Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Early Chicago Environment and People [Pdf]
"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...
Other
A Calendar for "Northanger Abbey"
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.
Mythweb
Mythweb: Jason
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.
Mythweb
Mythweb: Bellerophon
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.
Mythweb
Mythweb: Theseus
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.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Mythology and the Odyssey: Myth Summary
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...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Literary Elements
[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,...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Leo Lionni's Little Blue and Little Yellow
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.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Why Is Community Service Important? [Pdf]
"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...
Other
Reading Quest: Making Sense of Social Studies
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...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Little Red Hen [Pdf]
"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...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Learn About Egypt [Pdf]
"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:...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Learn About South Africa [Pdf]
"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...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Difficult Journey [Pdf]
"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...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The History Mystery [Pdf]
"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...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Prairie Project [Pdf]
"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...
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill: Informational Text: Determine Central Idea and Supporting Details
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.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Nature's Violet Children [Pdf]
"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...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Difficult Journey [Pdf]
"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;...
BBC
Bbc: 60 Second Shakespeare: Julius Caesar
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...
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]
"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...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Cloud [Pdf]
"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...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Columbus and the Egg [Pdf]
"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...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Maintaining Cultural Continuity [Pdf]
"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...