Curated OER
Introducing Setting and Accents
Fourth graders discuss the concept of setting and how it affects the events and tone of a story. They observe the cover of the book they are reading and make predictions about the setting. They read the first chapter and then refine...
Curated OER
A Chair For My Mother: comprehension skills
In this comprehension skills worksheet, students read the book A Chair For My Mother and complete comprehension activities. Students complete 5 activities including making inferences, cause and effect, and plot.
Curated OER
Setting's Effect on a Character's Actions
Do the actions of a character in a story change based on the setting the writer provides? Learners explore the concept of character action in relation to story setting by investigating the setting and events in the story Science...
Yale University
"This is Not a Story to Pass On": Teaching Toni Morrison's Beloved
Tenth graders read "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. In groups, they research the life and works of Morrison and read a speech by Sojouner Truth. Using the novel, they discuss the experiences of slaves and the effect of slavery on their...
Curated OER
Unit Plan: Short Stories
Tenth graders complete a unit of lessons on the story elements of Sherlock Holmes short stories. They analyze the plot elements, complete graphic organizers, read and discuss the plots, observe a person and take notes, and analyze an...
Curated OER
Understanding Story Elements-Who, What, Where
Students create a rap using story details. In this creative writing lesson, students examine the use of rap lyrics to list important details of stories. They view a video example, and use their notes to create their own raps...
Curated OER
Setting And Plot
Students engage in study of plot and setting with the reading of many familiar texts. They identify the plot and setting with the help of a worksheet. The teacher works with the class for scaffolding and helps them to recognize the...
Curated OER
Lesson 1: Setting impact on the Plot
Fourth graders see how the setting affects the plot. In this setting lesson, 4th graders listen to The Three Brothers : A German Folktale by Carolyn Croll and see how the setting affects the outcome of the story. They read a new...
Curated OER
Writing Drama-Trying Your Hand at being a Playwright
Fifth graders chart the elements of drama. For this performing arts lesson, 5th graders discuss the role of a playwrite, practice doing some Reader's Theatre scripts, write a paragraph about a problem between two people, and perform...
Curated OER
Parts of a Story
Students read a short fiction book and demostrate comprehension by identifying the main characters, setting, conflict, theme, and summarizing the main points. They organize the information in Inspiration and create a powerpoint to show...
Curated OER
The Higher Power of Lucky
Young scholars complete activities using the book The Higher Power of Lucky. In this literature lesson plan, students read the story and identify the parts of the story. They create a wind chime like that found in the book.
Curated OER
Pick A Short Story
Students select a short story and apply various literary elements they have used throughout the year. They deconstruct a short story according to plot, setting, characterization, and theme. Students create a PowerPoint.
Curated OER
Movies and Entertainment
Test your students' knowledge of literary and cinematic genres with this matching instructional activity. Twenty-one terms, such as "thriller," "western," "novel," and "horror," can be matched with their definition. Use this activity as...
Curated OER
Template #1 A Lesson Before Dying Journal Reflections/Personal Statements
If you're working through A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines, you might be interested in this resource. Pupils fill this page out after reading each chapter in order to create a short summary and clarify plot points and...
Curated OER
Summarizing with James and the Giant Peach
Elementary readers in literature groups practice summarizing chapter-by-chapter with Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. Focus on main idea, supporting details, and the 5 Ws. Unfortunately, a clever "peach" graphic organizer to which...
Curated OER
The Secret Garden - Proper Nouns
Help your class master proper nouns with a themed worksheet. As they read Frances Hodgson Burnett's well-known novel The Secret Garden, have pupils practice identifying proper nouns with plot points from the story. They underline...
Curated OER
The Secret Garden - Proper Nouns II
Useful for a warm-up or quick homework activity, this resource has learners underline and correct the proper nouns in each of 14 sentences. The sentences are plot points from Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel The Secret Garden. Class...
Curated OER
A Wanderer's Point of View
Students write an imaginative story using a specific point of view. Students imagine what life along the Mississippi River is like and pretend they are there. Students may use the scenario provided, or create their own for their story.
Curated OER
What Do Writers Do?
Pupils learn about honing their writing through editing. They write the beginning of a story, paying attention to vocabulary and detail. Then they split into groups of two to peer edit. After discussing ways they can improve their...
Curated OER
Magic Squares: The Awakening
After matching words drawn from Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, with their definitions, readers complete a magic square game. Included are instructions for how to develop magic squares.
Curated OER
Guy Fawkes
Sixth graders access their prior knowledge of the job of Parliament and its relationship to the monarchy. In this Gunpowder Plot lesson, 6th graders research the Gunpowder Plot, summarize key story ideas, and role play the plot. They...
Curated OER
Night: Annotated Bibliography
This annotated bibliography and list of websites are valuable resources for any study of the Holocaust and/or of Elie Wiesel's Night.
Mary Pope Osborne, Classroom Adventures Program
Civil War on Sunday
Reading Mary Pope Osborne's Civil War on Sunday? Here's a packet crammed with activities, exercises, reading guides, and project suggestions. A must-have for your curriculum library.
KIPP 3D Academy
Epic Poetry Unit
The Odyssey is the core text in this unit study of the hero's journey motif. Along the way, kids research Greek and Roman history, mythology, art, and epic poetry. The 104-page packet is perfect for homeschool or classroom situations and...