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Mirrors & Windows: Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”

For Students 8th - 10th
“Mirrors” or aspects from a story that reflect a personal text-to-self connection, and “windows,” an aspect that gives insight into a different way of being, are the focus of an activity designed for Alice Walker’s story. Readers select...
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Hoot: Persuasive Writing Assignment

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Can your class convince the townspeople to support the rally in Carl Hiaasen's Hoot? Have your young writers exercise their persuasive writing skills in a lesson that prompts them to write a letter or a speech based on Chapter 18...
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Laura Candler

Bio Poems Made Easy

For Teachers 1st - 6th
A creative way bring autobiographical writing to your poetry unit or back-to-school curriculum, this lesson plan guides you through a bio poem activity. Kids use the graphic organizer to describe themselves using adjectives, things...
Lesson Plan
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Active Citizenship: The Civil Rights Work of Bob Moses

For Teachers All
Students discuss and describe the impact of Bob Moses as an activist, compare and contrast the work of Bob Moses in the 1960's and today and develop an action plan regarding an issue they feel strongly about.
Lesson Plan
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Unforgettable Personalities

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read an essay titled, "Unforgettable Personalities" to study the influence of character's traits on the resolution of conflict in a narrative. They discuss and complete a worksheet that compares their own personality traits to...
Lesson Plan
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December

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students create snowflake similes, Kwanzaa plaques, menorah banners, and more for the month of December. In this December activities lesson plan, students also analyze characters in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Lesson Plan
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Inspirational Canadian Humanitarians And Activists

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders investigate the concept of being a humanitarian or hero. They conduct research about the concept looking for historical figures in which the traits of a hero or humanitarian is displayed. Once people are found then...
Unit Plan
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The Play's the Thing: The Drama of Cyrano de Bergerac

For Teachers 8th
Students practice dramatic 'living' through various drama activities. In this drama lesson, students define drama, view examples of dramatic elements in Cyrano de Bergerac and Roxanne, define characterization within the dramas, study the...
Lesson Plan
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Story Elements

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify six story elements (setting, characters, character traits, plot, resolution, and point of view) and create short stories utilizing all six elements. They are introduced to story elements as the things that make up...
Lesson Plan
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Developing A Balanced Lifestyle

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students engage in a study of the character trait of peace and how it is useful to becoming part of a lifestyle. The lesson asks students to read a story that illustrates the concept that is followed by targeted questions to be answered.
Lesson Plan
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I'm Thankful For...

For Teachers 1st
First graders engage in a instructional activity that demonstrates the character trait of thankfulness. The teacher enthusiastically shares something to be thankful for with the class. Then they spend the time to draw an idea of...
Lesson Plan
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Maus: After Reading Strategy Instructional Routine

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Class members create literary mandalas for two characters from Maus, Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel about his father’s experiences with the Holocaust. After finding quotes that reveal three good traits and three bad traits of each...
Lesson Plan
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Oliver Twist Goes to Hollywood

For Teachers 5th - 12th Standards
How does Oliver Twist, the novel written by Charles Dickens, compare with its screenplay adaptation? Although the activity doesn't require learners to have read the novel, the similarities and differences of the highlighted passages...
Lesson Plan
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End of Unit 1 Assessment: Close Reading and Powerful Note-Taking on My Own

For Teachers 3rd Standards
As the final lesson plan in a larger beginning-of-the-year unit to establish routines and teach close reading skills, this plan is designed as an assessment piece. Using the story, The Librarian of Basra, learners independently...
Lesson Plan
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Full Esteem Ahead

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young learners who feel good about themselves will fare better in the long run than those who do not have a high level of self-esteem. Introduce youngsters to what it means to like themselves. Discuss positive characteristics and...
Lesson Plan
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Personality Development

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students identify and explore the 5 traits that define personality. In this personality traits lesson plan, students build a character using 3 of the 5 personality traits and present their character. Students create a chart about how...
Lesson Plan
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Much Ado About Nothing Masks Lesson

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students examine the personality traits of characters. In this characterization lesson, students read act 2 of "Much Ado About Nothing" and create masks to represent the characters in the play.
Lesson Plan
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A Character's Decalogue Using "Because of Winn Dixie"

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils read the book Because of Winn Dixie and then create a personal decalogue, which is a list of 10 personal beliefs. In this decalogue lesson plan, students then write a decalogue of a fictional character and write a story based on it.
Lesson Plan
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Handling the Earth with Care

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the characteristics of caring people.  In this behavioral studies lesson plan, 8th graders differentiate between caring and uncaring personality traits.  Students view a video about personality traits,...
Lesson Plan
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The Sorcerers Shown

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students consider the different genres of literary and movie characters. For this character types lesson, students brainstorm character genres from books and movies. Students read the article 'Which Wizard Beats 'Em All?' and develop...
Lesson Plan
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I Am a Star

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the unique qualities of themselves and others. In this character education lesson, students read the book A Unicorn Named Beulah Mae and create a paper star displaying their unique personality traits.
Lesson Plan
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Convincing Characters

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners create vivid, active characters for a story. In this character lesson, students discuss the characters in books they are familiar with. Learners create a list of novels they have read and discuss the character types. Students...
Lesson Plan
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And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street Writing Activity

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students are read a Dr. Suess book. They use the same format found in the book to create a class book about what they see on the way home from school. They practice writing sentences and illustrate them for the book.
Lesson Plan
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What Is Your Sign

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze characters' personalities and relate them to the study of astrology in Shakespeare's time. This activity increases comprehension of early modern beliefs about astrology and, in doing so, give them a greater understanding...