Home
Mission
Blog
Professional Development
Launchpad
Plans
Community
Help
Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds Lesson
By Ms. J's ELA
This lesson should accompany the short story Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds. The story can be found in the anthology Fresh Ink.
This lesson focuses on making inferences and identifying themes. Students will provide and explain textual evidence that supports inferences and themes that they identify from the story.
This resource includes 6 slides for display at the front of the class and 2 student worksheet pages which come in color and b/w.
The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare Contrast Essay
By Language Arts Excellence
This product features all the materials you need to assign a compare/contrast essay for two classic tales of irony: O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi and Guy de Maupassant's The Necklace.
For this assignment, students will need to think critically and specifically about the similarities and differences between the two famous stories. Two comprehensive literary device charts are provided to prompt students to take a close look at both tales and to think beyond the obvious (like the fact that they are written by different authors) and consider the deeper similarities and differences differences (like plot structure, values of the characters, and lessons the stories try to teach) between them. These thoughtfully-constructed materials will help students develop exemplary compare/contrast essays that they can be proud of!
Product Includes:
This assignment is perfect during the holiday season or can be used as a part of any short story unit!
___________________________________________________________________
Also, check out these resources to round our your unit on The Gift of the Magi:
⭐ The Gift of the Magi Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan
⭐ The Gift of the Magi ESCAPE ROOM
⭐ The Gift of the Magi Socratic Seminar Materials
More great holiday products by Language Arts Excellence:
⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM
⭐ Christmas Poetry ESCAPE ROOM
⭐ A Christmas Carol ESCAPE ROOM
⭐‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan
⭐ The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan
⭐"Christmas Talk" Lesson Plan
⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs Task Cards
___________________________________________________________________
Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence
Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push by Walter Dean Myers Short Story Lesson
By Ms. J's ELA
This resource should accompany Walter Dean Myers's short story Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push. The story is not included but can be found in the book Flying Lessons and Other Stories.
This resource includes 5 worksheet pages in color for posting online and in b/w for easy printing. A presentation aligns with the worksheets and includes an answer key for vocabulary and short answer questions.
This resource has:
- a pre-reading journal prompt
- story vocabulary
- tiered reading questions
- a focus on the standard: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
- answer keys
By Language Arts Excellence
This resource features a comprehensive test covering Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s chilling dystopian tale, Harrison Bergeron. The test covers vocabulary, plot, characters, themes, vocabulary, and 3 short answer questions and is fully editable so that you can determine point value and/or change questions to reflect what you've taught.
Resource Includes:
___________________________________________________________________
Also, check out these great resources to supplement your unit on Harrison Bergeron by Language Arts Excellence:
⭐ Harrison Bergeron "Silent Conversation" Quote Pass Activity
⭐ Harrison Bergeron ESCAPE ROOM
⭐ Harrison Bergeron Human Tic Tac Toe Review Game
⭐ Harrison Bergeron Literature Guide
⭐ Harrison Bergeron Pre-Reading Activity
⭐ Harrison Bergeron Socratic Seminar
___________________________________________________________________
Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence
The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn by Kelly J. Baptist LESSON
By Ms. J's ELA
This resource should accompany the short story The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn by Kelly J. Baptist. The page numbers listed in this resource align with the book Flying Lessons and Other Stories. This resource includes 4 pages of both color and b/w worksheets which include a pre-reading journal question, tiered reading questions, vocabulary, and a focus on supporting analysis with textual evidence. A 10 page presentation accompanies the worksheets and includes an answer key.
This is a sensitive story. One of the tiered reading questions addresses coping strategies in times of grief. This question needs to be approached in an open, honest, non-judgmental way. If this is not the way you operate, skip this resource.
The Black Cat Socratic Seminar
By Language Arts Excellence
Socratic Seminar Materials for Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cat
A Socratic Seminar (or a "Fish Bowl" Conversation as I like to call them with my students) is a higher order way of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to your class texts. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, this student-tested resource was created to include everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe... with very little preparation required on your end.
Product Includes:
• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom
• Engaging Introductory Activity for Conversation Building
• 5 Discussion Questions for each “Fishbowl” conversation
• “Fishbowl” Preparation Sheet
• Conversation Builder Prompts
• Observation Sheet
• Rubric
___________________________________________________________________________
Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Tell-Tale Heart:
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Anticipation Guide and Lesson Plan
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Creative Writing Assignment on Perspective
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart ESCAPE ROOM
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Figurative Language Challenge Activity
⭐ Unreliable Narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart Lesson Plan
More resources to round out your Edgar Allan Poe unit:
⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint
⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe Scavenger Hunt
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Bell Ringer Journal Prompts
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Crossword Puzzle
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Brochure
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe's Obituary
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Quote Posters
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Resource Bundle
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence
Choctaw Bigfoot, Midnight in the Mountains by Tim Tingle Lesson & TEST
By Ms. J's ELA
This resource should accompany Tim Tingle's short story Choctaw Bigfoot, Midnight in the Mountains. This resource includes 4 student worksheet pages in both color and b/w. There is also a 12 page presentation to accompany the worksheets. The presentation contains answer keys for vocabulary and short answer questions. You will also get an Easel reading quiz with this resource.
This resource includes:
- a pre-reading journal question
- story vocabulary
- tiered reading questions
- questions focused on ELA standard about point of view and its impact on suspense and humor
- an Easel reading quiz
The Lottery Socratic Seminar (Shirley Jackson)
By Language Arts Excellence
Socratic Seminar Materials for Shirley Jackson's The Lottery
A Socratic Seminar (or a "Fish Bowl" Conversation as I like to call them with my students) is a higher order way of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to your class texts. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, this student-tested resource was created to include everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding The Lottery by Shirley Jackson... with very little preparation required on your end.
Product Includes:
• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom
• Engaging Introductory Activity for Conversation Building
• 5 Discussion Questions for each “Fishbowl” conversation
• “Fishbowl” Preparation Sheet
• Conversation Builder Prompts
• Observation Sheet
• Rubric
___________________________________________________________________
Also, check out these great resources to complement your unit on The Lottery by Language Arts Excellence:
⭐ Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint Presentation
⭐ The Lottery Literature Guide
⭐ The Lottery ESCAPE ROOM
⭐ The Lottery "Tossing Lines" Pre-Reading Activity
⭐ The Lottery Social Media Activities
⭐ Escape from Dystopia ESCAPE ROOM
___________________________________________________________________
Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence
Sol Painting, Inc. Short Story by Meg Medina
By Ms. J's ELA
This resource should accompany Meg Medina's short story Sol Painting, Inc. This short story can be found in the book Flying Lessons and Other Stories, which is an amazing compilation of short stories by diverse authors about diverse characters. This resource includes a 12 page presentation and 6 student worksheets. The worksheets and presentation include a pre-reading journal entry, a focus on theme and central idea (which I teach as two separate things), vocabulary using context clues, tiered reading questions, and post-reading questions regarding the story's themes and central idea. The worksheets come in a colored version for posting online and a b/w version for printing.
This resource defines theme as the message, lesson, or moral of the story. Central idea is defined as what the story is all about- a single sentence which unifies all elements of the story.
The Tell-Tale Heart Socratic Seminar
By Language Arts Excellence
Socratic Seminar Materials for Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart
A Socratic Seminar (or a "Fish Bowl" Conversation as I like to call them with my students) is a higher order way of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to your class texts. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, this student-tested resource was created to include everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe... with very little preparation required on your end.
Product Includes:
• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom
• Engaging Introductory Activity for Conversation Building
• 5 Discussion Questions for each “Fishbowl” conversation
• “Fishbowl” Preparation Sheet
• Conversation Builder Prompts
• Observation Sheet
• Rubric
___________________________________________________________________________
Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Tell-Tale Heart:
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Anticipation Guide and Lesson Plan
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Creative Writing Assignment on Perspective
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart ESCAPE ROOM
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Figurative Language Challenge Activity
⭐ Unreliable Narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart Lesson Plan
More resources to round out your Edgar Allan Poe unit:
⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint
⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe Scavenger Hunt
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Bell Ringer Journal Prompts
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Crossword Puzzle
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Brochure
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe's Obituary
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Quote Posters
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Resource Bundle
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence
Edgar Allan Poe Brochure - Final Project
By Language Arts Excellence
This product features an engaging final project that meaningfully incorporates technology in a culmination of your unit on Edgar Allan Poe.
For this final assignment, students will showcase their knowledge of Edgar Allan Poe, his works, and his life by creating brochures using Microsoft Word. Students will love the chance to practice using technology with this project as opposed to writing the same-old same-old essay and if they are like my students, will not even realize how much research and writing they are actually accomplishing with this project.
Product Includes:
This project works for any of the stories you read during your Edgar Allan Poe unit.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Save 20% off this resource when you purchase as part of a bundle of Edgar Allan Poe products:
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Resource Bundle
_____________________________________________________________________________
Also, check out these great products by Language Arts Excellence to supplement your Edgar Allan Poe unit:
⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint
⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe Scavenger Hunt
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Bell Ringer Journal Prompts
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Crossword Puzzle
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Brochure
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe's Obituary
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Human Tic Tac Toe Review Game
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Quote Posters
Chilling literature guides to frighten your students for months:
⭐ The Raven Literature Guide
⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide
⭐ The Black Cat Literature Guide
⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Literature Guide
⭐ The Cask of Amontillado Literature Guide
⭐ The Fall of the House of Usher Literature Guide
⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide
⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Short Story BUNDLE
___________________________________________________________________________
Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence