Penguin Books
Teacher's Guide: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
It's the American Dream! A house of your own, a better life, freedom to be who you want. But what happens when the dream withers? Lorraine Hansberry's award-winning drama, A Raisin in the Sun, offers some powerful answers to these...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Colonial Towns and Townspeople Tell It Again!™ Read-Aloud Anthology
A read-aloud anthology focuses on colonial towns and townspeople. Over three weeks, young scholars listen to stories, participate in discussions about town life, practice word work, and complete an extension activity with each...
Curated OER
Trading Information
Students create a trading card about a state bordering the Mississippi River. Using traditional and internet research, students generate a list of interesting facts about their chosen state using the five themes of geography. They use...
Curated OER
The Name You Once Gave Me, by Mike Phillips and The Dying Wish by Courttia Newland
Students read, analyze, critique and study the novels, "The Name You Once Gave Me," by Mike Phillips and "The Dying Wish," by Courttia Newland. They evaluate an extract from each novel and consider how a theme can provide a framework for...
Curated OER
Tales to Live By
Students explore the concept of theme. In this fairy tales lesson, students read several tales and complete hands-on activities, art projects, and dramatic play that lead to an awareness of the themes of the tales.
Curated OER
The European Union
Students complete an in-depth exploration of the European Union using the five themes of geography as a guide. In small groups, students use traditional and technological resources to answer questions about the European Union, with each...
Curated OER
Macbeth
Young scholars discuss the changes the characters go through in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. They discuss the themes of the play write an essay comparing current events to the themes of the play.
Curated OER
Chocolate Chaos
Second graders demonstrate the ability to examine the elements of a story (theme, plot, setting, mood) and characters, by discussing and writing about each. They have fun with chocolate related activities and enjoy reading about some...
Curated OER
Festive resources
Students research activities on a festive/seasonal theme. They work on speaking activities like Christmas wishes. They analyze a cross cultural comparison of two festive/seasonal themes. Students include topics like Christmas and pets,...
Curated OER
Why Thank You!
Fifth graders listen to a read aloud of Patricia Polacco's, Thank You, Mr. Falker! students examine the use of voice in the book, discuss the writing and theme ideas. They write a thank you not to their hero.
Curated OER
Gift of the Magi Project
High schoolers read "The Gift of the Magi" and review the elements and theme in the story. In groups, students sketch another high schoolers' outline on butcher paper. They use the body parts to relate the characteristics of Della and...
Curated OER
Across Five Aprils
Students read the novel, Across Five Aprils and investigate the theme of the individual vs, community loyalties. They keep a daily journal, role-play situations, hold a mock debate, and write a research paper on "coming of age."
Curated OER
Learning Plot
Tenth graders identify certain literary elements such as conflict, and exposition within the text of a variety of studenT books. Aspects of literary elements such as theme, and allusion are explored in this lesson.
Curated OER
Vegetables Missing Vowels (1)
In this missing vowels vegetable themed worksheet, learners complete 12 fill in the blank question where they provide the missing vowels for 12 different vegetable themed words.
Curated OER
The Cause & Effect Model
Students analyze the plot of the story, "The Little Engine That Could" to provide a model for writing creatively, developing critical essays, producing themes, and making predictions.
Curated OER
Vegetables Word Shapes (2)
In this word shape worksheet, students examine a list of 12 vegetable themed words and then write the correct word in a blank word shape provided.
Curated OER
Summer Health Activity: Visiting the Doctor
Students play with dolls to act out feelings about a common experience. In this early childhood lesson plan, students use social, language, and fine motor skills while developing an understanding of their own bodies and the role of an...
Curated OER
Crafts: Hands-On Activities
Students use the Internet to view craft ideas for them to make. They can create jewelry, paper mache, or a recipe.
Curated OER
Feminism Does Not Have to be an F-Word
Students analyze social activism messages in music. In this feminism lesson, students explore selected music that expresses sentiments voiced in the women liberation movement in the United States. Students compare the lyrics of the songs...
Curated OER
The Letter Kk Alphabet Theme
First graders complete a variety of cross-curricular activities to examine the uses of the letter K. In this alphabet theme lesson, 1st graders complete music, cooking, geography, craft, physical education, science, and online activities...
Penguin Books
A Teacher's Guide to Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Many critics consider William Golding's Lord of the Flies as one of the best English language novels of the 20th century! It is also one of the 100 most challenged books taught in schools! Instructors willing to accept the challenge of...
Penguin Books
Teacher’s Guide: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
A 10-page guide to John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men includes a brief plot summary, information about preparing readers for the language in the novel, pre-reading, during reading, and post-reading questions, essay prompts, and project...
PBS
Character vs. Society in The Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man is difficult to read and difficult to teach. The novel is so highly regarded that it is one of most often listed as an option for the AP Literature and Composition exam. The materials in this packet from PBS...
Syracuse City School District
Reading Comprehension Unit Plan
A unit plan uses short texts to teach literary elements such as theme and characterization. Included are passages by authors such as Walter Dean Myers and Sandra Cisneros. Activities include quick writes, filling in graphic organizers,...