Curated OER
Black Bayou Lake Short Story
Tenth graders use Microsoft Word to create an original short story. The setting must be Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The characters must be animals found at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The story must contain...
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Writing Ghost Stories Using Encounter With a Skull As a Model
Students explore the elements of a ghost story and cautionary tales. The story, "Encounter With a Skull" is read and used as a model for their own story creations. The values and belief systems of various cultures are examined.
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Let's Build a Trucking Story
Students study the occupation of truck driving and transportation. In this transportation activity, students identify an item that was transported to the classroom. Students identify key elements in the transportation process and listen...
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Using Photography To Enhance A Story
Students read text and study examples of good usable photography for newspapers. They see how to crop photos for maximum effect, and to better tell the story. They tell a sports story by choosing the best and fewer photos that have the...
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The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
Students explore "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. In this literature instructional activity, students read the story and take notes. Students choose a literary element such as character, setting, or theme....
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Comparison and Contrast - D.H. Lawrence
Students explore "The Rocking Horse Winner" and "The Horse Dealer's Daughter" by D. H. Lawrence. In this literature instructional activity, students read these short stories. Students write an essay comparing the two stories according to...
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Creative Coin Stories
Students participate in a round-robin writing activity started from a single writing prompt. Different coins be worked into the story throughout the course of the activity.
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Problem & Solution Diagram
For this graphic organizer worksheet, learners identify the key elements in a piece of literature. Students fill out the chart with the story's problem, character's goal, key events and the resolution.
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Plot and Conflict
Students listen to a short story by Mildred Taylor entitled, "Song of the Trees." They focus on and discuss the elements of plot and conflict. They determine which events are examples of the central conflict and which elements of the...
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Writing Drama-Trying Your Hand at being a Playwright
Fifth graders chart the elements of drama. In this performing arts lesson, 5th graders discuss the role of a playwrite, practice doing some Reader's Theatre scripts, write a paragraph about a problem between two people, and perform...
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Break Down
Fourth graders apply their understanding of the elements of plot structure and conflict to cooperatively create storyboards and speak effectively as they present their products. They create storyboards for some of the classic Disney...
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Things Aren't Always What They Seem
Students use video and the Internet to make predictions, draw conclusions, determine conflict and point of view while reading a short story. For this short story analysis lesson, students watch a related video and complete a prediction...
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Essay on Themes
Students read the book THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London and discuss the different elements in the book. They then write an essay on a theme providing examples backing up their main point of their essay.
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Writing the Mystery with a Purpose
Students present the outline of the mystery story they are writing while working in reciprocal teaching groups. They respond to group members writing before they continue to finish revisions.
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What is News?
Eighth graders discover elements that make a story newsworthy. They play an online game about newsworthy stories and complete a worksheet with partners. They also examine the difference between facts and opinions.
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Reading the Movies: Another Approach To Teaching Critical Thinking Skills And Writing
Young scholars explore the elements of film to analyze character, action, and the themes in the movie, "Quiz Show." The lesson encourages students to make personal connections and real life applications as they view the movie, critically.
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Cinderella Cinderella
Students compare and contrast various versions of the story Cinderella and create their own version. They read versions of Cinderella and identify their components including setting, characters, events/plot, magic and biographical...
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The Cause & Effect Model
Students analyze the plot of the story, "The Little Engine That Could" to provide a model for writing creatively, developing critical essays, producing themes, and making predictions.
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Translation Into Reality
Students read a variety of short stories that focus on teenage protagonists. In groups, they answer comprehension questions and discuss the characters and setting for each story. Individually, they choose one writing assignment to...
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Literature Study Contracts
Learners complete activities with a leveled chapter book. In this literature instructional activity, students read a novel and complete several graphic organizers and activities as they read. They focus on characters, settings,...
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Theme vs. Topic
Students use Aesop's fables to examine theme and topic. In this theme and topic lesson, students read different fables and discussing as a class. After hearing more stories students work in pairs to determine the theme or topic.
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Seems Like a Million Bucks
Students explore philanthropy. In this service learning lesson plan, students read Sam and the Lucky Moon, identify the elements of the story, and examine the benefits and costs of giving.
Digital Public Library of America
Teaching Guide: Exploring To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, considered by many to be a seminal piece of American literature, contains many complex literary themes that carry through United States history. Use a series of discussion questions and classroom...
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Explore your Culture through Storytelling
Explore the cultural heritage through of your class through reading, writing, and speaking exercises. They create illustrated mini-books that express their unique cultural and personal experiences. They share their stores with the class...