Curated OER
We Are All Authors
Read and discuss a variety of books by different authors and have your class create their own book. They will identify the different parts of a book, then using a story they have already written, they enter their story and information...
Curated OER
American Imperialism
Critical analysis skills can be built in a variety of ways. Using editorial cartoons (both domestic and foreign) learners will consider how American Imperialism was perceived during the late 19th century. Critical thinking questions,...
Curated OER
Who Fought for the Union?
Learners read New York Times articles, letters, and listen to songs written from a soldier's perspective during the Civil War in order to understand who was fighting in the Union Army. This is a great lesson, complete with weblinks,...
Curated OER
Understanding Cause and Effect
Identify the author's organizational pattern for expressing ideas. After reading an article on the California Gold Rush, middle schoolers determine the author's purpose for writing a passage of informational text. A full list of...
Curated OER
Pourquoi Tales
Lead a web search for information on writers and discuss the craft of purposeful writing as a class. Your students investigate "pourquoi tales" which are "why" stories. and then write their own examples of pourquoi stories to share in a...
Curated OER
Identify Genre, Subgenre, and Author's Purpose
Explore genre, subgenre, and author's purpose in this helpful worksheet. Middle schoolers read several summaries of books and short stories, and identify the genre and subgenre. They also determine if the author's purpose is to...
Curated OER
Author's Purpose
Find the author's purpose in this review worksheet. Fourth graders read each of the three following paragraphs and decide whether the author's purpose is to persuade, inform, or entertain. You could use this activity as a class...
Curated OER
Famous Authors - Roald Dahl
Here is a colorful, and informative presentation on the brilliancy of author Roald Dahl - my personal favorite children's author! This presentation focuses on how he plays with our language to create new words and phrases to help make...
Lycoming College
An Author Study of Jan Brett
Jan Brett, the author of many beloved children's books, is well worth a study. Try out this winter-themed unit, which covers areas of language arts as well as art, math, science, and social studies.
Maine Content Literacy Project
Understanding Theme
The ninth in a fourteen-lesson series, this plan marks a sort of midpoint in a unit devoted to the study of short stories. Pupils learn about theme and work on their short story projects by adding to their blogs, checking in with the...
Shmoop
ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.6
What does the author believe about his topic? Why did he write in the first place? Challenge your class to figure out the answers to these questions as they read through informational texts. The resource provides a breakdown of the...
Curated OER
Author
Youngsters write a story together with the help of their teacher. Use this language arts instructional activity to give your kids a chance to feel like real authors. Begin with the sentence, "Once upon a time, we went to school and found...
Curated OER
Cat in the Hat
Explore the book The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss with your class. They will design a pattern for the cat's hat. They will create color pattern designs with candy and frosting. In the end, they will describe their pattern.
Curated OER
Chain Together A Book Report
Individuals examine a book's components, including key events, characters, and vocabulary and develop "chain book reports" with their peers. Strips of paper containing the book's important events are staples together and hung.
Curated OER
Kudos by Kiddos
Students explore types of awards for children's books. They design a new award. Students review books and select one to receive the newly designed award. Students create a "medal" for the book jacket. They write an explanation of the award.
Curated OER
Who Wrote That?
Students explore the Project Gutenberg website and conduct a webquest to answer questions about well known literature and authors.
Curated OER
Comparison and Contrast: Neat People vs. Sloppy People and Batting Clean-up and Striking Out
After your class reads Neat People vs. Sloppy People and Batting Clean-up and Striking Out, provide them with this resource. Use it as a quiz or a homework assignment to assess your class's understanding of the author's purpose, the...
Curated OER
Famous Authors Biographical Data Form
Who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird? What about Wuthering Heights? Prodigal Summer? Encourage learners to study the authors of their beloved books. This form will help them organize information as they learn about different authors. After...
Curated OER
Art and Literature Quiz 1
In this art and literature worksheet, students answer short answer questions about famous authors, plays, and characters. Students complete 31 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Art and Literature Quiz 2
In this art and literature worksheet, students answer short answer questions about orchestras, plays, authors, books, and more. Students complete 30 questions.
Curated OER
Storytime Quiz 1
In this novels worksheet, students answer short answer questions about famous novels and authors. Students complete 10 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Art and Literature Quiz 4
In this art and literature worksheet, students answer short answer questions about famous books, authors, characters, and more. Students complete 20 questions.
Curated OER
Author Study Worksheet
What book are you currently reading? If you want your class to delve into the life of the author, give them this author study worksheet. Basic questions like where the author lives (or lived), what hardships the author encountered, and...
Curated OER
Famous Authors Spiral Puzzle Worksheet
Who brought Don Quixote to life? Who coined the term Jazz Age? Want a fun way to encourage Internet research? Literary sleuths search for the answers to eight famous authors' questions to complete a spiral puzzle. An answer key is included.