Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Cinderella
Reading fairy tales is so much fun! Learners use dramatic play to assist them in defining and expressing the main theme found in the story of Cinderella. Each group is given a story card and will create a tableau based on the main point...
Roald Dahl
Matilda - Arithmetic
Mr. Wormwood, one of the characters in Roald Dahl's Matilda, is not the most trustworthy of characters. Have student groups take on the roles of car salespeople and play a game to see who can make the most profit by selling refurbished...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Balloons Over Broadway Activity Kit
After reading the book Balloons Over Broadway about the incredible puppeteer who created the first Macy's larger-than-life parade balloons, your youngsters will celebrate their reading by participating in a variety of engaging activities...
Roald Dahl
Matilda - The Third Miracle
Magnus takes a visit to the classroom in the 20th chapter of Matilda. Or does he? After reading, learners interview the person in the hot seat to get a detailed account of what happened during this chapter. Then, they write individual...
Curated OER
Yes, You Can!
Young scholars examine the concept of encouragement. In this encouragement and character lesson, students participate in an active read aloud of Mary Grace's, Amazing Grace. They draw a picture in their journal of a time that they needed...
Curated OER
Writer's Workshop
Students explore and study the literary genre of internal conflict while reading the book, "Stellaluna," by Janelle Cannon. They discuss the main character and make a chart of different situations where the main character experienced...
Freeology
Book Review
Here’s a template for a book review that asks readers to respond to 11 short-answer prompts to document their independent reading. Consider keeping a file of completed reviews so that subsequent readers can peruse the responses before...
Teachit
Keeping a Reader's Journal
A reader's journal can help pupils comprehend, connect to, and remember a text. Have them follow the prompts here to write journal entries for any literary text.
Curated OER
Story Structure Slide Show
Analyzing the sequence of actions in dramatic stories leads to deeper comprehension of story structure. The class identifies the main actions in each section of a story and develops frozen tableau's for the identified actions of the...
Curated OER
Retell the Story
Students identify bias in books. In this character education instructional activity, students read a text and discuss any gender or racial bias which may be present. Students retell and rewrite the story in a fair way.
Curated OER
Common Good
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students read stories and then discuss the meaning of philanthropy as they identify ways the characters contribute to the common good.
Curated OER
Passport to Stories Around the World
Students read stories from various cultures and create a passport indicating the completion and comprehension of the story. The template for the passport is included. The lesson can be used for a broad range of ages depending on the...
Curated OER
Dramatizing Tam's Slipper
Students investigate the Japanese version of the Cinderella tale. In this fairy tale lesson, students read Tam's Slipper and construct a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the tale with the American version.
EngageNY
Building Background Knowledge About Physical Environment: What Makes it Hard for Some People to Get Books?
How far would your pupils go to be able to have access to books? Revisit Heather Henson and David Small's That Book Woman and challenge class members to take on the role of Cal or the Book Woman. By putting themselves in someone else's...
Curated OER
Hatchet: Concept Analysis
Take an in-depth look into Gary Paulsen's Hatchet with a concept guide. With a list and explanation of thematic motifs, types of conflicts, and vocabulary in the novel, learners will engage with the text in a whole new way.
Curated OER
The Trumpet of the Swan: Sam's Diary
In this reading worksheet, students respond to the book The Trumpet of the Swan by completing a diary writing activity. Students write two diary entries about their day and end them with a question, just as Sam the main character did in...
Curated OER
Language Arts Lesson: Printing and Publishing
Learners listen to an African folktale about an animal character that can walk and talk and retell the main events of the story in their own words. They illustrate the folktale utilizing a relief printmaking method as a replica of an...
Curated OER
Picture the Process
Students read Chasing Vermeer and relate the book to the author . In this writing process lesson, students view Blue's Photo Album and see how the author writes and revises her work. Students discuss the process that all good writers...
Roald Dahl
Matilda - The New Home
Matilda finally gets her happy ending with a new home with Miss Honey. But first, Mr. Wormwood goes on trial for his wrong doings and bad car sales. Class members take on the role of a character in the trial and participate in a role...
Curated OER
Dreaming of Gardens
Students demonstrate ways to be an environmental philanthropist. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students read The Gardener and Just a Dream and compare the two books. Students discuss ways the characters demonstrated...
Curated OER
The Joy of a Garden-Earth Day
Students explore the purpose of a garden. For this Earth Day lesson, students read the story The Gardener and complete a Venn diagram comparing life in a city to farm life. Students discuss Earth Day and plant flowers in a garden .
Curated OER
Elements of Fiction
Learners identify key story elements in a fiction text. In this literacy lesson, students are introduced to the various elements of fiction such as the setting, plot, and theme. Learners read a short story of their choice and identify...
Curated OER
Healthful Eating
Students read a story about how cartoon characters are partially to blame for American's obesity problem, and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this healthful eating lesson plan, students respond to literature by...
Curated OER
Comic and Film Strip Writing
Students write a funny story and illustrate it in a comic strip. In this comic strip instructional activity, students study comic strips and determine the plot of each story. Students then write a short story and illustrate it using a...