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Batter Up
Students explore personal achievement by reading a children's book. In this story analysis lesson, students read the book Batter Up, by Sue Muller Hacking and discuss the main character in the story and the actions that she takes to meet...
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And Tomorrow's Forecast Is...
Students create original short stories that feature distinctive weather phenomena, such as rainbows, snowstorms, tornadoes, thunder and/or lightning. They use a story map, imbedded in this plane, to help them organize their story.
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Shizuko’s Daughter: Before, During, After Lesson Plan
Shizuko's Daughter by Kyoko Mori presents a vivid picture of Japanese culture and history. As kids read through the third chapter, they find novel-specific vocabulary to enhance their understanding and use context clues to...
Novelinks
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry: Concept/Vocab Analysis
Considering using Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry for book circles or whole-class study? First time teachers, and those who have used the text before, will find some interesting tidbits in this overview.
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Literary Analysis of Theme
Remember reading "The Lottery" and "The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson? Learners can experience and analyze the tension, themes, and human experience found in these pieces through reading and class discussion. They use...
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Read it and Remember it!
Young scholars are divided into small groups, read a section from an assigned book, and draw a picture of what they read.  They list the main characters, theme, setting, and plot of the book.  They share their information/drawings with...
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Aunt Chip And the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair
Students examine Patricia Polacco's web site as an introduction to her life and literature. They listen to "Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair" before discussing how the main character believe in the power of books. They...
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An Introduction to Citizenship and Sacrifice
Students are introduced to a simple review of citizenship and sacrifice though the lives of Washington and Lee. The lesson is portrayed as a play and fosters personal application opf the concepts revealed.
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Elements of Fiction
Students identify key story elements in a fiction text. In this literacy lesson, students are introduced to the various elements of fiction such as the setting, plot, and theme. Students read a short story of their choice and identify...
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The African-American Experience in the 20th Century through the Art and Life of Jacob Lawrence and the Novels of Bruce Brooks a
Students attempt to answer how African-American, Latino, and white students address race relations in the United States in the future.
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Story Webbing: Tennessee Blueprint
In this Tennessee Blueprint worksheet, 6th graders complete a story web for Tennessee Blueprint including setting, characters, point of view, and more. Students complete 9 sections.
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Musicians and Vampires
Students practice techniques and strategies for understanding the parts of a story to help them remember what they've read. They review and analyze the elements of a story and how to find them first in a paragraph and then in a book.
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Story Elements
Eighth graders identify six story elements (setting, characters, character traits, plot, resolution, and point of view) and create short stories utilizing all six elements. They are introduced to story elements as the things that make up...
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Colors, Characters, & Clues
Students investigate inferences. They define inference, view a Powerpoint presentation, answer questions about a picture book, and identify clues throughout the story as examples of inferences.
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What's My Job?: comprehension skills
In this comprehension skills worksheet, 2nd graders read the book What's My Job? and complete comprehension activities. Students complete 5 activities including setting, character traits, summarizing, main idea/details, and drawing...
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Colors, Characters, & Clues: White Socks
Students examine the process of making inferences. They define inference, view a Powerpoint presentation, and as a whole group locate clues in the pictures of a short story, locating written clues to reinforce their conclusions.
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What? You want me to read AND enjoy it?
Learners appreciate independent reading through learning about authors and genre.
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It's Raining Meatballs
Students observe and demonstrate the process of summarization using the book "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" by Judi Barrett.  They silently read the story, and as a class discuss the five W's.  Students then write a short summary of...
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A Comparison of the Play and Movie "Inherit the Wind"
Students read the play "Inherit the Wind" about the Scopes "Monkey" Trial.  In groups, they choose their favorite scene and create a diorama dipicting the scene as they see it.  They watch a recording of the play and compare it to their...
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Word Choice: Lose and Loose
For this word choice worksheet, students fill in blanks in a set of 20 sentences with the appropriate choice: lose or loose. Online version link available.
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Cell Swelling and Shrinking
Students examine the concept of osmosis in relation to dehydration.  They identify the function and structure of semi-permable membranes.  They predict how certain processes can affect the characteristics of an organism.
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Writing for Different Purposes and Audiences
Third graders explore how to write for different purposes and for a specific audience or person. They read, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Students create a class book after reading the story. They each create their own...
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Fearlessness and Confidence
Students develop confidence to face up to problems and fears in order to deal with them safely.  They recognize that family and friends should care for each other.  Students go through a series of activities that they interact with,...
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Rollin' Down the River
Young scholars examine the contributions of Lewis and Clark. In this Louisiana Purchase lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the Lewis and Clark expedition.