The New York Times
650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing
An extensive list of narrative prompts is just what you need to inspire young writers to tell their stories. Arranged by topic, the questions are sure give them something to talk about.
Novelinks
Tunes for Bears to Dance to: Concept Analysis
Considering using Robert Cormier's young adult novel, Tunes for Bears to Dance to for book circles or as a whole-class anchor text? Check out this overview of the key concepts and issues raised by the novel.
Reed Novel Studies
Freak The Mighty: Novel Study
They say when you are told something enough times, you eventually begin to believe it's true. Sadly, Max in Freak The Mighty believed he was stupid and dumb, so he learned to be alone. That changed when he met another outcast, Freak....
Curated OER
Strategies to Overcome Gender Bias in the Machine Shop: Knurling
Learners participate in putting a straight knurl on a piece of steel.
Curated OER
The Power of Empathy
Students investigate the emotion and social practice of empathy. They role play being in various situations in order to understand the feelings of others. Students pick an adult to interview who has overcome great difficulty.
Curated OER
Don't Just Stand By
Young scholars discuss what it means to be a bystander to bullying and why it is difficult to help and support friends who are being affected by bullying. They brainstorm ways to overcome these challenges and are provided with strategies...
Curated OER
Resilient Voices
Students select a fictitious obstacle to overcome as an analysis of their own resiliency. In this resiliency lesson, students discuss the meaning of resiliency and watch a video about the concept. Students work in pairs to trace...
Curated OER
Japanese Tsunami Worksheet
In this current events worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer about the 2011 Japanese tsunami. Students should add information about challenges and responses to challenges presented by the tsunami. Students also respond to 2...
Curated OER
The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson
Tenth graders explore the resilience of the human spirit as it pertains to The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson. They also explore how people with disabilities can overcome great obstacles.
Curated OER
Olympians Don't Quit
Students discuss challenges they have faced, They then discover life challenges faced by former Olympians who could have given up but chose to preservere and compete in the Olympic games.
National First Ladies' Library
Designing the Common School: The First Educational Reform
Middle schoolers perform preliminary research to explore education before public (common) education was in place. They design a public educational system of their own. Learners construct a report outlining challenges and solutions for...
Curated OER
Breaking the Unjust Law
Students consider the concept of civil disobedience. In this lesson on changing unjust laws, students use primary sources to understand how Gandhi and King changed the law. Students will then list laws that they feel are unjust and plan...
Curated OER
Keep, Grow, Change Exit Tickets
Before your youngsters head out the door, capitalize on the special opportunity to have them immediately reflect on their learning experience and to assess what knowledge they are taking away from the class period.
University of North Carolina
Procrastination
Inevitably, whenever you give an assignment, at least one person won't start until the last minute. As the 13th handout in the 24-part Writing the Paper series explains, procrastination sometimes brings consequences. It breaks down...
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
Sample Teaching Activities to Support Core Competencies of Social and Emotional Learning
What is social and emotional learning (SEL), and why is it important? Using a helpful resource, teachers discover ways to enhance SEL in the classroom. They show pupils how to regulate their emotions and behaviors, set personal and...
Curated OER
Ray Charles
Learners read the book Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis. For this biography lesson, students read about the life of Ray Charles. Learners answer pre-reading questions about senses, strengths, and weaknesses they have. The lesson...
Curated OER
Go Yankees!
Pupils use the internet to research the New York Yankees baseball team. After gathering their information, they discuss the challenges faced by the team and how they were overcome. They end the instructional activity by examining the...
Curated OER
Sea Secrets
Students study the following: For centuries, people have been challenged by the mysteries that lie beneath the blue depths of our ocean planet. Very little was known about the ocean until late in the nineteenth century, although nearly...
Curated OER
Rover Races
Students simulate driving a rover on the surface of Mars. In this space science lesson, students identify the challenges experienced by astronauts in operating a vehicle. They recommend some changes to make their 'rover' better.
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl Matilda Lesson Plans
Fifty eye-catching pages contain six lessons about Roald Dahl's novel, Matilda. Each lesson has a theme and covers a different subject—literacy, social-emotional learning, science, and geography. Scholars analyze characters, examine...
Roald Dahl
The BFG Lesson Plans
A 55-page unit examines the novel, The BFG, by Roald Dahl. Six lessons pay close attention to friendship, dreams, and believing themes while analyzing interesting characters, writing creative vocabulary, smilies, metaphors, an exciting...
Curated OER
Personal Narratives
Students complete writing lessons to help students select a writing topic, prepare a writing plan, and create an interesting beginning. In this personal narratives lesson, students complete intensive modeling activities to write their...
National Endowment for the Humanities
On This Day With Lewis and Clark
Walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark as they discover the wonders, beauty, and dangers of the American frontier. After gaining background knowledge about Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase, young explorers use primary...
Curated OER
Let's Write a Collaborative Novel!
Find out what it would be like for your class to write and publish a complete novel.