English I

Tableaux tour of texts

Students express their empathy for characters and events from books read in small groups by creating tableaux (freeze-frames) of key scenes to present to the class.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts)

By Kim Bowen.

A survivor's story: How does it really feel?

Students use oral history excerpts of a Hurricane Floyd survivor to explore the concept of contradiction or irony.

Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)

Romeo! Why do you have to be a doggone Montague?

Students will interpret and comprehend Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Act 2, Scene 2 (the balcony scene) through translating the original text and preparing a dramatic presentation of the scene for the class.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Amanda Rowland.

Oral history through personal narratives

Students apply their knowledge of story elements to art and literature of the 1950s by developing a story, comprehending someone else's story, and diagramming the five elements of plot. Students will then create, revise, edit, and publish their own personal narrative.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Mary Magee.

Martin Luther's Reformation in Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The setting of Victor Hugo's novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is the fifteenth century, the transitional period between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance/Reformation era. This era ushers in the period known as the modern age and historical events are chronicled through Hugo's novel. Hugo sets The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the decline of feudalism and the infancy of absolutism through Louis XI (Spider King), the rise of a urban middle class and the beginnings of commerce as it is known today. Primarily this novel satirizes the Catholic Church's absolute power -- its abuses, and its excesses. Students will discover how Hugo's satire operates to show the Catholic Church's abuse of power during the late Middle Ages and the early Reformation in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Nancy Webber.

Just like Brian Wilson did: Using allusion to teach imagery & theme

Beginning ENG I students are introduced to the general concepts of imagery (including symbolism) and theme in short literature in a lesson that features two contemporary pop songs and their lyrics. Serves as a useful attention getting exercise for low-level ENG I students who must become familiar with general literary concepts and terms for the ENG I EOC.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Jeffrey Weeks.

Identifying RAFT elements in writing prompts and assignments

Student will read writing prompts and practice identifying RAFT elements: role of writer, audience, writing format, and topic. This is the first lesson in a series of three based upon LEARN NC's 9th grade writing exemplars.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Kim Bowen.

Heaven or Groundhog Day?

This unit is designed to appeal to adolescents with its non-print text base, the movie Groundhog Day. The pre-viewing activities prepare students for the allusions in the movie and include cultural literacy. The teacher can pick and choose from the activities to apply the concept of personal growth. The teacher may select from activities for science, workplace ethics, music, computer competency, and English language arts. The teacher may modify any of the attachments to suit the students' needs and interests.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By David Melton and Julia Millush.

Defining risk: A search for theme in Fahrenheit 451

Students explore their understanding of the notion of risk in relation to their own experiences and in response to a variety of quotes. This exercise serves as a springboard to themes in the novel Fahrenheit 451.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Leatha Fields-Carey.

"The Cask of Amontillado"

The short story "The Cask of Amontillado," by Edgar Allan Poe is an effective venue for teaching English I literary terms. The following lesson plan is designed to engage the reader in a deeper than superficial reading of the text. It is also designed to elicit discussion and written critical-thinking responses. This lesson assumes that the literary terms have already been introduced. However, if they have not, the teacher may use this lesson to introduce these terms in the context of the literature.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and English Language Development)

By Guy Hill and Crystal Brown.

Caricature character tour

Students create a caricature of a literary character using magazine cutouts to practice reading for details and characterization.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By Janice Ianniello.

Who Moved My Cheese? for Teens

Students read, discuss, and write about Who Moved My Cheese? for Teens by Spencer Johnson, M.D., a parable about life's changes, and how best to benefit from them. By reading the parable, students will learn ways to react positively to inevitable change, and gain insight into their personal decision-making processes regarding changes in their lives, now and in the future. This lesson plan is modified for Advanced English Language Learners in the 9th and 10th grades. It is written for 45 minute class periods, but can be modified for 90 minute block classes.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and English Language Development)

By Ann Gerber.

To Kill A Mockingbird role-play: A Maycomb pig pickin'

Somewhere near the middle of reading the novel, students start to become confused about characters. This fun role-play activity works especially well just after Chapter 21 and allows students to get to know characters beyond Jem and Scout. It also can be a springboard into further discussions of point of view, theme, and stereotypes.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

By David Ansbacher.

Resources on the web

Writing about writing: An extended metaphor assignment

In this lesson, students use Richard Wilbur's poem “The Writer” as an inspiration as they write their own extended metaphor describing themselves as writers. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 and 11 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Word maps: Developing critical and analytical thinking about literary characters

In this lesson, students read the short story “After Twenty Years” by O. Henry and focus on the author's use of characterization. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Using student-centered comprehension strategies with Elie Wiesel's "Night"

Working in small groups, students use reciprocal teaching strategies as they read and discuss Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel’s memoir Night. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Unlocking the underlying symbolism and themes of a dramatic work

This lesson plan invites students to explore the items relevant to a character from Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun to unlock the drama’s underlying symbolism and themes. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Teaching the epic through ghost stories

In this lesson, students connect to epic storytellers by sharing their own oral tales of ghosts and goblins and monsters. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Spend a day in my shoes: Exploring the role of perspective in narrative

In this lesson based on To Kill a Mockingbird, students are challenged to imagine spending a day in someone else's shoes. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

So what do you think? Writing a review

After examining samples of movie, music, restaurant, and book reviews, students devise guidelines for writing interesting and informative reviews. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE