Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man is difficult to read and difficult to teach. The novel is so highly regarded that it is one of most often listed as an option for the AP Literature and Composition exam. The materials in this packet from PBS...

Students study the government's involvement in the U.S. A's food production and make connections relating to farm programs. In this historical agriculture lesson, students read content and research significant information....

Film analysis takes critical thinking, connections, and context. Upper graders look at the film installation, Crystal Palace in terms of the film makers choices, presentation, and perspective of truth. After an analytical discussion...

Students explore the plight of Jews during the Holocaust. In this World War II lesson plan, students read Daniel's Story by Carol Matas and complete the provided comprehension, characterization, and vocabulary activities.

Young scholars discuss the pre-reading focus questions. In this reading lesson, students discuss and explore the book cover and title. Young scholars predict what they will learn from this book. Additionally, students read to find out...

Students read The Tell Tale Heart and practice critical analysis while reflecting on its underlying meanings. In this reading lesson, students make predictions, monitor their own comprehension and adjust their reading accordingly....

Learners explore how to use field guides to identify wildlife.  In this nature lesson plan students construct their own plant field guide. 

Fifth graders explore the effects of war. In this American Revolution activity, 5th graders read My Brother Sam is Dead and complete the provided comprehension, characterization, and vocabulary activities

Third graders investigate guide words. In this library instructional activity, 3rd graders investigate guide words in reference materials and complete an alphabetizing worksheet.

Second graders read The Piano and become familiar with racial discrimination.  In this racial discrimination book lesson, 2nd graders answer comprehension question to focus on the importance of the book.  Students discuss the...

Students read about an immigrant family and participate in reading activities related to the book.  In this immigration book lesson, students answer question related to immigration and the book.

Students study the body systems and their functions.  In this human body lesson students research the Internet on body systems and write a description of them. 

Young scholars explore reading comprehension strategies. In this character development and reading comprehension lesson, students brainstorm common traits of "heroes." Young scholars read Heroes, then identify the personal conflicts the...

High schoolers analyze modernist poetry and the role of speaker in example poems. Learners study modernist poems from the Romanticism and Victorian periods as well as Wallace Stevens' "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird." Using a...

Third graders create a poster of a travel route. For this discrimination lesson, 3rd graders read The Gold Cadillac and use it to discuss the problems African Americans faced while traveling south in the 1950's. Students compare three...

Students complete activities based on All About Owls written by Jim Arnosky, Owl At Home written by Arnold Lobel, and Owl Moon written by Jane Yolen.

Fourth graders observe, plan, research, and create a field guide for the trees that are in their schoolyard. For this trees lesson plan, 4th graders make careful observations of what they see around their school and create a guide.

Ninth graders read and discuss part 1 of The Odyssey and create a mind map and visual images to represent vocabulary. In this reading lesson plan, 9th graders are introduced to poetry, and the Hero Cycle.

Students read the story Kate and the Beanstalk in order to compare and contrast this fractured tale to the original fairy tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. In this fairy tale reading instructional activity, students first discuss the...

Using a reading passage, this lesson plan leads learners through an exploration of a text. This activity focuses on identifying what the reading passage is about, its tone, and key elements.

Sit back, relax, and transport to 1787! This lesson on the Constitution begins with guided imagery of the Constitutional Convention. The class reads A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution in an...

Kindness and empathy can be as important as reading comprehension skills, especially for younger learners. Reinforce both with a lesson based on Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair by Jamee Riggio Heelan. As...

"I have here in my hand . . ." The war against Communism and Joseph McCarthy’s place in it are the focus of a series of lessons examining postwar America from 1945-1954. Joseph McCarthy takes center stage in this, the final...

Learners study the decisions and solutions involved in winning the right to vote. After reading background information on the fight for women's suffrage, including one woman's story, and its eventual success in the United States and...