Curated OER
Short Stories Through Multimedia Presentations
Ninth graders summarize and paraphrase a short story read in class. They identify the six story elements of character, setting, plot, conflict, solution, and tone/mood. Students create a PowePoint presentation that illustrates the...
Curated OER
Using a Matrix to Compare, Contrast, and Analyze Connections
Young scholars explore writing techniques by comparing fiction vs. non-fiction. In this literature analysis lesson, students read stories from Aesop's Fables and compare the themes and characters to stories from their own life. Young...
Curated OER
Teaching a Short Story
Students work in small groups and prepare an analysis of a short story to be presented to their peers. They research the story and create a handout or a visual aid that cites sources of information and summarizes the main points of the...
Curated OER
The Numbers Tell the Story
Students demonstrate how to gather and interpret statistical data. In this data analysis lesson plan, students search for statistics on the health effects of smoking and place the information into charts. Students create these charts...
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Spooky Analysis
Focus on building suspense as well as evaluating web sites through creative writing. After introducing the idea of suspense and holding a discussion, class members complete a WebQuest, during which they find inspiration for their own...
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Guest Readers
Young readers explore reading comprehension by creating a class presentation. In this storytelling lesson, puils read an assigned text in class and analyze the characters, settings and story. They create an illustrated presentation in...
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Techno Author
Here is a great way to explore language arts by completing a computer activity with classmates. Youngsters read a fairy tale in class and analyze where the beginning, middle and end are. They create their own story using clip art and...
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Writing Fiction: Using Older Characters
Out with the old and in with the new? Not so in this lesson plan, which explores the idea of writing older characters in fiction. Students learn the value of varying their characters, exploring different perspectives, and avoiding...
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The Gift of the Magi
Test the true meaning of giving - and irony - with this lesson about "The Gift of the Magi." Using textual analysis, details, and text organization, middle schoolers make predictions about future events in the story and determine the...
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Breaking Down Books
Learners practice their reading comprehension by analyzing and discussing books with their classmates. They record their responses to comprehension, evaluation, and interpretation questions provided on a worksheet that is referenced but...
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Investigating the Harlem Renaissance
The work of Langston Hughes opens the door to research into the origin and legacy of the Harlem Renaissance and how the literature of the period can be viewed as a commentary on race relations in America. In addition, groups are assigned...
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Analyzing and Evaluating Literary Works
Students evaluate the literary elements found in short stories. For this literature lesson, students read short stories of their choosing and list the examples of the literary elements they encounter in the story on the provided graphic...
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Comparison and Contrast - Two Short Stories
Students investigate writing techniques by analyzing 2 stories written by Edgar Allen Poe. For this language arts lesson, students choose two Edgar Allen Poe short stories to read and take notes on the setting, theme, characters and...
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Classic Short Stories by Kate Chopin
Students read two classic short stories by Kate Chopin and write a comparison of the stories. For this short story comparison instructional activity, students read 'Desiree's Baby' and 'The Story of an Hour' and analyze the foreshadowing...
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Writing Short Stories
Pupils analyze the narrative arc and complete short story exercises. In this short story analysis activity, students examine a narrative arc and complete a short story writing skills worksheet that defines point of view.
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Multiple Perspectives
Analyze multiple perspectives in short stories. Sixth graders examine the point of view of each major character in three different short stories. After reading the stories, they role-play characters and hypothesize about the character's...
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Creating an Oral History--Who Tells the Story?
Explore the difficulties in compiling an oral history with this lesson. Young researchers conduct interviews and consider how point of view changes various accounts of a single incidence, resulting in conflicting information. They view a...
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Identifying Conflicts in Stories
Fifth graders practice analyzing story points by discussing Cinderella. In this reading comprehension lesson, 5th graders identify the four main types of conflicts in stories and how they are presented in modern day storytelling ...
Newseum
Is It Fair?
Young journalists learn how to analyze word choice, context, and counterpoints to judge the fairness of a news story. They practice using these tools to judge a series of headlines for the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. They...
NOAA
Journey to the Unknown
What's it like to be a deep-sea explorer? Tap into the imaginations of your fifth and sixth graders with a vivid lesson, the second part of a six-part adventure. Learners close their eyes and submerge themselves in an expedition aboard...
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Character Cluster
Third graders practice identifying characters and story elements by creating a character cluster in class. In this story analysis lesson, 3rd graders discuss the story Snow White and identify the characteristics of the evil witch....
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Exploring Community Through Local History: Oral Stories, Landmarks and Traditions
Students explore the history of their local community. In this local history activity, students analyze primary documents to develop an understanding of the local culture and traditions of their local community.
Curated OER
Lesson Plan - The Barbara Frietchie Story – Fact or Fiction?
Students differentiate between fact and legend. In this Barbara Freitchie instructional activity, students read poetry and non-fiction accounts regarding the story of Freitchie. Students analyze the story of the American patriot to...
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Soil Stories
Tenth graders collect and analyze soil samples and extrapolate the characteristics needed to support different types of plant life. They research different types of prairie soil and how it supports plant and animal life.