English I

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

Weaving the multigenre web

In this lesson, students read novels, analyze the literary elements, and create a multigenre project to present information to their peers. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 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 plot structure through short stories

After viewing a PowerPoint presentation on plot structure, students use an online graphic organizer to identify the significant events that shape the structure of several short stories. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Style: Defining and exploring an author's stylistic choices

In this activity, students will find examples of specific stylistic devices in sample literary passages then search for additional examples and explore the reasons for the stylistic choices that the author has made. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Star-crossed lovers online: Romeo and Juliet for a digital age

Students use their understanding of modern technology to create contemporary interpretations of important scenes from Romeo and Juliet. (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

A significant influence: Describing an important teacher in your life

In this lesson, students write tributes to teachers or mentors who have made profound differences in their lives. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Short story fair: Responding to short stories in multiple media and genres

In this lesson, students read short stories from a collection in small groups and then prepare responses in multiple media and genres that are shared in a culminating Short Story Fair. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Put that on the list: Collaboratively writing a catalog poem

Students work in small groups to write a catalog poem based on such human emotions as anger, guilt, and happiness. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

The peace journey: Using process drama in the classroom

In this lesson, students respond to an imaginary advertisement, role-play, and work in small groups to develop a visual map as they explore the notion of peace. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Paying attention to technology: Exploring a fictional technology

This lesson asks students to complete a short survey to establish their beliefs about technology and then compare their opinions to the ideas in a novel that depicts technology (such as 1984, Brave New... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 and 11–12 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Outside in: Finding a character's heart through art

In this lesson, students explore the idea of alienation by examining Edward Hopper's art and Raymond Carver's fiction. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Onomatopoeia: A figurative language mini-lesson

In this lesson, students are introduced to the literary device of onomatopoeia and explore how the technique adds to a writer's message. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Novel news: Broadcast coverage of character, conflict, resolution, and setting

In this lesson, which is a twist on readers' theater, students are challenged to prepare original news programs based on incidents in a recent reading. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Name that chapter! Discussing summary and interpretation using chapter titles

In this lesson, students name chapters in novels that they are reading, creating a cumulative list for the novel as they proceed. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Manipulating sentences to reinforce grammar skills

In this lesson, students manipulate sentences from books or magazines to learn grammar in context and review grammar rules. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)

Provided by: IRA/NCTE

Making connections to myth and folktale: The many ways to “Rainy Mountain”

In this assignment, students write a three-voice narrative based on N. Scott Momaday’s structure in The Way to Rainy Mountain. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: IRA/NCTE