“Anyone who thinks small towns are friendlier than big cities lives in a big city.” Mary Alice, the fifteen-year-old narrator of A Year Down Yonder, is forced to leave Chicago and spend a year with her Grandma Dowdel in a small rural...

Students discuss kindness and how to treat others. In this kindness lesson plan, students listen to the story The Only Boy in the Ballet Class by Denise Gruska. The teacher draws the main character and every time that he receives a put...

What is the difference between myths, legends, and folktales? From greek mythology and creation myths to heroes and heroines, here is a nice series of lessons for providing your kids with solid foundational knowledge about myths.

Students listen to two famous stories about people who do not like Christmas, and then create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the main characters.

Students pantomime the book Swimmy. In this philanthropy lesson, students discuss the main character in the text and how Swimmy participated in philanthropic acts. Students role play the book.

Middle schoolers brainstorm the definition of honesty. In this honesty lesson, students read Ostrich Egg Wife and discuss events in the story relating to honesty and breaking a promise. Middle schoolers explore ways the main character...

Learners identify that Spartan civilization was founded upon a militaristic point of view that allowed no tolerance for contrary views or physical limitations. They take turns listing positive and negative qualities of the main...

Students create questions pertaining to Catherine, Called Birdy.  In this Catherine, Called Birdy lesson, students predict the type of book from the cover and discuss the style.  Students relate their questions about God to...

Learners discover what debt, saving, and credit are.  In this personal finance lesson, the teacher reads Not for a Billion Gazillion Dollars, and the students discuss what the main character does in the book in relation to debt,...

Students explore literary classics by reading The Legend of King Arthur. In this legendary story lesson, students read the story The Legend of King Arthur and identify the main characters and how they will reenact the story. Students...

High schoolers examine the existence of stereotypes and how various forms of media help to reinforce them. Groups discuss common stereotypes on a list of popular television shows. Student groups design a storyboard for an...

Students explore the concept of a personal budget. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students use a Venn diagram to compare 2 stories in which the main characters spend money in different ways.

Young readers compare two stories/cultures, identifying how they are alike and different. They share their own version of a well-known story and adapt it to another culture. They explain their adaptations.

Students write a diary entry or a letter from the viewpoint of a character in a myth.  In this Aztec myths lesson, students define myths and read "The Heart of Copil" and "The Eagle of Tenochtitlan" and find the land of the...

Students role play the characters and events which led to the holiday of Cinco de Mayo. In this Cinco de Mayo lesson, students dance the "La Raspa" dance. Students complete a Cinco de Mayo word search.

Fourth graders explain the hardship of economic limitations in Westward Expansion . They describe the effects of fluctuations in supply and demand. They put themselves in the place of pioneers hoping to build a homestead.

Fifth graders read the novel "Morning Girl" by Michael Dorris. Using the text, they compare and contrast the two cultures, Arawak and Taino in the novel and research the landing of Columbus in San Salvador. They create a family tree...

Students examine Patricia Polacco's web site as an introduction to her life and literature. They listen to "Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair" before discussing how the main character believe in the power of books. They...

Students create a personal life timeline to better explain how a historical timeline is effective in studying history. They also write a poem about themselves.

Students write a children's story in which the characters are encouraged to speak out for the equality of women. They create a character and plot outline that includes details and supporting statements for women's rights. A brief 2-3...

In this parables worksheet, students retell the parable of The Sower and The Two Builders, write their own parable, draw pictures, and more. Students complete 7 activities.

Students create and perform Corridos which are oral tradition ballads. In this Passing Down Family History Through Oral Tradition lesson, students interview family members using a predetermined list of questions. In addition, students...

Sixth graders read "Seven Daughters and Seven Sons" and examine aspects of Middle East culture and geography. They define vocabulary from the book and map locations described in the book.

Fifth graders complete an analysis of the Revolutionary War through literature. After "My Brother Sam Is Dead," students create a time capsule containing items that would be relevant during the Revolutionary War. They identify key...