first discuss the process by which one would go about using textual evidence and...
Curated OER
Analysis of Character in a Short Story
Ninth graders examine a character from the short story, John Steinbeck's, "Flight." students respond to questions about the story and illustrate the character's journey.
Curated OER
Story Pyramid
In this story pyramid worksheet, students read a story and then fill in the blanks which will give the main idea of the story. Students identify the main characters, describe the characters, setting, problem, and main events. Eight...
Curated OER
Story Planner
In this pre-writing graphic organizer, students fill in a chart with the characters, setting, plot, beginning and ending that they will use to write a story.
Curated OER
Story Webbing: Tennessee Blueprint
In this Tennessee Blueprint worksheet, 6th graders complete a story web for Tennessee Blueprint including setting, characters, point of view, and more. Students complete 9 sections.
Curated OER
Story Writing
Students work in groups to create a story that will be presented to the class. In this story writing lesson, students complete a project planning sheet, work together to create a story that includes a hero and at least two other...
Curated OER
Analyzing Story Structure
Students explore language arts by completing a graphic organizer in class. In this story structure lesson, students read the poem "Sick" by Shel Silverstein and discuss the different elements in the piece which make it an effective poem....
Curated OER
Teachers See the Truth but Wait: Teaching Short Stories with Literature Circles
Students use literature circles to analyze four short stories from the Realms of Gold, Volume 3. In this literature circle lesson, students are assigned a role in the literature circle to improve their critical thinking skills for...
Curated OER
STORY MAPPING: THE HUNDRED DRESSES
Students illustrate and paraphrase each chapter of The Hundred Dresses, creating a graphic organizer through the use of story mapping. After students have completed their story maps, ask for a few volunteers to present theirs to the class.