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PPT
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Curated OER

A Theme Is...

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Colorful contemporary images contained in a PowerPoint presentation will capture the attention of class members and model for them the how to distinguish between the subject and the theme of a work. A great want to introduce this...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Literary Analysis of Theme

For Teachers 11th
Remember reading "The Lottery" and "The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson? Learners can experience and analyze the tension, themes, and human experience found in these pieces through reading and class discussion. They use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Themes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Compare and contrast the themes of two works by J.R.R. Tolkien. High schoolers read The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, Then they write an essay that compares the themes found in each novel.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Themes Across Texts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Read various texts to compare the themes across each text. Learners write a journal entry describing the most beautiful scenery they've seen and use a map of the United States to locate the Sequoia National Park and Muir Woods. They then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Themes and Plots: "Young Goodman Brown" and "The Minister's Black Veil"

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students read two stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne and write an essay comparing plots and themes. For this Nathaniel Hawthorne short stories lesson, students read "Young Goodman Brown" and "The Minister's Black Veil." After a class...
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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Faulkner's As I Lay Dying: Concluding the Novel

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
As I Lay Dying is a beautiful book and a wonderful vehicle for understanding, interpreting, and comparing themes. The class reads and analyzes the novel, discusses possible interpretations, and characterizations. They compare the themes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Primary Source Picture Book

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
Travel through Europe with ten-year-old Teddy Roosevelt in this writing activity, which uses the picture book My Tour of Europe: by Teddy Roosevelt, by Ellen Jackson. After reading the book, readers compare it to passages from The...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: The Power of Story

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Universal themes found throughout the world in the form of stories is the topic of today's lesson. Upper graders analyze the cultural context of the Mithila piece, Hanuman. They consider the universal themes the image depicts and how the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who's Up for the Olympic Challenge?:Integrating the 5 Themes of Geography with Olympic Bids

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore geographical themes.  In this problem solving geography lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation about the Vancouver/Whistler Olympic bid.  High schoolers analyze Vancouver as an Olympic site looking at...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing Poetic Devices: Robert Hayden's "Those Winter Sundays" and Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz"

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Analyze the poetic devices used in Robert Hayden's "Those Winter Sundays" to those found in Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz." Critical analysts discuss poetic meter and rhythm and its relationship to theme. They compare and contrast...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dr. Heidegger's Experiment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What are the pros and cons of prolonging life? Incorporate real-world issues into the study of literature using Dr. Heidegger's Experiment. Through the exploration of pre-determined websites, scholars consider several related literary...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Themes and Plots

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Learners compare theme and plot in two short stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In this theme and plot analysis lesson, students read Young Goodman Brown and The Minister's Black Veil  as well as take notes about the theme and plot for each...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Idea-Noun Definition: Source Searching

For Teachers 11th - 12th
A great idea for showing language arts pupils the universality of themes, even in the real world! Have class members choose an idea-noun (peace, justice, war, love, etc.) at the beginning of the year or semester. They complete weekly...
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Lesson Plan
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

From Ben’s Pen to Our Lives

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What would Ben do? Jumping off from the pseudonymous letters Ben Franklin fooled his older brother into publishing when he was still a teenager, young literary lovers dive into acting, writing, and addressing a local issue with wit and...
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PPT
Curated OER

Literary Analysis: Summary vs. Analysis

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
What is the difference between summary writing and literary analysis? A 16-slide presentation offers some basic requirements for both types of writing and helps readers identify each based on keywords used in both types of writing....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Paul Chan: 1st Light and 5th Light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Paul Chan's latest exhibit includes seven manifestations of light. Today, kids analyze the pieces 1st Light  and 5th Light. They consider the concept of opposed or dualistic realities found in literature, society, and Chan's work. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Literary Response and Analysis

For Teachers 11th
Examine a variety of literary responses to Abraham Lincoln's death and the impact of perception. Your class can work in writing groups to analyze either poetry, eulogy, or a newspaper article. They retell the events of Abraham Lincoln's...
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Lesson Plan
Maine Content Literacy Project

Processes of Writing and Speaking

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
As this short story unit comes to a close, provide a day for a full examination of theme and allow some time in class for individuals to work on their various assessments. This final lesson plan before presenting iMovies and portfolios...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Struggle and Transformation: Jaguar & Adolescence

For Teachers 5th - 12th
To break down complex themes, discuss a sense of self, and learn a bit about Mayan culture, learners start through art analysis. They analyze a Mayan incense burner, discuss themes, and then write a short story that includes themes from...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

English Literature: An Overview

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Relate literary works and authors to the major themes of English literature from the Anglo-Saxon period through the 20th century. Working in groups, high schoolers will evaluate period philosophy, religion, and politics that influenced...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Young Goodman Brown - Themes

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students read "Young Goodman Brown" by  Nathaniel Hawthorne and write an essay about the theme. For this theme analysis lesson, students read and discuss themes. Students then write their essay about the theme in the text.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prometheus Bound: Rebel with a Cause

For Teachers 9th - 12th
If you are teaching Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound, you can't afford to miss this source. An extensive list of ideas outlines numerous discussion topics, writing prompts, comprehension questions, oral presentations, and projects. Have class...
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Writing
Curated OER

Awesome Stories: Vincent van Gogh

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Who was Vincent van Gogh? Most of the questions can be answered in two or three sentences; however, there is at least one essay prompt and one personal response question that require longer answers. Questions call for a good mix of...
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Lesson Plan
Literacy Design Collaborative

Author Study: Kate Chopin

For Students 11th - 12th Standards
Four stories by Kate Chopin offer high schoolers an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the ways authors use various literary elements and movements to develop their themes and social commentaries.