Curated OER
Tales with a Twist
Your authors create news stories that share a familiar fairy tale from a new perspective. They review a familiar fairy tale, select a character to "interview," and write original news stories from the perspective of that character.
PBS
Henry David Thoreau: Author, Philosopher, and Abolitionist
What would Henry David Thoreau think of life in 21st-Century America? Pupils investigate the abolitionist using primary and secondary materials. They analyze what Thoreau would think of the changes to American lifestyles since the time...
Scholastic
Ask the Author
Here is a quick activity that could help your kids with their reading comprehension. They practice a classic strategy that gets them to start asking questions about what they are reading, while they are reading it. They write out...
All for KIDZ
Building Relationships: The Orphan of Ellis Island
Family and friendship are two very important themes of the historical fiction novel The Orphan of Ellis Island by Elvira Woodruff. From video clips and writing prompts to reader's theater and family interviews, this resource provides...
Curated OER
Class Books
Students brainstorm a list of personal information based on a variety of categories. After writing positive comments on their classmates, they spilt into two groups with one entering the information into a database and the other...
Curated OER
Autobiography and Interviews
Students prepare for a visit to a retirement home using a personal time-line. In this personal time-line lesson, students ask their family members for help in making the time-line. They write an autobiography that will be used in a...
Curated OER
Tracking the Olympics
Students conduct interviews. In this Olympic lesson, students play the parts of Olympic athletes and sports announcers. Students take part in interviews practicing both parts and create podcasts of the interviews.
Curated OER
Author Study: Barbara Park
Students examine the life and books of author Barbara Park. They read her interviews and examine her Junie B. Jones series.
Curated OER
Up Close with Author Allen Say
Students explore the Asian-American culture. They read several books written by Japanese-American author Allen Say and create questions to ask the author. Students write letters to the author.
Curated OER
Young Author Books: I Am a Leaf on My Family Tree
Fourth graders create family tree books. They discuss culture and brainstorm interview questions for family members. They write stories, poems, and captions for family photos. They interview family members and assemble the interviews...
Curated OER
Author Study: Jan Brett
Students use the Internet to access information about author and illustrator Jan Brett's books and career. They complete online activities, read interviews and play related games.
Curated OER
Pam Munoz Ryan Shares Writing Secrets
Students conduct interviews. In this interviewing lesson, students read an interview of Pam Munoz Ryan to see where she got her ideas from in her story. They interview someone and create a scrapbook to show details of the interviewee's...
Curated OER
Living History
Students write an essay and interview someone who remembers the 1960's and 1970's. In this history lesson plan, students write their essays as if they were there in that time period, write their feelings, and put together a mini museum...
Curated OER
A Question, Mr. Lincoln!
Learners discuss Abraham Lincoln. In this social science instructional activity, students describe key events in Lincoln's life. Learners practice using interviewing skills to gather information pretending to be Lincoln.
Curated OER
The Exploration of the Writer, His Louisiana History And the Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman By Ernest J. Faines
Students identify the significance of the author's experiences on his written work; describe the hardships faced by slaves and plantation owners once the caves were set free; explain the role of the Seceses and why they were a threat to...
Curated OER
Where'd You Get Those Genes?
Really a unit, this resource exposes middle schoolers to genetics at their level. They read interviews and biographies, trace a family tree, play games that simulate inheritance concepts, and more! Teacher's procedures, student...
Curated OER
Looking At People in Portraits
This resource can be adapted for all grade levels! Intended for learners within easy access of the Getty Center, you could still set up a gallery in your own classroom to achieve similar results. Included is a writing prompt, a...
Curated OER
Winter Wonderland: Internet Literature Project
Young scholars, using the Internet, communicate with peers around the world about winter-themed books. They study authors, write book reviews, re-write endings, interview book characters, create scene dioramas, paint murals, and write...
J. Paul Getty Trust
Narrating a Family Tradition
After examining a piece of art, scholars discuss what they see, paying close attention to details and space. A read-aloud introduces the topic of family traditions. Pupils interview their family members about a tradition in preparation...
Advocates for Human Rights
Voices of Iraqi Refugees
The stated goal of this resource is to provide learners with basic facts about and build empathy for Iraqi refugees. To do so elementary classes develop a plan for how to welcome refugees to their classroom. Middle schoolers read...
Curated OER
Literature: Coretta Scott King Award 2005
Learners visit websites about the books, authors, and illustrators who received the King awards. They view illustrations from Kadir Nelson's award winning book Ellington Was Not a Street. They read excerpts from books and author interviews.
Curated OER
Favourite Authors
Students discuss in open forum their favorite author and give reasons to back up their decisions. Students choose from a variety of writing prompts. Students prepare a series of questions that they might ask their favorite authors if...
Curated OER
Author Study: Robert Munsch
Students use the Internet to access information about author Robert Munsch and his many books. They read biographies and book reviews and complete word searches, worksheets, etc.
Curated OER
Developing Relationships with Older People
Students read books and view movies about older people. They write a questionnaire to interview older people at a retirement center, interview the people, record their information on graphs, and write follow-up letters.