Curated OER
Early Industrialization
Eighth graders analyze primary source documents emphasizing young people in factory labor (mill workers during 1840-1860). They study hours of labor, ages of laborers, reasons for working, and working conditions. They write a poem or song.
Curated OER
Literature: Isabel Allende
Students watch and respond to a Bill Moyers Now video on the Chilean author, Isabel Allende. They brainstorm a list of recent events that might inspire writers and choose one to write about in poetic, diary, or short story form.
Curated OER
Poet Naomi Shihab Nye
Learners read and analyze poetry by Naomi Shihab Nye. They define stereotypes, view and discuss a video interview with Nye, present an oral reading of a poem, and write a persuasive letter to an author.
Curated OER
The Hurricane
Students analyze three different ways a story is told, determine truth and fiction in each story, and discover and apply techniques to narrate a good story.
Students listen to Bob Dylan's "The Hurricane" and watch the "R" rated movie,...
Curated OER
Dude, I'm Interviewing the President
Student define issues and questions they would discuss with a president. Learners read "Bill and Leo's Excellent Encounter". Students choose famous personalities, research their celebrity, and create a mock interview with them.
Curated OER
Do You Agree?
Young scholars recognize bias in a political cartoon, evaluate how the media uses both positive and/or negative political cartoons, and assess the influence a political cartoon can have on a person.
National First Ladies' Library
Language Arts: The Rise of the Operetta
Students develop an appreciation for the musical theater form, the operetta. In addition, they present parodies of songs from The Mikado. Working in small groups and accessing provided Websites, they compose their parodies. Once...
Curated OER
Creating a Comic Strip
Students examine various comic strips for their elements of humour, plot, drawing style, and basic design; they then create their own comic strip.
Curated OER
The Red Badge of Courage: A New Kind of Courage
Students examine how Stephen Crane treats the process by which a youth matures in his novel the Red Badge of Courage. They study how he exemplifies manly virtues associated with soldiers in war and examine the three endings that were...
Curated OER
Shrek
Students watch the movie Shrek and compose a text that displays an understanding of the film. Also, they create writing that reflects a critical analysis of content and a personal interpretation of the film's meaning.
Curated OER
Nomination Speech
Students research and American author and nominate them for an award. They determine significant accomplishments of their author's career and life. They access the Biography Resource Center and research their author.
Curated OER
The New Statesman (1987-1992)
Students study the work of the House of Commons and consider the importance of debate in the legislative process. They consider why politics is a popular subject for television sitcom and other formats. They explore the four main...
iCivics
I Civics: Mini Lesson B: Satire
Students explore how satirical news stories, like political cartoons, are meant to poke fun, not to trick people. Students learn to spot satire and understand both the joke and the purpose of this news-related genre.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: Benjamin Franklin's Satire of Witch Hunting
Lesson uses primary resource to explore Benjamin Franklin's satire of a witch trial and his argument that human affairs should be guided, above all, by reason.
Library of Congress
Loc: Lesson Plans: Political Cartoons: Finding Point of View
Lesson plan on analyzing a political cartoon that satirizes the Stamp Act.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Exploring Satire With the Simpsons
Contains plans for three lessons that use the popular television show "The Simpsons" to teach about satire and satirical techniques. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to PDF handouts and...
PBS
Pbs: Political Analysis Through Satire
A instructional activity that asks students to examine and analyze examples of political satire, then to compare and contrast how journalism and satire address political candidates and issues. The instructional activity includes...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: From Dr. Seuss to Jonathan Swift
Contains plans for three lessons that use Dr. Seuss?s "The Butter Battle Book" to introduce satire in Jonathan Swift?s "Gulliver?s Travels." In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to PDF handouts...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Exploring Satire With Shrek
The movie Shrek introduces the satirical techniques of exaggeration, incongruity, reversal, and parody. Students brainstorm fairy tale characteristics, identify satirical techniques, then create their own satirical versions of fairy tales.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: The Political Dr. Seuss (Lesson Plans)
Go directly to two lesson plans that help students explore how the cartoons of Dr. Seuss reflected the political and social issues of his day. Lessons also direct students to examine broader issues associated with political cartooning,...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Analyzing the Stylistic Choices of Political Cartoonists
Contains plans for four to five 50-minute lessons about analyzing political cartoons. In addition to student objectives and standards, these instructional plans contains links to PDF handouts and links to sites used in the lessons as...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Poetry: Varying Views of America
Lesson allows students to examine the various views of American perspective through studying three poems by diverse poets: "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman, "I, Too, Sing America" by Langston Hughes, and "On the Pulse of Morning"...
British Library
British Library: Wilde's the Importance of Being Earnest: A Close Reading
For this lesson, students will consider several aspects of Oscar Wilde's most popular of comedies, "The Importance of Being Earnest". The success of this play is in part due to its examination of moral principles - in this case, the...
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Alexander Pope
Explore the world of Alexander Pope through the links found in this informative resource. This site provides links to biographical information and lesson plans for "The Rape of Lock."