Curated OER
Artha
Students explore the concept of artha. In this Hinduism lesson, students read, "Seven Ways to Greet a Neighbor," and "Eight Rupees." Students discuss artha in light of the readings completed as part of the lesson.
Curated OER
The Star-Spangled Banner
Students explore the Star-Spangled Banner. In this civics lesson, students read the lyrics of the song as well as a handout that details its creation. Students respond to discussion questions from the handout.
Curated OER
Native American Song and Dance
Students examine the importance of the drum and drumming in the cultural context of the Native American. Musical insturments and native dance is employed to support the focus of the lesson.
Curated OER
Persuasion
High schoolers explore the characteristics of a persuasive letter. They label each characteristic and they create a persuasive letter using the correct business letter format. Students recommend a school rule or change of a rule and...
Curated OER
Number Stories 1: Student-generated Checklist
Students explore creating a self-assessment tool in a model classroom. Through the use of a video, students are observed engaging in peer assessment activities to generate a checklist. Students discuss the use of strategies a teacher can...
Curated OER
Folktales Reflect Daoist and Buddhist Traditions
Tenth graders compare three Chinese folktales for their "messages" and literary techniques to see how they reflect Chinese Confucian and Taoist values. They discuss how folktales share certain subjects, characters, plots and themes.
Curated OER
Huichol Yarn Painting
Sixth graders study the Huichol Indians and the art of yarn painting. They create their own yarn paintings in the Huichol style.
Curated OER
The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner
Learners read and analyze a poem about a speaker's posthumous view of war, assess the purpose of an author's note and evaluate the effect of the point of view on the reader's response. They work in groups to discuss and analyze the poem.
Curated OER
Top Secret Revealed
Young scholars analyze the relevance of newly-uncovered, revealing C.I.A. document from the 1950's to people today. They explore the details and impact of a secret history of the C.I.A. in Iran by reading and discussing "How a Plot...
TES Global
Blendspace: Rl5.3 Fables: Analyzing Theme, Story Elements, Text Structure
A six-part learning module with images, graphic organizers, videos, web links and more to teach students how to analyze theme, story elements, and text structure in fables.
Success Link
Success Link: Characters, Setting, Plot, Conclusion, and Summarizing a Story
This lesson plan offers a step-by-step procedure for teaching students how to identify story elements and to summarize a story. It explains how to use a "Who Am I" activity, as well as a linkage activity in identifying characters and...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Story Writing With Arthur
This series of 12 downloadable activities teach students some basics of story writing, using books or videos from the PBS "Arthur" series as a springboard. Activities include creating story maps, asking questions about characters and...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Miss Nelson Is Missing Key Details
Where did Miss Nelson go? We look at the key details in the text to determine what is happening throughout the story. Students will locate and record key details about story elements (characters, setting, problem, solution, and theme) in...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Using a Fairy Tale to Teach the Elements of a Story
Students will hear and read different versions of a familiar fairy tale and identify what elements a story must have (character, plot, setting) for the story to be interesting and make sense. Using a Venn diagram, students will then...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Ninth Literature and Composition: Short Stories
This lesson provides and introduction to a short story unit. It focuses the lessons and morals taught by short stories and the use of literary elements in fiction. I provides a list of essential questions.
Read Works
Read Works: Grade 2: Three Lesson Unit: Plot
[Free Registration/Login Required] A series of three lesson plans designed to teach learners to identify story elements, retell a story using story elements, and see how characters affect the plot. Lessons are based on the books Dog...
Other
****Story Mapping Strategy
This accessible explanation features a instructional activity to help teach students to use story mapping to identify elements of a narrative.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Comics in the Classroom: Introduction to Narrative Structure
Contains plans for four lessons that teach students about narrative plot structures by using "The Three Little Pigs" fairy tale or a similar story. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Using Fairy Tales to Teach the Short Stories
Familiar fairy tales are used as guides to help students analyze the elements of the short story: plot, theme, setting, point of view, and character.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Using Picture Books to Teach Plot Development and Confict Res.
Students read picture books to explore the concepts of plot development and conflict resolution. They first learn about the connections between reading and writing, and then revise their own writing. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.4
Love To Know Media
Your Dictionary: Lesson Plans on Writing Short Stories
This lesson plan focuses on teacher preparation of lesson plans before attempting to teach students to write short stories. It includes questions to ask yourself, ideas for activities, and a sample lesson plan.
Other
Elements of Fiction
Simple discussion of the elements of fiction with a specific section devoted to Freytag's Pyramid (aka "basic plot structure"). A good place to start for gathering information on the structure of narrative.
Read Works
Read Works: Plot Kindergarten Unit: Retelling a Story
[Free Registration/Login Required] Teach retelling a story using plot elements through explanation, guided practice, and independent practice as learners develop the skill. The text, My Red Balloon by Eve Bunting, must be provided by the...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Narrative Pyramid
A printable narrative pyramid where students can record information about a story including the character, setting, problem, main events, and solution. Directions on how to use this type of graphic organize as well as lists of teaching...