Lesson Plan
Literacy Design Collaborative

In Pursuit of Happiness

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
What ideas and philosophies guided the Transcendentalist movement in America? Scholars explore the topic, reading texts by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Additionally, they write essays comparing the authors' structural...
Lesson Plan
Academy of American Poets

Teach This Poem: "When Giving Is All We Have" by Alberto Ríos

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What makes giving meaningful? Class members discuss this question, then listen to Alberto Rios reading his poem, "When Giving Is All We Have." Finally, the class considers what the poet says about the question.
Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Water/Ways: The Poetry of Science

For Teachers 1st - 12th Standards
Water is the source of life. It appears in poetry in both peaceful and torrential descriptions; it appears in earth science in its liquid, gaseous, and solid states. Combine these interpretations of our planet's most precious and...
Activity
Shmoop

ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.10

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Assess whether your class members can comprehend complex informational text with a series of drills based on selections from Emerson, Thoreau, and G.K. Chesterton. The exercises could also be used for group work or a full-class discussion.
Interactive
Curated OER

Thoreau, Emerson, and Transcendentalism

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, learners respond to 13 multiple choice questions based on the Transcendentalist literary movement. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Poetry, Take Me Away!

For Teachers 5th
Students explore a variety of poetry and poetry concepts. They examine figurative language, mood, and literary devices. The students write and recite their own poetry.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Literature of Democracy

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders analyze how American literature shows a lot of different genres. In groups, 11th graders create a short report about the passage they have chosen.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Anonymous Patriots: Songs of the Revolution

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Give your class a deeper understanding of the context and meaning behind early American song lyrics. By reading the lyrics to "Yankee Doodle" and  "Revolutionary Tea," high schoolers will practice analysis by examining the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Experiencing Nature

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students create their own landscapes based on the topography of their region after studying the artwork of Cincinnati-based artist William Sonntag and other "Hudson River School" artists.
PPT
Curated OER

The Evolution of Transcendentalism

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Key concepts, major writers, and historical events related to Transcendentalism are explored in a student-produced PowerPoint about this movement. The presentation could be used as an introduction to a unit or as a model that class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Six Trait Writing with Jonathan Swift and Washington Irving

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders demonstrate and evaluate the six traits of writing. They read and identify good writing and bad writing, utilize a rubric to self-evaluate their own writing, participate in a Reader's Theater, and publish a class book.
Interactive
Curated OER

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

For Students 9th - 12th
For this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 10 multiple choice questions about Sparks's The Notebook. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Louisa May Alcott

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore life of author Louisa May Alcott, define Transcendentalism, discuss the children's books Alcott wrote, read two selections she wrote, and compare the writing style of one of her children's stories with a story she wrote...
eBook
University of Michigan

American Verse Project: Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of the Humanities Initiative American Verse Collection, this resource offers links to more than fifty poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Activity
The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rwe.org: Timeline of Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
A chronology of events in the life of Ralph Waldo Emerson and his associates. Also includes information about Emerson's philosophy, speaking engagements, and publications.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Spirit of Nationalism: Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
This features a brief biography of Ralph Waldo Emerson, an optimistic Transcendentalist author who's personal life was filled with tragedy. See "Ralph Waldo Emerson Activities" for related materials.
Primary
Repeat After Us

Repeat After Us: "Compensation" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
[To hear audio, use Chrome browser.] This site offers the text and audio of the poem "Compensation" by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Primary
Repeat After Us

Repeat After Us: "Concord Hymn" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
[To hear audio, use Chrome browser.] This site offers the text and audio of the poem "Concord Hymn" by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Primary
Repeat After Us

Repeat After Us: "Days" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
[To hear audio, use Chrome browser.] This site offers the text and audio of the poem "Days" by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Primary
Repeat After Us

Repeat After Us: "Each and All" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
[To hear audio, use Chrome browser.] This site offers the text and audio of the poem "Each and All" by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Primary
Repeat After Us

Repeat After Us: "Eros" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
[To hear audio, use Chrome browser.] This site offers the text and audio of the poem "Eros" by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Primary
Repeat After Us

Repeat After Us: "Fable" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
[To hear audio, use Chrome browser.] This site offers the text and audio of the poem "Fable" by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Primary
Repeat After Us

Repeat After Us: "Forerunners" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
[To hear audio, use Chrome browser.] This site offers the text and audio of the poem "Forerunners" by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Primary
Repeat After Us

Repeat After Us: "Give All to Love" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
[To hear audio, use Chrome browser.] This site offers the text and audio of the poem "Give All to Love" by Ralph Waldo Emerson.