Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

Hatchet: Novel Study

For Teachers 6th - 9th Standards
Thanks to Gary Paulsen's Hatchet, teen readers now know it's possible to survive in the wilderness. A study guide for the novel discusses common topics and vocabulary words found within the text. Additionally, readers get the chance...
Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

Old Wolf: Novel Study

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Do wolves ever attack humans? An informative novel study for Old Wolf helps pupils conduct research to answer the question. They also decode anagrams, learn about onomatopoeia, and write quatrain poems about themes from the novel. 
Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

A Single Shard: Novel Study

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Fulfilling a dream requires a lot of hard work. A study guide for the novel A Single Shard shares the dream of a young Korean orphan. As readers work through the guide, they answer comprehension questions about Tree-ear and the...
Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

A Taste of Blackberries: Novel Study

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
Blackberry pie, blackberry cobbler ... what other recipes use blackberries? Scholars hunt for an interesting blackberry recipe to copy and share with friends after using the novel study for A Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan...
Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

Surviving the Applewhites: Novel Study

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
The Bradys, the Flintstones, and the Simpsons are some of pop culture's most memorable families. So how do the Applewhites stack up? Using a novel study for Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan, scholars answer text-based...
Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

Summer of the Monkeys: Novel Study

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
There are more than 260 types of monkeys in the world. With the novel study for Wilson Rawls' Summer of the Monkeys, pupils research interesting facts about the banana-loving primates. They also practice exaggeration, write...
Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

Sounder: Novel Study

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Only one character receives a name in William H. Armstrong's novel, Sounder—the dog! With the novel study, scholars explore the author's purpose in the unusual decision. They also write similes, answer comprehension and analysis...
Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

The Slave Dancer: Novel Study

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
What are the effects of a good literary cliffhanger? Using the novel study for Paula Fox's The Slave Dancer, pupils consider why the author chose to end the first chapter with suspense. They also answer text-based questions, practice new...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Different! Diverse! Dynamic! What Do Stories Share?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students compare and contrast the stories, "Leo, the Late Bloomer," and "Thank You, Mr. Falker." They develop a Venn diagram, and write and illustrate the central theme of the stories.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Images of Children in Dorthea Lange's Photographs

For Teachers K - 5th
Students research the photographs of Dorthea Lange. In this visual art lesson, students look at photographs of children taken by Lange and answer several questions. They write or tell stories to explain what they think is occurring in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What If: The Seed Of A Story

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners read and comprehend a piece of fictional writing, analyze how setting, characterization, and plot affect the theme of a story and work in a group to create a new writing assignment. This 5-day plan culminates in students writing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children of Clay

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify and interpret the Pueblo Native American culture and history and comprehend their folklore and songs. They also create their own piece of pottery with clay and write a myth about the piece of pottery they made....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Story of Ruby Bridges

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students research Ruby Bridges and discuss differences they have with their classmates while also discussing their equality. In this Ruby Bridges lesson plan, students also write about a character word that describes Ruby, and create an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students write poems and a narrative story.  In this writing lesson, students read stories and poems written by other students and read examples of haiku's and diamonte's.  Students write an acrostic poem and a diamonte...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Add Awesome Alliteration to your Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners practice writing with alliteration, repeating the same letter sound at the beginning of two or more words in a sentence; students also review of adjectives, verbs, and adverbs while creating an alphabet book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Add Awesome Alliteration to Your Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore alliteration. In this writing lesson, students read the book Thank You for the Thistle and create sentences with alliteration. Students create an alphabet booklet with alliteration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Young Learner's Writing Workshop 2

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students choose a short story or book and a student takes on the role of one of the characters in the story. They complete an interview worksheet and then students question each other further about the character they are playing.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students practice word processing skills while writing Haiku and diamonte poems.  In this poetry computer lesson, students choose  from a group of rainforest animals and write about their animal.  Students write a...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Writing (and Rewriting!) History

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers differentiate between fiction and non-fiction, discuss historical fiction, which combines both genres, choose historical novel from list and read independently, and write original short stories that combine elements of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Language Arts: Plotting Stories

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read the story, "The Foolish, Timid Rabbit," as part of a unit on appearances. After reading with partners, they write their own stories that include elements about some forms of matter from their science studies. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time Travel Writing Assignment using "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the consequences of time travel through the analysis of the short story "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury. They watch a PowerPoint presentation, conduct Internet research on endangered ecosystems, and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simile Stories

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders view song lyrics and identify similes in the song text.  In this similes lesson plan, 4th graders define and identify similes on a worksheet.  Students write their own similes using various adjectives.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Story of St. Valentine

For Students 4th - 5th
In this Valentine's Day worksheet, learners read a factual passage about the history of Valentine's Day. Students answer 24 questions about the story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alice Magic Cake

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Using a famous children's story as the hook, learners explore the concept of changes in matter. First, they make a cake similar to the one made by Alice in the story Alice's Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Next, they let their...