“Desire + Danger = Tension.” Thus begins a PowerPoint that details how to create tension and maintain the reader’s interest in a story. Although text-heavy, the color-coded slides model how the D + D = T formula functions and the...

Putting together an interesting story can be hard, but this set of worksheets will guide your writers into the depths of their own creativity as they characterize both their main character and villain. Using humor to keep learners...

What makes a story interesting? Complex characters! As part of a series of worksheets that prepares middle schoolers to write their own novel, the exercises included explain the role of the protagonist, the antagonist, and the supporting...

Conflict can be fun! Or at least it can be, if it forms the basis of a novel plot. This resource, part of a NaNoWriMo series of worksheets that prepares middle schoolers to write their own novel, presents the element of conflict. After...

Young learners explore the antagonist. They retell Hansel and Gretel and identify the witch and the stepmother as antagonists. They then brainstorm common character traits of an antagonist, and then write a paragraph describing an...

Darth Vader, The Wicked Witch of the West, Shere Khan, Moby Dick...these are some of the most famous villains in film and literature. Study the four categories of conflict with your class and have them finish the day by creating a...

Develop a mystery character using clues from a bag. This engaging activity will help learners understand character traits. They develop a list of the items from the bag, discuss and develop the character with a partner, and create a...

As part of an lesson involving literature or writing, have your learners watch and discuss this presentation on plot development. In a series of slides, viewers engage in an activity to explore dramatic structure, including plot...

Use this writing prompt and brainstorming page to help your pupils prepare to write their own myths. Individuals must choose a natural event to explain, come up with a protagonist and an antagonist, determine a setting, and think of a...

Middle schoolers in particular will benefit from this simple presentation. Forty slides cover story elements like the protagonist, antagonist, and setting, and literary devices are also included. Some examples are given, but for the most...

Should Goldilocks have entered the bear's home? Select a popular children's story (like Goldilocks and the Three Bears) and model taking a stance either supporting or challenging the protagonist's actions. Then, after they understand the...

Comedy, tragedy, act, scene, prop. do you want to review important drama terms? Actors record the term next to its definition on a worksheet that could be used individually or as a group activity. A link to a corresponding PowerPoint...

The Cosby Show in the classroom? Use an episode from a 30-minute TV sitcom to introduce the concept of subplot. Young writers use a sub-plotting worksheet (not included) to record their observations about how the subplot is developed in...

Arm your writers with an arsenal of literary terms. With definitions of everything from plot structure and figurative language to point-of-view and types of irony, learners will gain an understanding of elements in stories and be able to...

Create conflict! It’s the challenges that make stories (and life) interesting. Using the script provided by this resource, lead your young writers through a series of activities that acquaint them with both external and internal...

Fifth graders discuss characterization as well as to define antagonist and protagonist. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders write questions for an interview of a character in the book "The Three Little Pigs" and then answer them....

Students develop original characters as protagonists and antagonists. For this characterization lesson, students write brief character sketches for their original characters. Students also assess each others characters by exchanging...

Students read the novel, Fallen Angels, and examine the theme of coming of age during the Vietnam War. They create timelines of the 1960s, highlighting important issues of the era. They write research papers focusing on one particular...

Students practice using predictive strategies before reading a book. In this literacy lesson, students identify the theme and characters of the novel based on the cover illustrations.

Introduce your class members to the parts of a play. Although the title of the presentation would suggest that examples from Shakespeare’s tragedy will illustrate the terms, beyond the first slide, Romeo and Juliet is not mentioned;...

Students explore the definition of a "good Samaritan".  In this social studies activity students divide into groups and build a skit to present to the class. 

Teach your class how to identify the protagonist in a story. The plan suggests starting with a protagonist from a tale you have previously read in class. Then, you can read a new story and work together to identify the protagonist,...

Eighth graders examine the lives of Native Americans.  In this American History lesson, 8th graders analyze primary sources on Native Americans. 

For this drama genre focus worksheet, students examine a play as they complete a graphic organizer and respond to 6 short answer questions regarding the characters and setting of a specific play.