An interview with Judith Viorst where she talks about her children's book Lulu Walks the Dogs. She describes how she created the character Lulu and her admiration of her illustrator, Lane Smith. She also talks about the impact her book...

In this daily reflection, you list three things that went well for you, and why they went well. A printable chart is included.

Explore the feelings associated with winning and losing. Model possible encouraging statements to say as a winner and a loser in a game.

This article provides good insight into the creation of a character.

A guideline for helping students to write their own fairy tales. This is a fun activity that will help students to analyze a literary style and follow a pattern.

First graders build on their knowledge of positive character traits and those valued in a good citizen and leader by exploring rules, laws, elections, and the presidency. Through the anchor text, 1st graders discuss the details of the...

This website, where you can get plot summary, character profiles, and theme analysis on the Shakespearean comedy, "All's Well that Ends Well," is a good resource to accompany a reading of the play. Included is a brief biography of...

Use this site to focus on character education and building an understanding of diversity and cultural heritage. This excellent site provides classroom activity exercises for students in the primary, intermediate, and upper level. It is a...

Use this site to focus on character education and building an understanding of diversity and cultural heritage. This excellent site provides classroom activity exercises for students in the primary, intermediate, and upper level. It is a...

Fifth graders learn that even in the most fantastical settings, literature can teach us real lessons about life. Students explore the opposition of good and evil; the value in courage, adventure, forgiveness, and honesty; and the...

Biography of Marcus Aurelius from the perspective of his writing career, rather than his work as an emperor. Uses his own words from "The Meditations" to provide insight into his character.

"Mama's Happy Christmas" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about children creating a play for their sick mother on Christmas day. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from...

Simple discussion of the elements of fiction with a specific section devoted to Freytag's Pyramid (aka "basic plot structure"). A good place to start for gathering information on the structure of narrative.

This writing tutorial focuses on helping the aspiring author find a good place to start on his or her fiction.

A good site for teachers and writers looking to write for children, or teach children how to write dialogue. Includes tips and guidelines.

An interesting article concerning the importance of setting to any piece of fiction. Gives good information about how setting affects characters and "world-building."

Focused on the Dust Bowl and how families fought for a meaningful existence and survival, this unit will offer students different perspectives on how people respond to adversity, the lessons that can be learned from hardship and failure,...

"The Other Side," by Jacqueline Woodson, is a children's book on the Civil Rights movement. This website provides links on Black History that are related to the book.

This is a good source of information about the life and times of Carlo Goldoni. Please note that ?The Catholic Encyclopedia? is a historic reference source and should be viewed in the context of resource material dated around 1910.

Find several simple lesson activities for young students learning about respect. Students not only discuss what it means to earn and give respect, but also participate in physical and artistic exercises.

This resource gives a good summary of Henry Clay's character and the accomplishments of his life.

Use this interactive to explore how interconnected the global economy is. After creating a character, gather some clothes together and enter their origin information into your database. Then look at your own interdependence map and...

This page has a detailed explanation of an ancient shipwreck that archaeologists use to reconstruct the character of Mycenaean trade. Also provides a shorter, general discussion of the goods and raw materials that were important to this...

Good for planning purposes, this 4 page .pdf offers background, summary, character analysis and some suggestions for post-reading activities.