Curated OER
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle: Graphic Organizer
After completing the first five chapters of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle By Avi, use direct quotes to make inferences about how Charlotte feels about certain characters. Later, when the novel has concluded, revisit...
Bierbaum Elementary School
Practicing Patience
As teachers, we have a lot of patience. Our scholars, on the other hand, may need some support. Give your pupils the emotional intelligence instruction they desire with a lesson designed to teach patience through grand conversation,...
It's About Time
Taking a Ride on a Lithospheric Plate
Assist your pupils and broaden their horizons with several activities that determine the exact positioning of various communities over the globe. Pupils use data from the Global Positioning System to determine the position and rate of...
Learning to Give
The Beginning of the Storm
Introduce readers to Mildred Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry with a lesson that sets the context for the novel. Class members research the bigotry in Mississippi during the Great Depression and identify examples in the story of how...
Reed Novel Studies
Fourth Grade Rats: Novel Study
Things sure change in year's time. Suds, from Fourth Grade Rats, went from a third grade angel to a fourth grade rat! Although he is not necessarily happy with his new self, he worries he will lose his popularity. Learners complete...
Reed Novel Studies
Jake and Lily: Novel Study
Just how strong is a twins' bond? Jake and Lily, in a novel by the same name, have a powerful bond until they turn 11. Then, everything changes. As scholars read about twin trouble, they learn eight new vocabulary words, create...
Reed Novel Studies
The Year of Billy Miller: Novel Study
Can you really knock the sense into someone? It seems that the bump on Billy's head changed his perspective on things in The Year of Billy Miller. Readers discover that after his injury, Billy appreciates his parents more and is nicer to...
Curated OER
What Were They Thinking Then, What Are We Thinking Now?
Choosing an issue from a play or novel, researchers find two primary sources from different time periods to compare how people's views have changed. Many questions are listed to guide young writers. In the end, learners produce a...
Curated OER
When A Story Met A Sandwich
How is a story like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Use making a sandwich as a metaphor to remind your writers that a good, solid beginning, a rich and rewarding middle, and an ending that brings everything together spices up a...
Curated OER
Feathers
First graders examine the character values of kindness, responsibility, and decisions making by playing circle games, listening to a read aloud of the story "Feathers," and discussing the story. They discuss the facial expressions of can...
Curated OER
Half Man, Half Limping Rabbit
Students examine the possible advantages of mortality over immortality. They explain how or why change can be a powerful and positive force and that sometimes the beauty of a country, or of a culture, is not always obvious to the people...
Curated OER
Who am I?
Learners develop their writing skills by creating a character sketch about themselves. Students read character sketches, view portraits by famous artists, select one personality traits, and affix a mug shot of themselves into a famous...
Curated OER
Split Character Studies in Crime and Punishment
Students identify characters who exhibit conflicting character traits. In this Crime and Punishment lesson, students identify and discuss characters who have opposing character traits. Students relate their character study to...
Literacy Design Collaborative
To Be or Not to Be: The Evolution of Hamlet’s Personality
How does Hamlet's state of mind change over the course of Shakespeare's most famous revenge tragedy? After a close reading of Hamlet's soliloquies in Act III, scene 1 and Act IV, scene iv, class members engage in a Paideia/Socratic...
Simon & Schuster
Classroom Activities for The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
A 15-page packet includes detailed plans for three activities related to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. To gather background information, class members research topics and create a newspaper page reporting their findings. After finishing...
Curated OER
Learning to Analyze Characters
Students discover writing strategies authors use to enhance characters. In this character writing activity, students are read the Knuffle Bunny books by Mo Willems and analyze the story, characters and settings as they listen....
Curated OER
Famous People
Pupils discuss character and character traits that people admire and do not admire. They research people who have made significant contributions to society using the Internet, encyclopedia and library to determine characteristics they...
Curated OER
Chinese Zodiac
Fifth graders identify the basic elements of a narrative story, such as the beginning, middle, and the end; to analyze the character traits in the story to write a summary using the 5 Ws and How chart included; through sample stories...
Curated OER
Discipline vs. Self-Discipline
Students explore self-discipline. In this character education instructional activity, students define and give examples of discipline and self-discipline. Students work with a group to complete a related concept map.
Curated OER
Spookley the Square Pumpkin
Students complete activities with the story Spookley the Square Pumpkin. In this holiday lesson, students listen to the story and create their own Spookley pumpkin with Popsicle sticks and paints. They use their character counts traits...
Curated OER
Preparing the Soil
Middle schoolers explore philanthropy through literature. In this service learning lesson, students consider character traits as they read Seedfolks. Middle schoolers record their notes regarding the characters in the story of a...
Curated OER
Heroes
Students demonstrate racial awareness. In this diversity instructional activity, students read the book Heroes by Ken Mochizuki. Students participate in a discussion about how the character was discriminated against. A follow-up reading...
Curated OER
The Brand New Kid
Second graders explore cultural differences through reading. In this culture lesson, 2nd graders read the book The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric. Students discuss scenes from the book and how the character feels. Student get with a...
Curated OER
Role Model Medal
Students investigate positive female role models. In this Women's History Month lesson, students read the book Mama Went to Jail for the Vote and think about how the character was a role model for other women. Students brainstorm a woman...