$5 - $10 6th Grade Literature Lesson

Engage your middle school students with a thrilling 5-day detective unit centered around Roald Dahl's gripping short story, "Lamb to the Slaughter." This comprehensive unit combines critical thinking, inferencing, and multimedia analysis, making it perfect for ELA classrooms. Students will step into the shoes of detectives, analyze texts, watch film adaptations, and compare their experiences, all while meeting key CCSS standards.

What’s Included:

• Detailed Lesson Plans: Each day is thoughtfully planned to guide students through reading, analyzing, writing, and discussing "Lamb to the Slaughter."
• Graphic Organizers: Scaffolded organizers for each day to help students track evidence, make inferences, and compare the text with the film.
• Texts and Multimedia: The original short story and a link to the film adaptation, complete with an introduction by Roald Dahl.
• Writing Prompts: Engaging prompts to encourage students to write opinion essays and reflections.
• Class Discussion Guides: Questions and prompts to facilitate meaningful classroom discussions.

Day-by-Day Breakdown:

Day 1: Introduction to the Detective Activity

• Students are introduced to the murder mystery and work in groups to analyze witness statements and evidence photos.
• Focus on inference and deduction skills.

Day 2: Writing an Opinion Essay

• Students write an opinion essay based on their detective work from Day 1.
• Emphasis on textual evidence and structured writing.

Day 3: Reading "Lamb to the Slaughter"

• Students read the short story in chunked sections, making inferences and annotating the text.
• Use of scaffolding techniques to support all learners.

Day 4: Comparing Text and Film

• Students watch the film adaptation of "Lamb to the Slaughter."
• They use a graphic organizer to compare and contrast the text and film, analyzing differences in storytelling techniques.

Day 5: Final Analysis and Discussion

• Students discuss their findings and the differences between the text and film.
• Wrap-up activities include reflective writing and sharing insights.

CCSS Alignment:

This unit aligns with CCSS standards for grades 5-8, focusing on quoting accurately from texts, citing textual evidence, and analyzing multimedia elements. Standards covered include:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.7
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.7
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.7

Benefits:

• Engaging and Interactive: Students love the hands-on detective work and multimedia elements.
• Skill-Building: Focus on inferencing, textual evidence, and critical thinking skills.
• Comprehensive and Ready-to-Use: All materials and instructions are included for a seamless implementation.

Bring excitement and depth to your ELA classroom with this 5-day detective unit on "Lamb to the Slaughter." Your students will love stepping into the role of detectives while honing their reading and analytical skills.

Kate DiCamillo won the 2014 Newbery Medal for the incredible novel Flora & Ulysses for its authentic character development and themes of friendship and resilience. This two-part digital Google lesson is packed full of engaging, fun, and comprehensive activities to review this incredible piece of literature.

What's included in this product?

Two Google Slide presentations with an activity guide. Part one covers chapters 1-35, and part 2 covers chapters 36 through the book's ending. These lessons are designed for teachers to click through - a true non-prep lesson

What activities are included in the lessons? See the thumbnails and preview for images of some slides.

• Cracking codes
• Multiple choice questions
• Mystery pictures
• True or False game
• Game Show
• Character Study
• Order of events
• Discussion prompt questions

I use these exact lessons in my classes, and students not only have fun and reinforce what they've read in the book but they are always astonished at how time flies! We have so much fun. It is fast-paced and engaging. It's also great for various types of learners, as many of the questions can be answered using a finger system which prompts shy or quiet students to engage.

Please send a question if there is anything I can clarify about this lesson!

Spanish Short Stories for the Classroom Libritos

includes:

5 original stories

+Reading Comprehension Questions

Stories are appropriate for Spanish 2 and higher.

Can be shared with students digitally or printed copies (up to the teacher).

+Free Updates!

Engage your students with a complete and ready-to-use teaching resource for S.E. Hinton’s classic novel, The Outsiders.  This comprehensive package includes everything you need to deliver an effective and engaging literary unit:

• Detailed Lesson Plan: A well-structured, day-by-day guide that covers key themes, character development, and essential vocabulary.

• Scope & Sequence: A clear outline that maps out the learning objectives, pacing, and essential skills for the entire unit.

• PowerPoint Presentation: Visually appealing and informative slides designed to enhance understanding and foster class discussions, covering important quotes, plot points, and character analysis.

This resource is perfect for middle school and high school English teachers looking to create a rich, interactive, and meaningful learning experience for their students.  Whether you are a new teacher or a seasoned educator, this package saves you time and provides quality materials that engage students and deepen their understanding of The Outsiders.

What is Included:

Lesson Plan Pages

Discussion Questions (use oral discussion questions or weekly short answer discussion questions and a final discussion question test (short answer and multiple-choice questions).

Literature Worksheets (Character study, Two Sets of Prediction Worksheets, and Plot Diagram Worksheet)

Vocabulary Work (General Vocabulary, Focused Vocabulary, Vocabulary Dictionary, Crossword, Word Search, Vocabulary in Context, and Vocabulary Quiz)

Final Project (Have students design a concert. They must have a theme, create a stage, costumes, and decorations, and select relevant acts with rubric)March Madness

BONUS: Christmas Song Battle (much like the march madness basketball tournament, you will start with your sweet 16 of either classic or modern Christmas songs, and then students will vote and battle it out until there is a winner).

Louis Sachar won the 1999 Newbery Medal for his incredible novel Holes and is studied in classrooms nationwide. This two-part digital Google lesson is packed full of engaging, fun, and comprehensive activities to review this incredible piece of literature.

What's included in this product?

Two Google Slide presentations with speaker notes. Part one covers chapters 1-24, and part 2 covers chapters 25 through the book's ending.

What activities are included in the lessons? See the thumbnails and preview for images of some slides.

• Cracking codes
• Multiple choice questions
• Mystery pictures
• True or False game
• Game Show
• Character Study
• Order of events

I use these exact lessons in my classes, and students not only have fun and reinforce what they've read in the book but they are always astonished at how time flies! We have so much fun. It is fast-paced and engaging. It's also great for various types of learners, as many of the questions can be answered using a finger system which prompts shy or quiet students to engage.

Please send a question if there is anything I can clarify about this lesson!

Novel Study: These materials for Susan Adrian's novel Nutcracked aim to enhance readers' understanding and interpretation of the Story.

What is Included: 40 Pages

· Goal and Instructional Pages for Teacher

· Lesson Plans for 15-days of lessons- Incorporate vocabulary work in

· Discussion Questions (11 pages)

· Reality vs. Fantasy-Journal (1 page)

· Reality vs. Fantasy-Teaching Worksheet Activity (1 page)

· Reality vs. Fantasy-2 Worksheets (1 page each)

· Georgie's Problems (Conflict Worksheet) (1 page)

· Plot Diagram (1 page)

· Final Test (2 Options) (2 pages each)

· Answer Keys (8 pages)

Vocabulary: -In general, the goal for finding vocabulary words within a novel is to have students encounter words they may not have seen or heard before and then understand their meaning in the text and their everyday lives.

What is Included: 31 Pages

· Goals and Instructional Pages for Teacher

· Master Word Lists (3 pages)

· Student Dictionary (11 pages)

· Crossword Puzzles (3 pages)

· Word Search (1 page)

· Vocabulary in Context Worksheet (2 pages)

· Final Test (1 page)

· Answer Keys (6 pages)

Look to pair this novel study with our Nutcracker and The Mouse King picture book study or other Nutcracker Christmas School Activities. A complete 20-Day Christmas School Unit is available as a bundle through my website or TeachShare storefront.

Dave Eggers won the 2023 Newbery Medal for the incredible novel The Eyes & The Impossible and is still being discovered worldwide for its incredible prose and inspiring themes. This two-part digital Google lesson is packed full of engaging, fun, and comprehensive activities to review this incredible piece of literature.

What's included in this product?

Two Google Slide presentations with activity guide. Part one covers chapters 1-19, and part 2 covers chapters 20 through the book's ending. These lessons are designed for teachers to click through - a true non-prep lesson!

What activities are included in the lessons? See the thumbnails and preview for images of some slides.

• Cracking codes
• Multiple choice questions
• Mystery pictures
• True or False game
• Game Show
• Character Study
• Order of events
• Discussion prompt questions

I use these exact lessons in my classes, and students not only have fun and reinforce what they've read in the book but they are always astonished at how time flies! We have so much fun. It is fast-paced and engaging. It's also great for various types of learners, as many of the questions can be answered using a finger system which prompts shy or quiet students to engage.

Please send a question if there is anything I can clarify about this lesson!

This study works excellent as an introduction to studying the Nutcracker Ballet.

Using the picture book The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the original Story by ETA Hoffman, illustrated by Gail de Marcken, and the Story adapted by Wren Mayse. The materials aim to enhance the readers understanding and interpretation of the Story.

What is Included: 23 Pages Total

· Goal and Instructional Pages for Teacher

· Lesson Plans for 10-days of lessons

· Pre-Reading Notes Page (1 page)

· Discussion Questions (9 pages)

· Story Outline (Plot Outline) (2 pages)

· Battle Plan Outline (2 pages)

· Answer Keys (4 pages)

Look to pair this picture book study with our Nutcracked Novel Study or other Nutcracker Christmas School Activities. A complete 20-Day Christmas School Unit is available as a bundle through my website or TeachShare storefront.

Neil Gaiman won the 2009 Newbery Medal for the incredible novel The Graveyard Book for its “delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing,” noting its “magical, haunting prose.” This two-part digital Google lesson is packed full of engaging, fun, and comprehensive activities to review this incredible piece of literature.

What's included in this product?

Two Google Slide presentations with activity guide. Part one covers chapters 1-4, and part 2 covers chapters 5 through the book's ending. These lessons are designed for teachers to click through - a true non-prep lesson!

What activities are included in the lessons? See the thumbnails and preview for images of some slides.

• Cracking codes
• Multiple choice questions
• Mystery pictures
• True or False game
• Game Show
• Character Study
• Order of events
• Discussion prompt questions

I use these exact lessons in my classes, and students not only have fun and reinforce what they've read in the book but they are always astonished at how time flies! We have so much fun. It is fast-paced and engaging. It's also great for various types of learners, as many of the questions can be answered using a finger system which prompts shy or quiet students to engage.

Please send a question if there is anything I can clarify about this lesson!

Katherine Applegate won the 2013 Newbery Medal for the incredible novel The One and Only Ivan, which is based on a true story out of Tacoma, WA. This two-part digital Google lesson is packed full of engaging, fun, and comprehensive activities to review this incredible piece of literature.

What's included in this product?

Two Google Slide presentations with an activity guide. Part one covers pages 1-156, and part 2 covers pages 157 through the book's ending. These lessons are designed for teachers to click through - a true non-prep lesson

What activities are included in the lessons? See the thumbnails and preview for images of some slides.

• Cracking codes
• Multiple choice questions
• Mystery pictures
• True or False game
• Game Show
• Character Study
• Order of events
• Discussion prompt questions

I use these exact lessons in my classes, and students not only have fun and reinforce what they've read in the book but they are always astonished at how time flies! We have so much fun. It is fast-paced and engaging. It's also great for various types of learners, as many of the questions can be answered using a finger system which prompts shy or quiet students to engage.

Please send a question if there is anything I can clarify about this lesson!