Curated OER
Talent Scout
What are your youngsters really good at? Use this resource to make a list of the five most important things they do each day, what their skills and talents are, and which of their talents they enjoy the most. A great way to start an...
Curated OER
For the Fun of It
Young scholars view pictures of Amelia Earhart and discuss the social and historical context of her life. They read excerpts of Earhart's autobiography "The Fun of It" and analyze her purpose in writing it.
Curated OER
Brainstorming Time
Students brainstorm a list of possible topics for their essay. As a class, they review the characteristics of anecdotal writing and the form they take in newspapers or autobiographies. To end the instructional activity, they decide on...
Curated OER
"Night": A Study in Compassion and Courage
Students read the novel, "Night" by Elie Wiesel. Using excerpts from the novel, they complete a performance and literary technique objective. In groups, they finish handouts to give them more information on the Holocaust. They compare...
Curated OER
Reading and Writing the Autobiography With a Study of Zora Neale Hurston
Students explore the possible relationships between characters in a novel. They read the novel 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' and answer all the questions on each chapter so that the characters and events are familiar to the students.
Curated OER
"Shooting An Elephant": George Orwell's Essay on His Life in Burma
High school readers examine George Orwell's essay "Shooting an Elephant" for examples of symbolism, metaphor, connotation, and irony. They analyze how these literary tools convey the writer's main point and contribute to the persuasive...
Nosapo
Creating a Bio Poem
Find out what's special about your pupils with a fun biopoem activity! As they fill out their name, words that describe them, what they love, and what they dream of, learners create an expressive poem about themselves.
University of Pennsylvania
Mock Trial of Alfred Dreyfus
What if scholars based mock trials on history? The fourth installment of a five-part series on the Dreyfus Affair asks learners to read various pieces of evidence before conducting a mock trial for a French officer. Teams answer...
Curated OER
Wanted: New Authors!
Eighth graders write a short autobiographical sketch and produce an author page to be used throughout the year with their writing. They take digital camera photos and produce a PowerPoint slide show with their photos and information.
Curated OER
This is Your Life!
Middle schoolers create an autobiographical timeline that be shared with a classmate. They write a one paragraph biography based on the timeline.
Curated OER
The Terrible Transformation: Freedom Denied
Students learn about the legal foundations for slavery and explore autobiographical writings of slaves. Students trace the development of laws that enforced the slave status of Africans and their descendants.
Curated OER
Getting to Know Me: Adventures in Self-Expression
Invite students to understand themselves and share their discoveries with autobiographical art activities.
Curated OER
Celebrating Women: Toni Morrison
Students research Toni Morrison's life, work as a writer, and major contributions to the field of literature; students choose one of her novels to read, & perform a scene from it; each group member writes an autobiographical essay...
Curated OER
Pieces of Me
Eighth graders explore themselves and their community. In this writing lesson, 8th graders brainstorm ideas about their childhood, middle years, family, and future goals. Students write an autobiographical sketch about themlseves.
Curated OER
Truman Capote: Other Voices, Other Rooms
Students read and analyze Truman Capote's autobiographical short story, "A Christmas Memory." They discuss writing styles, conduct Internet research on Truman Capote, write a book review, and write a short story based on one of Truman...
Curated OER
Story Dolls
Students express themselves through art and writing at the same time in this lesson. Students create paper doll versions of themselves. Students write a biography of their dolls.
Curated OER
Story Starters
Sixth graders examine the pictures on a chart and relate to their own experiences. In this story starters writing lesson, 6th graders explore the pictures presented by the teacher and then create an original story based on the picture...
Curated OER
Autobiographies: A Jigsaw Puzzle
Learners read The Autobiography of Ben Franklin. Using construction paper, they cut out five jigsaw puzzle pieces in different shapes using the entire sheet of paper. They write events from their own lives on the puzzle pieces, thus...
Curated OER
Introducing...Me
Tenth graders create a tri-fold brochure that includes past assignments from their writing portfolio. They examine these assignments of career choices, learning styles, dreams, and goals. In addition, they construct and then publish a...
Curated OER
Twain: Steamboat's a-Comin'
Students discover how rivers inspire creative expression. In this Mark Twain lesson plan, students list songs about rivers and discuss common characteristics. They locate the Mississippi River on a map and write a script in which a...
Curated OER
Your Story
Learners discover ways to learn about the past. In this writing lesson students use a writing web to organize their ideas about how we learn about the past. The learners then start a time capsule about their lives.
Curated OER
I'm Still Scared: The War Years
Students read the story I'm Still Scared: The War Years, complete discussion questions, and activities about the book. In this war book lesson plan, students keep journals, write about being frightened, have a war veteran visit their...
Curated OER
Creating A Life Map
Pupils investigate the concept of a life plan and how to write one with the help of a graphic organizer that encourages one to create a timeline for planning. They write journal prompts that are based upon personal knowledge of life...
Spark Notes
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin: Study Guide - Mini Essays
For this online interactive literature worksheet, learners respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about Benjamin Franklin's The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Students may check some of their answers online.