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Alter egos and more with Avi's "Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway?"

In this lesson, students read Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway? and study the history of radio shows. After students have read the story, they work together to chart the plot of the story. Then students compare it to other... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Analyzing symbolism, plot, and theme in Death and the Miser

Students analyze Hieronymous Bosch's Death and the Miser in this activity that explores the literary elements in a painting. The goal of this lesson is to state an original interpretation of a painting and explain how individual... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Behind the scenes with Cinderella

This lesson from ReadWriteThink begins by having students compare a version of the Cinderella folk tale from France with a version from the United States to help students make connections between the characters, setting, and plot. The lesson then focuses... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Book report alternative: Examining story elements using story map comic strips

In this lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students use a six-paneled comic strip to create a story map, summarizing a book or story that they've either read as a class or independently. The story strips that result provide a great way to evaluate student's understanding... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Book report alternative: The elements of fiction

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students review the elements of fiction and the key components of a book report. They identify and share these concepts by writing and illustrating their own mini-book based on a fiction book they have chosen to read.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Charting characters for a more complete understanding of the story

This ReadWriteThink lesson introduces the instructional strategy of Character Perspective Charting. This method is designed to reflect the actual complexity of stories that may not be reflected by the use of traditional story maps. A practical instructional... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Examining plot conflict through a comparison/contrast essay

In these sessions, students explore picture books to identify the characteristics of four types of conflict: character vs. character, character vs. self, character vs. nature, and character vs. society. In the initial activity, students write what they... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Fairy tale autobiographies

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students will work in groups to read and analyze fairy tales, brainstorm for events in their lives that could be changed into fairy tales, and develop setting, characters, and plot for their fairy tale. Students will... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Fairy tales, then and now

In this lesson, students read an old fairy tale or story and list the geographical features and characters described in the story. They'll then think about how the story might be updated to reflect their own modern setting and culture and will conclude... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Genre study: A collaborative approach

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students experience and develop interest in literature, which includes multicultural, gender, and ethnic diversity. After identifying literary elements, students improve comprehension by interpreting, analyzing, synthesizing,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Graffiti wall: Discussing and responding to literature using graphics

Integrating symbols, drawings, shapes, and colors with words and quotations from a novel, students produce a collage that is representative of character development, plot, themes, and symbolism. Upon completion of the project, students present their product... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

A high-interest novel helps struggling readers confront bullying in schools

Many high schools have problems with bullying and violence. This ReadWriteThink lesson helps students understand these problems in depth. Using a realistic, high-interest novel (The Bully by Paul Langan) and interactive reading strategies (such... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Mapping characters across book series

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students are introduced to a character from a literature series. The class critically looks at the character and his or her development over the course of the story. Students read critically to learn about the character's... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Modeling reading and analysis processes with the works of Edgar Allan Poe

Explore reading strategies using the think-aloud process as students investigate connections between the life and writings of Edgar Allan Poe in this ReadWriteThink lesson, which begins with an in-depth exploration of “The Raven.” Students move... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

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

Students explore standard literary elements of character, conflict, resolution, and setting in this lesson that explores news broadcasts. After students have read a book of their choice, they brainstorm things that develop a news program. Once students... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Once upon a time rethought: Writing fractured fairy tales

Students listen to fairy tales, identify common characteristics, and select a fairy tale to be re-written in this lesson. After a discussion of familiar fairy tales and the elements that are required for a story to be a part of this genre, students group... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Reader response in hypertext: Making personal connections to literature

This multi-genre lesson that focuses on setting, plot, and metaphor, uses novels that contain a strong sense of place, focus on closeness of characters, and are metaphorical in character. In this lesson students will demonstrate their... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": Mixing fact and fiction

In this EDSITEment lesson, the first of a two-part curriculum unit on Rudyard Kipling, students identify key events in Kipling's life and describe their effect on his story “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” (part of The Jungle Book). Students... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: EDSITEment

Teaching plot structure through short stories

In this lesson that introduces plot structure, students read short stories as a whole class, in small groups, and, finally, individually, analyzing the plot of three different short stories using an online graphic organizer to diagram the structures. After... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Teaching point-of-view with "Two Bad Ants"

This lesson that focuses on Chris Van Allsburg's Two Bad Ants provides students with the opportunity to use illustrations and text to develop an understanding of the point-of-view of the characters. After explaining to students... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink