Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Early Chicago Environment and People [Pdf]

For Teachers 6th
"Early Chicago Environment and People" is a one page, nonfiction passage about the early Native Americans who settled in what is now Chicago. It is followed by questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it...
Website
Other

A Calendar for "Northanger Abbey"

For Students 9th - 10th
This analysis of Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey" examines the function of time in the plot using an day-by-day calendar to summarize the events of the story. Includes a bibliography.
Article
Mythweb

Mythweb: Jason

For Students 3rd - 8th
Fun, illustrated trip through the story of "Jason and the Argonauts." Well-suited for younger audiences. Each page summarizes a part of the story along with a very eye-catching illustration.
Website
Mythweb

Mythweb: Bellerophon

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Fun, illustrated trip through the story of "Bellerophon" from Greek mythology. Well-suited for younger audiences. Each page summarizes a part of the story along with a very eye-catching, animated illustration.
Website
Mythweb

Mythweb: Theseus

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Fun, illustrated trip through the story of Theseus from Greek mythology. Well-suited for younger audiences. Each page summarizes a part of the story along with a very eye-catching, animated illustration.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Mythology and the Odyssey: Myth Summary

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson summarizes two myths: Baucis and Philemon, an old couple who took in and cared for Zeus and Hermes who were pretending to be humans and were rewarded for their good deeds; and the story of why we have seasons due to Hades...
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Literary Elements

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart allows students to be actively engaged in identifying and describing story elements. It uses the Learning Focus lesson plan format, such as an activator, graphic organizers, modeling,...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Leo Lionni's Little Blue and Little Yellow

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students will use Leo Lionni's literature and his website to learn about the author, mix primary colors, summarize and rewrite a story, and use graphing skills to determine the classes' favorite color.
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Why Is Community Service Important? [Pdf]

For Teachers 8th
"Why is Community Service Important?" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage is part of a report that the Obama-Biden campaign prepared about service and volunteering. It is followed by questions which require students to provide...
Website
Other

Reading Quest: Making Sense of Social Studies

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Teaching students to read well in areas other than language arts requires teaching and reinforcing the kinds of reading strategies taught here. There are 27 strategies, ranging from brainstorming to word mapping. The site includes PDF...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Little Red Hen [Pdf]

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
"The Little Red Hen" is a one page fable about the other animals not helping the little red hen plant wheat, harvest it, or bake the bread, so they did not get to eat it either. It is followed by constructed-response questions which...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Learn About Egypt [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
"Learn about Egypt" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about Egypt including its history and it's problems. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes:...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Learn About South Africa [Pdf]

For Teachers 8th Standards
"Learn about South Africa" is a one page, nonfiction passage about South Africa and its fight to end the apartheid. It is followed by questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes underlining the most...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Difficult Journey [Pdf]

For Teachers 8th
"The Difficult Journey" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about the hardships of a family of early settlers moving West in a wagon train. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The History Mystery [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th
"The History Mystery" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a teacher who made history more interesting by treating it like a mystery. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Prairie Project [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th
"The Prairie Project" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about students who learn about the prairie, take a field trip to see one, and then plant one on the school grounds. It is followed by constructed-response questions which...
Unit Plan
McGraw Hill

Mc Graw Hill: Informational Text: Determine Central Idea and Supporting Details

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
To understand a text, you must understand the central idea of the story. Learn how to recognize the central idea and supporting details with this article. Click the links at bottom right.
Unknown Type
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Nature's Violet Children [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 5th Standards
"Nature's Violet Children" is a one page, folktale about violets who were sad because a little girl picked them and took them home. It is followed by open-ended questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it...
Unknown Type
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Difficult Journey [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 5th
"The Difficult Journey" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about the hardships of a family moving west in a wagon train. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from the story;...
Graphic
BBC

Bbc: 60 Second Shakespeare: Julius Caesar

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents The Tragedy of Julius Caesar summarized in a one-page newspaper. The 'All about writing' link at the bottom takes you to a page of learning activities, e.g., how to create a photo-story or how to write a script for a 60-second...
Unknown Type
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: My First Baseball Game With Q&a [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 5th Standards
"My First Baseball Game" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a boy and his sister going to their first baseball game and learning what it means to be Chicago Cubs fans. It is followed by constructed-response questions which...
Unknown Type
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Cloud [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 5th Standards
"The Cloud" is a one-page, folktale about a cloud who moved closer to the earth, despite warnings that it would die, to save the drought-stricken plants and animals. It is followed by questions which require students to provide evidence...
Activity
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Columbus and the Egg [Pdf]

For Students 6th - 8th
"Columbus and the Egg" is a one page, historical fictional passage about Christopher Columbus's return to Spain after discovering America. Some people said anyone could sail the seas. Columbus used an egg to make a point. It is followed...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Maintaining Cultural Continuity [Pdf]

For Teachers 8th
"Maintaining Cultural Continuity" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about Fidelis Umeh, a Nigerian businessman in Chicago, who founded Nigerians in Chicago, a support group to help Nigerians fit into American society and still...