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Pre-Reading Preparation
Students explore a given historical fiction story. In groups, they research selected topics dealing with the story and determine what is fiction and what is fact. Students create a multimedia presentation about their findings and...
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Hurry On Your Trip Cat
Student increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing strategies for becoming good readers, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed...
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The Catcher in the Rye: Biopoem
Here’s a catchy way to study characterization. Readers of The Catcher in the Rye select a character from Salinger’s classic tale to use as the subject of a biopoem. A teacher sample is provided.
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Creating Characters
High schoolers examine the methods of effective characterization. In this writing skills instructional activity, students discuss how emotions, dialogue, actions, and physical descriptions build believable characters. High schoolers then...
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Yellow Bird and Me
Upper elementary artists create works which demonstrate an understanding of the many elements of theater and the visual arts. This four-day plan combines many wonderful aspects of visual, musical, and theatrical arts into one very...
The New York Times
Dark Materials: Reflecting on Dystopian Themes in Young Adult Literature
The Hunger Games. Maximum Ride. Why is so much of young adult literature so dark? What is the appeal of dystopian literature to young readers? The six activities in this resource ask kids to reflect on some of the reasons this genre has...
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Harry Potter and the Spellbound Children
Help your class explore the world of Harry Potter. Learners visit selected websites to learn the background about the book series, discover details about the marketing of the books, and investigate book banning.
National First Ladies' Library
Save the Animals: The Creation of the ASPCA
Students read Black Beauty and study the history of the founding of the ASPCA and learn about endangered species today. Then they write a short paper about the book, or on some aspect of the history of the ASPCA, and, after exploring the...
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Read On
Young scholars consider the question "Why do we read?" through creating and sharing individual timelines of their own histories as readers. They then choose a book on which to write a personal essay.
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BOOK REVIEW
Students review a book by choosing one word to describe each element and then combining it into one sentence.
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Its All In The Delivery
Students investigate the concept of different words and how they are used in specific texts. They develop scripts based upon readings and then design props and costumes to act out the new text. Students read to one another using the...
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Art Mystery
Young scholars explore famous artists in order to write mystery stories incorporating their life and works. They write their own based on their research of a particular artist.
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"The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton
Students estimate the distance in miles between Tulsa, Oklahoma and Manhattan, Kansas. They gather and graph data on gangs in both areas.
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Diversity - Grade 8
Eighth graders consider the diversity of the First Nations cultures in Canada. In this cultural diversity lesson, 8th graders research the cultural groups of the First Nations as well as their contributions to Canadian society. Students...
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Scientific Scenes
Students discover how the public's perceptions of science have changed throughout recent history; then research scientific and technological breakthroughs in a variety of areas. They then create plays that allow scientists to encounter...
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Adjectives
Learners list adjectives to describe Anakin, his cloak and the mood of the poster to write an adjective-rich description. They then sort the adjectives into categories of what they describe: people, places, or things.
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Characterization Group Search
In this characterization activity, students identify the traits harbored by a character in a work of literature. Students work cooperatively to locate proof that the character exhibits these traits and then vote on the accuracy of...
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Plot Diagram
In this plot diagram worksheet, students fill in a diagram: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. Worksheet is designed to be used with an interactive whiteboard.