Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Compare/contrast Themes and Genres in Literary Texts

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Determining the theme is not easy; you have to use the clues the author leaves to figure it out yourself. The author implies information about the story through plot points, setting, and characters. You infer and draw conclusions based...
Activity
University of Illinois

University of Illinois Extension: Character Education "Two Sides"

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Excellent resource for empowering students to become better learners. This lesson includes promoting the love of reading, helping students understand different points of view, different genres in literature, and critical thinking skills....
Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Describe Themes in Literary Texts (English 7 Reading)

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson is about themes, the central messages in literature. Whatever their genre might be, writers have some wisdom, some universal truth or insight to share; this...
Lesson Plan
Read Works

Read Works: A Wrinkle in Time 6th Grade Unit

For Teachers 4th - 7th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This ReadWorks Unit engages students in a deep study of Madeleine L'Engle's science fiction work, A Wrinkle in Time. Students will investigate the following topics: the book's theme, the science fiction...
Professional Doc
AdLit

Ad lit.org: Blending Multiple Genres in Theme Baskets

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The theme-basket concept of literature instruction combines several approaches known to work with marginalized readers, students with learning disabilities, and ELLs: 1) a thematic approach to teaching literature, 2) the use of...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Ninth Literature and Composition

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is an introduction to a unit on writing in various genre including Nonfiction, Narrative, Literary Writing, Short Stories, and Poetry. Analysis of "The Odyssey", "To Kill a Mockingbird", "Romeo and Juliet". Click on the View links...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Artifacts and Fiction: Workshop in American Literature

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This workshop, which is divided into eight segments, teaches how to use primary source artifacts from a variety of genres to support the teaching and learning of specific pieces of literature. The genres include visual arts, political...
Activity
Other

Twentieth Century Poetry in English

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The work of many major poets can be reached through links at this site. Includes biographical information on poets and many works.
Handout
Luminarium

Luminarium: Essays and Research on the Renaissance

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this comprehensive site to learn more about English Renaissance Literature. This site is a gold mine of information. It has several essays that illuminate this genre. Find out more about this period in literature through this...
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: A Close Reading of Chaucer's 'The Merchant's Prologue and Tale'

For Students 9th - 10th
This article introduces 'The Merchant's Prologue and Tale', exploring the way in which it combines literary genres and traditions, and refuses to give the reader a clear moral or message.
Graphic
Austin Independent School District

Austin Independent School District: A Taxonomy of Literary Genre [Pdf]

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
A series of graphic organizers shows the progression of learning about literary genre, beginning in kindergarten and building through to fifth grade.
Article
Shmoop University

Shmoop: Animal Farm Analysis: Literary Devices in Animal Farm

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a literary analysis of Animal Farm by George Orwell using the literary devices in the novel including symbolism, imagery, allegory, setting, point of view, genre, tone, writing style, plot analysis and more.
Unit Plan
University of Victoria (Canada)

The U Vic Writer's Guide: Literary Term: Drama

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The University of Victoria's English department gives a comprehensive definition of "drama" in writing.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Fable and Trickster Tales Around the World

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
The lessons presented in this website "introduce children to folk tales" and how these folktales are changed and affected by generational and cultural values. Includes several links to further related information on folktales, fables,...
Activity
Victorian Web

The Victorian Web: Matthew Arnold

For Students 9th - 10th
This Victorian Web site features links to documents about the life, works, and times of the poet and critic Matthew Arnold (1821-1888). Content ranges from the genre, themes, and imagery found in his literary works, to a biography,...
Unit Plan
Georgetown University

Georgetown University: Edgar Allan Poe (1809 1849)

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site is a professor's guide for students. This guide features information on how to distinguish between Poe and his narrators in his stories.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Native Voices

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This unit features the rich oral tradition of Native Americans storytelling in various genres predating the introduction and influence of English writings, bringing three contemporary authors to light. RI.11-12.8 seminal U.S. texts,...
Website
Victorian Web

The Victorian Web: Charlotte Bronte

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides an elaborate overview of the life, works, and times of Charlotte Bronte. Content ranges from the genre, plot, and theme found in "Jane Eyre," to the position of middle-class women of Bronte's time, to the Boer War....
Website
Other

Rls Website: Robert Louis Stevenson

For Students 9th - 10th
Visit this definitive site on Rober Louis Stevenson to learn about this many-faceted author and his works. Well-known for his novels of adventure, such as Treasure Island, Stevenson wrote in many genres and on many subjects. This site...
Lesson Plan
Read Works

Read Works: 3rd Grade Lesson: Science Fiction

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] A lesson in which young scholars use the book Commander Toad and the Intergalactic Spy by Jane Yolen to learn about the characteristics that define science fiction. Lesson includes direct teaching,...
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Weaving the Multigenre Web

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Students analyze the elements of a novel in many different genres and then hyperlink these pieces together on student-constructed Websites.
Handout
Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes

Biblioteca Virtual Miguel De Cervantes: Novela Pastoril

For Students 9th - 10th
This portal is dedicated to the genre of the pastoral novel, one of the favorites in the golden age.
Website
Victorian Web

The Victorian Web: Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre

For Students 9th - 10th
A portal to biographical information and essays related to Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) and her novel "Jane Eyre," including information about social and political history, characterization, themes, genre, setting, imagery, and more.
Website
Other

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators homepage. A great starting point for new writers interested in exploring this genre.