Curated OER
The Outsiders: Chapter One Summary Notes
In this summary worksheet, students determine important characters, events, conflicts, and consequences of Chapter One of The Outsiders. Answers are recorded in a graphic organizer that will assist the student in understanding the first...
Curated OER
Journey to Topaz: Directed Reading Thinking Activity
Have you used the directed reading thinking activity in your classroom? Doubling as either a prereading strategy, or a during reading strategy, it helps readers connect the historical background of the text to the text itself. As the...
Curated OER
Amelia Earhart
Your class can learn about Amelia Earhart and practice important comprehension skills here. Learners answer questions about cause and effect, compare texts, and discuss similes and metaphors after reading Amelia Earhart: Free in the...
Curated OER
Comic Book Presentations: Unleashing the Power of the Visual Learner
Projects and resources for communication in a visual medium without compromising rigor.
Curated OER
Lesson: Storyboarding Revolution
Kids consider revolution as a basis for creativity, art, and storytelling. After reading an excerpt from the book, Persepolis, learners choose one event from any world revolution to write about. They storyboard the event focusing on...
Curated OER
Who's Got Game? The Lion or the Mouse?
Discuss bullying, folk tales, and more using this resource. Learners read the story The Lion and the Mouse by Toni and Slade Morrison, engage in cause and effect activities, make predictions, and discuss bullying. This is a motivating...
Curated OER
Using the Library for More than Research Papers
Use the repository of resources that modern libraries hold to your advantage during National Library Week.
American Library Association
Great Early Elementary Reads
Here is an excellent reference list of over 60 recommended book titles for early readers, each of which includes the author, title, number of pages, and brief summary.
Carnegie Library
Creative Writing: Middle School Lesson Plan
Enhance a unit on historical fiction with an engaging writing lesson. Learners bring the Industrial Era to life as they compose their own historical fiction pieces based on primary source images of Pittsburgh steel workers.
Random House
Teacher's Guide: The Hobbit: The Enchanting Prelude to Lord of the Rings
The Odyssey, Star Wars, The Hunger Games. Odysseus, Luke Skywalker, Katniss Everdeen. Add The Hobbit and Bilbo Baggins to these lists, and you have a unit examining classic and contemporary myths, legends, and folktales with hero and...
Curated OER
Six Day War
Learn about the diverse perspectives involved in the Six Day War by having learners examine and annotate presidential speeches given by the three nations—Egypt, Israel, and the United States—at the heart of the conflict and producing...
Curated OER
Understanding Character
Students are introduced to literary elements and definitions in the worksheet Understanding Character but reading through each of the elements and definitions aloud. They read the story, "La Bamba" and identify examples of the literary...
Curated OER
Lesson: Urs Fischer: Your Choice: Reality or Illusion?
Young analysts write a comparative essay, but about what? They compose a paper based on several critical discussion about reality and illusion, and how both are blurred in art. They analyze several theatre pieces that exemplify Brechtian...
Curated OER
This July, Beware the Ides of March
A thematic unit on Julius Caesar is a great way to study ancient Rome.
Curated OER
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter: Venn Diagram
“When a person knows and can’t make the others understand, what does he do?” Why (s)he collects evidence and writes an essay! Prepare your readers for a compare/contrast or reflective essay on The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by giving them...
Channel Islands Film
Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island: Lesson Plan 4
Imagine being stranded all alone on an island for 18 years. How would you survive? Class members are challenged to makes necessities out of natural materials that would likely be found on an island.
PBS
Reading Adventure Pack: Robots
Two activities work with a fiction and nonfiction book about robots‚—Robot Dreams by Sara Varon and Robot by Roger Bridgman. Scholars read each story, then build a robot out of found objects, examine robot sensors, and search for...
Curated OER
Venn Diagram for Characteristics in "American Born Chinese"
In this Venn diagram worksheet, students fill in a Venn diagram for the characters in American Born Chinese. Students have 3 circles that make up this Venn diagram.
Spark Notes
The Oedipus Plays by Sophocles: Study Guide - Mini Essays
In this online interactive literature worksheet, students respond to 8 short answer and essay questions about Sophocles's The Oedipus Plays. Students may check some of their answers online.
Spark Notes
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens: Study Guide - Mini Essays
In this online interactive literature worksheet, learners respond to 8 short answer and essay questions about Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist. Students may check some of their answers online.
Spark Notes
On the Beach by Nevil Shute: Study Guide - Mini Essays
In this online interactive literature worksheet, students respond to 9 short answer and essay questions about Nevil Shute's On the Beach. Students may check some of their answers online.
Spark Notes
The Once and Future King by T. H. White: Study Guide - Mini Essays
In this online interactive literature learning exercise, students respond to 7 short answer and essay questions about T.H. White's The Once and Future King. Students may check some of their answers online.
Curated OER
Plan Your Unexpected Journey
Leave your hobbit hole and start an adventure with J. R. R. Tolkien's timeless tale of dwarves, dragons, and hobbits.
Curated OER
What's Special About Nonfiction?
Students examine the difference between nonfiction and fictional writing. They identify the characteristics of nonfiction literature and examine how a nonfiction textbook organizes information.