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Gallows Humor
Providing countless examples of gallows humor in both literature and film, this presentation explores the many instances and utilities of "black humor." While the definition is not explicitly stated, students can deduce what gallows...
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Mark Twain Lesson Plans
Celebrate the birthday of Mark Twain and learn about American life and literature along the great Mississippi River.
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Twain: Tom Sawyer—Mythic Adventurer
Students take a closer look at archetypes. In this characterization activity, students examine the setting and the characters of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer as they read and analyze the novel. Students consider how Twain mythically...
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Theme of Visions of America
In this reading comprehension learning exercise, high schoolers respond to 4 short answer questions about themes from Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.Â
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Twain: Steamboat's a-Comin'
Students discover how rivers inspire creative expression. In this Mark Twain lesson, students list songs about rivers and discuss common characteristics. They locate the Mississippi River on a map and write a script in which a steamboat...
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain: Study Guide - Mini Essays
In this online interactive literature worksheet, learners respond to 9 short answer and essay questions about Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Students may check some of their answers online.
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Quiz
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 25 multiple choice questions about Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Study Questions & Essay Topics
In this online interactive literature worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Students may check some of their answers online.
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Quiz
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 25 multiple choice questions about Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
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American Frontiers
Students study the settlement of the American frontier through literature. In this literature lesson, students read and discuss works by James Fenimore Cooper, Bret Harte, Mark Twain, Willa Cather, and Hamlin Garland. Students compare...
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Parenting and Discipline
Students discuss discipline in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and compare it to how children are disciplined today. In this comparisons instructional activity, students identify different ways parents discipline their children. Students...
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Mark Twain and the American West
Young scholars analyze Mark Twain's "Western" voice. In this literature instructional activity, students read Roughing It by Twain and watch "The West." Young scholars examine Twain's history and compare it to the history of America's...
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Reading and Activity Suggestions for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Students learn about characterization techniques in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. For this Adventures of Tom Sawyerlesson, students write a description of one character through the eyes of another character and identify scenes that give...
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From Mark Twain to David Bowie: The Artistic Persona vs. The Individual
Students explore the concept of public image. For this public persona lesson, students discover what public image is and discuss the role of an author's life when interpreting pieces of their work.
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Unit Plan for Mark Twain and American Humor
Students create brochures about the humor of Mark Twain. In this literature-analysis lesson plan, students read "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" and other short stories by Twain. Students write analytical paragraphs and...
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Mark Twain: His Life and Works
Students research life and times of Mark Twain. A multitude of activities are designed for use school-wide. All materials needed are provided in this comprehensive month-long lesson.
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Writing/Setting/The Adventures of Tom Sawyer--Map Your Childhood Project
Students write using a strong sense of place. In this Adventures of Tom Sawyer lesson, students discuss the importance of setting to the novel. Students brainstorm five specific locations that contribute to their personal history....
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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Students create a presentation in which they retell the events of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. In this A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court lesson, students are introduced to Mark Twain in a PowerPoint, then...
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Portraits Visual and Written: Louisa May Alcott and Samuel Clemens
Students discover the life and work of an American author, either Samuel Clemens or Louisa May Alcott. In this study of visual and written portraits lesson, students take a look at the authors through four different sources: a portrait,...
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Short Story Lesson Plan
Students read and discuss the short story, "The McWilliamses and the Burglar Alarm," by Mark Twain. They assume the role of the main characters in the story and write a humorous letter of complaint using a business letter format. They...
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"Taming the Bicycle"
Eighth graders discuss invention of bicycle and early obstacles to riding, listen to and discuss short story "Taming the Bicycle" by Mark Twain, define vocabulary words from story, and create and present humorous "how to" project to...
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THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER by Mark Twain
Students read in class the novel The Adventures of Tom Sayer by Mark Twain. They can choose to find song lyrics from any artist that they feel define one of the characters in the book, illustrate a scene from the book or create their own...
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Scrapbooks, The Collecting of Creative Ideas
Students examine the value and use of scrapbooks in writing and historic inquiry. They view and discuss online interactive scrapbooks by Mark Twain, and in small groups create a collaborative scrapbook that reflects the time and place...
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Let's Trade! The Prince and the Pauper
Students read and analyze the novel, The Prince and the Pauper. They examine character development, discuss opinions using text, and develop and present a slide show demonstrating the development of a character from the beginning to the...