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American Literature Authors and Their Works
Students match American Literature authors with their short stories, poems, and books. In this American Literature lesson plan, students are given an overview of the authors and their main works. Then students independently do a...
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Learning to Share
Students participate in a instructional activity/activity where they learn to share their toys and crayons. They listen to a short story about sharing read aloud by the teacher to the students. They discuss the questions in the story...
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Your Future Occupation
Middle schoolers write a story about themselves as the main character in a work situation. In this writing perspectives activity, students brainstorm about their future occupation. Middle schoolers then use themselves as the main...
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The Easter Celebration
Students read a short story about Easter. They recognize and point to pictures of the key words (egg, chicken, rabbit, basket, flower). They make an Easter basket and count how many chickens can fit inside. They also practice identifying...
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Hyperbole
Students define the term hyperbole and determine when it is appropriate to use hyperboles in writing. They work in pairs to develop short stories and poems with examples of hyperboles.
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Creative Writing Inspired by Paintings
Third graders view a PowerPoint presentation of the images by Maxfield Parrish. They wirte a short story based on one image and create drawings of an imagined character.
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Ivanov Goes to Moscow
Young scholars complete a unit on the play, "Ivanov" by Chekhov. They read and analyze the play, write a short story, watch a film of the play, complete a data sheet, and conduct a debate.
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Amazing Speeches
Students study the speeches of Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, and Chief Joseph. Students write a story set during the Nineteenth Century Era. Students present their story to the class. Handouts and worksheets are included in the...
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Animals: Here and Now
Discuss and identify natural habitats of animals commonly found in zoos. The class constructs and displays small "zoo like" models to show a chosen animal habitat. They write a short story or diary about an animal or pet of their choice....
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Model Lesson Plans
Ninth graders study how to identify and analyze the use of figurative language used in selected poems, short stories or other pieces of prose chosen by the teacher. These pieces of literature represent at least two pieces by one writer...
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A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
Students, after reading the book, "Esperanza Rising," create a virtual display by combining different story elements into a visual representation. They choose the setting and characters of a scene that will act as a springboard of ideas...
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Understanding Character
Students are introduced to literary elements and definitions in the worksheet Understanding Character but reading through each of the elements and definitions aloud. They read the story, "La Bamba" and identify examples of the literary...
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Vivid Adjectives
Students review adjectives and play a game where students compete to see who can write the most adjectives for a given noun. They write a story about one topic and try to use a variety of adjectives in sequence tto describe a noun.
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Nadine Gordimer's Town and Country Lovers
Students are introduced to Nadine Gordimer's Town and Country Lovers in the context of the acts of apartheid. They analyze Gordimer's depiction of racist legislation at its most intimate levels. Students assess how to weave a political...
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"The Cask of Amontillado" Study Guide
In this study guide worksheet, students complete 10 vocabulary definitions, 8 literary terms definitions and 11 short answer questions about the story.
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Nibble, Nibble, Little Mouse
Students complete activities to analyze points of view in different texts. For this point of view lesson, students read Hansel and Gretel and The Magic Circle and discuss the points of view. Students choose a character from the story and...
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The Element of Color
Eighth graders study and analyze the elements of color by creating an personalized color wheel. Emphasis is placed on constructive criticism of student work by others for assessment. Students create short poems for their color wheel...
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Debunking the Myth of the American West
Students participate in a close reading. They examine the text closely for implied and hidden meaning, dissect the story to understand the text as a written craft, and discuss significant details and overall meaning of story. They...
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Christmas Around the World
Students learn how other countries celebrate Christmas. In this Christmas lesson, students read a story about Christmas celebrations in other countries, discuss how they differ from U.S. celebrations, color pictures of traditional...
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"Standing Woman" by Yasutaka Tsutsui
Students explore the key concepts of the story, "Standing Woman" which portrays futuristic settings, and the search for artificial happiness. Parallels are drawn to Orwell's "Brave New World" and the movie, "Solent Green."
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Picture Prompt: Island Kids
In this picture writing worksheet, students practice writing a short story on their own after being given a picture prompt of island kids. Students choose a few of their words from a word bank generated by the teacher.
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Picture Prompt: Frog And Dog
In this prompt writing worksheet, students practice writing an original short story after being given a picture prompt of a frog and a dog. Students choose a few of their words from a word band generated from the teacher.
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Picture Prompt: Frog And Dog
In this picture prompt learning exercise, students write a short story after being shown a picture prompt of a frog and a dog. Students choose a few of their words from a word bank generated by the teacher.
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Picture Prompt: Skunk In Mailbox
In this picture prompt learning exercise, students practice writing their own short story by viewing the picture prompt of a skunk in a mailbox. Students choose some of their words from a word list generated by the teacher.