Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modern Minstrelsy: Exploring Racist Stereotypes in Literature and Life

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Satires may be designed to expose a bias to ridicule but if misunderstood can they reinforce that bias? Langston Hughes poem, “Minstrel Man” opens a discussion of racist stereotypes, the minstrel tradition, and the musical, “The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Importance Setting and Mood in Fiction

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the setting in pieces of fiction.  In this story analysis lesson, 7th graders investigate the setting in fictional stories and the importance it has.  Students discover new vocabulary terms applying to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Night Lesson Plan: Stereotypes and Scapegoats

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars read the novel Night by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and complete related activities. In this novel analysis instructional activity, students prompt write and discuss the answers. Young scholars take notes on...
Lesson Plan
Anti-Defamation League

The Hate U Give

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas became a quick hit in the young adult literature genre before its adaptation in the 2018 film of the same name. Use a thorough activity, discussion guide, and series of activities to discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Idaho Coalition

The Hunger Games: Gender Empowerment

For Teachers 6th - 12th
The odds are in your favor that your pupils will love this lesson that uses The Hunger Games to launch a study of gender empowerment, as well as the influence of social constructs of gender. Groups discuss how Katniss Everdeen and Peeta...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identity in A Raisin in the Sun

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders read the play, "A Raisin in the Sun," and participate in a class discussion about "identity." They discuss racial identity and examine and interpret how community influences a personal identity. They demonstrate how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Esperanza Rising - Literature Circles and Review (Day 3)

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Kids love working with their peers. Get your class into small literature circles and have them complete weekly assignments. Before beginning this week's activity, have each learner write a letter from Esperanza in California to Abuelita...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gender Equity in Fairy Tales

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore language arts by researching fairy tale stereotypes. In this gender roles lesson, students read the stories Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, and Snow White with their class. Students analyze the female characters...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CAN WE SWITCH GENDERS OF STORY CHARACTERS?

For Teachers K - 6th
Analyze characters and stories to identify stereotyping. Learners will examine the concept of character gender to evaluate bias in classroom story books. They are asked to read a story or play and change the gender of the character to...
Lesson Plan
Prestwick House

Introducing Literary Theory – A Unit Wrap-Up

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Literary theories are lenses through which a text may be analyzed. The question in this lesson plan is how a particular literary lens can influence the reader's view of the text.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Kindness across the Curriculum: Kindness for a Day, a Week, a Month, a Year

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Learners investigate the concept of character kindness in literature. In this human character lesson plan, students read about kindness and write about their understanding of it. 
Lesson Plan
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Anti-Defamation League

The Revealers: Discussion Guide for Grades 6-8

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Suspense! Rebellion! Cyberbullying! No wonder Doug Wilhelm's novel The Revealers appeals to middle schoolers. Instructors new to using the novel and experienced veterans will find this discussion guide invaluable. Discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle: Graphic Organizer

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
After completing the first five chapters of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle By Avi, use direct quotes to make inferences about how Charlotte feels about certain characters. Later, when the novel has concluded, revisit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Big, Bad Wolf

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders analyze the stereotyping of wolves in children's literature. They compare stereotypes and facts about wolves. They rewrite a fairy tale from the wolf's point of view.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can We Switch Genders of Story Characters?

For Teachers K - 6th
Young scholars read and review the main elements of a story. In this language arts lesson, students predict what the story read to them would have been like if the genders of the characters had been different. Young scholars...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Native American Cultures Across the U.S.

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine how American Indians are represented in today's society. They read stories, analyze maps, and complete a chart and create an illustration about a specific tribe.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Elizabeth Peyton: Artist's Community: The Real

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What is real or imagined? The lines of beauty reality, and imagination are blurred in Elizabeth Peyton's portraits of her community. Learners analyze her use of artistic technique in conveying real and imagined communities. They then use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stereotype Characters Activity

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Here is a lesson designed for middle schoolers which helps them recognize stereotypes one way or another against a particular group of people. They also determine what may have motivated the author to use a stereotype in the first place....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erie Canal: Journey Back in Time

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read the novel, The Eric Canal, identifying the characters and setting. They respond to daily reading by writing in journals and complete a short answer test upon completion of the novel.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Quality of Information: Point of View and Bias

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify stereotypes of Indian people based on perceived characteristics. They discuss the misconceptions. Students define quality of information and give an example from the story "Seaman's Journal: On The Trail With Lewis...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You've Got a Wocket Where?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify rhyming word pairs, apply generalizations about the principle of onsets and "rimes," and create and classify multiple lists of words, both real and nonsense, based on given rhymes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders describe the changes in King George III's policy toward the American colonies by sequencing key events between the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. They explain the colonial reactions to command decisions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gandhi's Alternate View of Women: Changing the Face of Modern Media & Advertising

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders analyze the violence of media and advertising on women, as well as Gandhi's views of women. For this women and media lesson, 11th graders Killing Us Softly and Tough Guise as an analysis of media and advertising and...
Lesson Plan
Orange County Department of Education

Katie's Trunk

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read the story of "Katie's Trunk". They identify the traits of integrity and fairness in the characters John Warren and Katie. Students explore how people can experience the same event but interpret it differently. They...