Alabama Department of Archives and History
How Would You Feel? The Bravery of Civil Disobedience
As part of their study of the US Civil Rights Movement and the Montgomery bus boycott, class members read Dr. Martin Luther King's "Integrated Bus Suggestions." They then craft a short story about the first week of Montgomery bus...
Curated OER
Sound/Story
Young scholars combine creativity with the rigor of careful editing by adding music to their story. It forces them to focus on how they communicate the meaning of their story to the listener.
EngageNY
Developing Reading Fluency: Criteria for Reading Aloud
Third graders develop their reading superpowers in a lesson plan on fluency. After first listening to an audio recording or teacher read aloud, the class works together identifying criteria for fluent reading, focusing on phrasing, rate,...
IPDAE
Themes in Short Stories
"What is the theme of this story?" The very question can spark fear in the minds of readers and incinerate confidence. Here you will discover an exercise that shows how writers use the tools of setting, plot, conflict, and...
Curated OER
Act it Out: Dramatizing Asian American Stories
Read and act out folktales, fairy tales, or myths from various Asian American cultures with your class. Each group reads a story aloud and then works together to create a short play or skit about the story. Suggestions for stories are...
Curated OER
Introduce Reading Connected Text
Get your scholars ready to read their first story...with a little assistance, of course. Projecting the short story (included) for all readers to see, point to each word so they can sound it out together. The strategy here is not to have...
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension: "The Transfers"
Get ready for state testing with this resource! First, read the short story "The Transfers." Then, answer the questions that follow. While there are quite a few advanced vocabulary words, they are easy to understand in context. A great...
Curated OER
In Search of Self: Adolescent Themes in the Twentieth Century Short Story
Students read short stories that are related to adolescent issues and behaviors. In groups, they review the elements of a short story and vocabulary they might need while reading. To end the lesson, they read "Sir Tatton Sykes"...
Curated OER
Intermediate Short Stories - "A Paper for School"
In these short stories worksheets, students read the basic and advanced version of the story 'A Paper for School.' Students answer 3 comprehension questions and 4 vocabulary questions.
Curated OER
Beginning Short Stories - "A Call to the Pool"
In these short stories worksheet, students read the basic and advanced version of the story "A Call to the Pool." Students then answer 3 comprehension and vocabulary questions.
Curated OER
Beginning Short Stories - "Who Knows My Name?"
In these short stories instructional activity, students read the basic and advanced version of the story "Who Knows My Name?" Students then answer 3 comprehension and vocabulary questions.
Curated OER
Intermediate Short Stories - "Driving Directions"
In this short stories activity, students read the basic and advanced version of the story "Driving Directions." Students then answer 4 comprehension and 2 vocabulary questions.
Curated OER
Intermediate Short Stories - "The Singing Bird"
In this short stories learning exercise, students read the basic and advanced version of the story "The Singing Bird." Students then answer 4 comprehension and 6 vocabulary questions.
Maine Content Literacy Project
The Process of Reading vocabulary, literary elements
Cover Freytag's Triangle and examine Anton Chekhov's "The Bet" in this third lesson plan in a series of fourteen based around short stories. Learners take a quiz and discuss Freytag's triangle. They apply the triangle to "The Bet" and...
Curated OER
Dracula: Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA)
“There are often dangers from snow and wolves and night.” Bram Stoker’s “Dracula’s Guest,” which may or may not have been the first chapter of the original Dracula manuscript, is the focus of a Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA).
K5 Learning
Ned and Rover and Jack
This isn't your ordinary short story with questions; it's actually two tales in one. First, find out what happens with Ned and Rover, then switch characters to discover the what happens between Jack and Rover.
Curated OER
A Fantasy Story: Baby Bear's Space Journey
Give this literacy activity to your beginning readers to help them draw out key details and retell in their own words. They read a short fantasy story about a bear in space which includes dialogue, onomatopoeia, and a simple story line....
Curated OER
What's the Point of View?
What is the point of view? Sixth graders discuss third person limited and omniscient perspectives while reading several short stories. Then, complete a worksheet and share findings with peers.
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension: Test-taking version
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students explore and analyze test taking techniques, read a short story and then answer eight comprehension questions.
Curated OER
Running Reading Comprehension - Short Stories
In this short story comprehension worksheet, students read the short story about running and answer 5 comprehension multiple choice questions and 5 vocabulary multiple choice questions.
Curated OER
The Storm Reading Comprehension - Short Stories
In this short story comprehension learning exercise, students read a short story about "The Storm" and answer 5 comprehension multiple choice questions and 5 vocabulary multiple choice questions.
Curated OER
Understanding Short Stories and Their Elements
Students identify short story elements. In this story elements lesson, students review vocabulary about the elements of a story and then practice finding the elements in the short story links.
Curated OER
Building Fiction: Elements of a Short Story
Students define and interpret the elements found in a short story. Then they identify the elements of plot found in a short story. Students also apply knowledge of plot to an original work of fiction. Finally, they identify the...
Curated OER
Creepy Read Week
Here's a clever technology twist to writing in the round. Participants rotate through a series of computers adding to stories and editing by keystroke and mouse click. "Locked" forms prevent the loss of stories filled with suspense and...