Less than $5 8th Grade Close Reading Lesson

Searching for a lesson that’s legendary? Your students will be captivated by the eerie tale of the Goatman, one of Maryland’s most spine-chilling urban legends! Perfect for grades 6-8, this highly engaging resource immerses your students in the shadowy woods of Maryland as they uncover the myth of the Goatman. Whether they believe in the creature or not, they’ll dive deep into critical analysis while meeting CCSS standards.

This Goatman Urban Legends Resource Includes: Elements of Urban Legends – A detailed mini-lesson exploring the key features of urban legends: mysterious creatures, storytelling traditions, fear of the unknown, and cultural connections.
Goatman Informational Text – A gripping article about the legend of the Goatman, a half-man, half-goat creature that has haunted the people of Maryland for decades.
Character Profile Worksheet – Students will use evidence from the text to create their own legendary Goatman profile, citing key details and analyzing the legend.
Goatman Comprehension Quiz – A 10-question quiz to assess students' understanding and ability to infer, analyze, and synthesize information.
✍️ Spooky Story Starter – A chilling writing prompt to inspire students to craft their own Goatman tales, combining creative writing with the suspense of urban legends.

Why You'll Love It:

• High Engagement: Who can resist the thrill of a mysterious creature lurking in the woods? This resource hooks students with high-interest content that keeps them engaged.
• Standards Aligned: Aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.5, and W.6.2. Students will develop skills in analyzing textual evidence and understanding author’s purpose.
• Perfect for Critical Thinking: Students will evaluate the legend, compare it to other myths, and infer why these stories have persisted over time.
• Versatile Usage: Ideal for whole group instruction, independent work, or spooky-themed projects that spark creativity and discussion!

Suggested Uses:

• Reading & Comprehension: Use the article to teach informational text standards, boost inferencing skills, and explore the central ideas of folklore.
• Creative Writing: Let students unleash their imagination by crafting their own Goatman stories using a spooky story starter.
• Classroom Debate: Engage students in a debate about whether the Goatman is fact or fiction, and have them support their claims with textual evidence.
• Socratic Seminars: Facilitate discussions around urban legends, exploring why these stories endure and how they reflect local culture.

Checklist of Benefits: ✅ Engaging Goatman legend with critical thinking tasks
✅ Perfect for spooky-themed lessons and creative writing
✅ Standards-aligned (CCSS)
✅ Supports critical thinking and analysis
✅ Includes a writing prompt for creativity
✅ Flexible for a range of classroom activities
✅ Designed for grades 6-8

Don’t let your students get lost in the woods—grab this legendary resource today and bring the mystery of the Goatman into your classroom!

This 40-page EDITABLE poetry unit promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The 10 poems in this unit all pivot on vivid and evocative SENSORY IMAGERY.

Because even our strongest students often have difficulty analyzing poetic imagery, I designed this unit to help students learn to "unpack" images and to explain how images deepen a poem's meaning. The literary devices quizzes, discussion prompts, and analytical writing assignment will challenge your students to dig beneath the surface of the text and generate profound interpretive insights!!

Here are some highlights from this 40-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems: The two homework packets contain a total of 10 poems by award-winning poets such as Emily Dickinson, Robert Hayden, Mary Oliver, Gary Soto, Sharon Olds, Mark Doty, Yusef Komunyakaa, Tony Hoagland, and others. The poems in each homework packet derive their meaning from the deft use of sensory images. These carefully selected poems will set the stage for your class to have fascinating and profoundly productive discussions!! (10 pages)

• Literary Devices Glossary: A glossary with definitions and examples of the various types of figurative language, imagery, stanzas, and syntactic devices. Many teachers already have a glossary of literary devices, but I'm providing this in case you need one. (2 pages)

• Literary Devices Quizzes: Open each class with a quiz of 10 questions to assess whether your students can accurately identify the literary devices: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. The digital versions of the quizzes on Google Forms will grade every student's work and generate a list of their scores. Answer keys included. (4 pages).

• Discussion Questions: Lists of discussion questions for the first poems in each homework packet. The discussion questions will ensure that your class discussions get off to a productive start. Every discussion question is grounded in concrete textual details and challenges students to arrive at lucid interpretive insights! The questions lend themselves to a range of different pedagogical uses: 1) to focus students’ thinking prior to beginning a discussion, 2) to prompt in-class writing, 3) to assign written reflections for homework, etc. Guaranteed to elicit student engagement and foster deep thinking! Answer keys included. (8 pages)

• Quick Writes: The quick writes give students an opportunity to capture and refine the best ideas generated in the discussion. Quick writes can also help reticent students to gather their thoughts so they'll feel ready and eager to contribute. (2 pages)

• Analytical Writing Assignment: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paper on a poem of their choice. The assignment sheet contains detailed instructions for how to generate a formalist analysis of a poem (analyzing how the poem's formal features contribute to its meaning). This kind of formalist analysis is exactly what students are asked to generate on the AP Literature exam! Sample paper included. (3 pages)

This entire 40-page unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word *and* PDF. Because the Word doc is fully editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit the skill levels of your students — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access all of the materials as a PDF — which is easy to navigate and quick to print! Finally, as a free bonus, I'm including links to digital copies of every document in user-friendly platforms like Google Docs and Google Forms.

My store is called “Rigorous Resources” because all of the resources contain rigorous content that will motivate students to engage in thought-provoking and productive discussions. Thank you for choosing Rigorous Resources!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

Links to all of the poetry units in this collection:

Poetry Unit #1: Sensory Imagery in Poetry

Poetry Unit #2: Figurative Language in Poetry

Poetry Unit #3: Love Poems

Poetry Unit #4: Ethical Dilemmas in Poetry

Poetry Unit #5: Family Dynamics in Poetry

Store: https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Rigorous-Resources

Unlock the power of inferencing with this comprehensive resource pack tailored for middle and high school students. Dive into the world of critical thinking and analysis with 19 unique files, carefully curated to enhance inferencing skills across various mediums.

Delve into captivating texts with a selection of short stories and poems, including "The Chaser," "Rose from the Concrete," "Rolling in the Deep," and "Cry me a River." Each file comes with detailed summaries and thought-provoking questions to stimulate deep comprehension and inferencing abilities.

Equip your students with the tools they need to excel in inferencing with supplementary materials, such as checking account statements for real-world application and a list of words describing tone to aid in textual analysis.

Explore the intricacies of inferencing through engaging activities, including an Inferencing Lesson with 26 slides designed for both group instruction and individual practice. With meticulously crafted lessons, students will develop a keen eye for detail and learn to draw insightful conclusions from diverse sources.

Unleash the power of music, poetry, literature, and more as students analyze and infer meaning through a variety of mediums. Whether used for group lessons, individual practice, or assessments, this resource pack provides all the materials you need for rapid inferencing success.

Plus, with answer keys included for all activities, you can streamline your grading process and focus on what matters most: empowering your students to become master inferencers. Elevate your teaching and transform your classroom into a hub of critical thinking and discovery with this inferencing activity!

Teach analysis and audience through an interactive interpretation of Brutus' Speech from Julius Caesar. Students will bring the speech up-to-date using slang and time period words. Included are: student examples extra resources list scoring rubric directions with materials list Students will "get the meaning" with this easy-to-teach, fun analysis assignment. Meets standard state ELA guidelines and CCSS.

Vos élèves ont du mal à résoudre les mots complexes et techniques? Ces mini-leçons de lecture se concentrent principalement sur la résolution de vocabulaire complexe qui tend à apparaître dans ces niveaux avancés.

⁕⁕ Please see the preview for a full view of this document, with details in English. These descriptions and this product are entirely in French. ⁕⁕

J'ai remarqué que mes grands élèves de 6e année ont tendance à se décourager face au vocabulaire scientifique plus spécifique qu'ils découvrent lors de leurs recherches et dans la lecture de textes scientifiques - ils perdent leur enthousiasme, leur confiance - et une fois que cela se produit, nous sommes tous fichus ! J'ai créé cette ressource pour ces élèves qui se sentent découragés par le vocabulaire complexe, afin de les rediriger et de leur donner la confiance nécessaire pour continuer à progresser dans leur lecture - même lorsque cela devient difficile.

À mesure que les élèves grandissent, ils ont toujours besoin de stratégies de lecture; mais celles-ci sont très différentes de ce que l'on voit dans les premières années du primaire.

Les mini-leçons de cette unité se concentrent sur :

• Utiliser les indices de contexte: Lire autour d'un mot, relire une phrase et développer des stratégies efficaces pour traverser des phrases difficiles.
• La décomposition des mots: Se concentrer sur les préfixes, les suffixes et les racines.
• Les familles de mots: Trouver la racine d'un mot et l'utiliser pour comprendre des mots complexes.
• Les mots composés: Analyser les mots composés.

Chaque mini-leçon vous fournira des activités (généralement en paires) utilisant des cartes pour trier ou travailler sur une stratégie spécifique, des clés de réponse, un plan de leçon détaillé (suffisamment simple pour être laissé à un enseignant suppléant), des extraits de lecture avec questions de compréhension (avec une fiche de suivi de lecture pour évaluer un élève individuellement pendant que ses pairs lisent de manière autonome) et, surtout, des affiches vibrantes et captivantes pour offrir à vos élèves une visualisation de la stratégie en question. Je préfère projeter mes tableaux d'ancrage pour qu'ils puissent les voir numériquement, et imprimer de petites copies pour que mes élèves les aient à portée de main dans leurs classeurs. Le choix vous appartient entièrement.

Vous en voulez plus ? Voici quelques ressources de mini-leçons en FRANÇAIS à déCouvrir :

• Écriture: Générer les idées
• Écriture: Endurance et motivation
• Écriture: La structure et la fluidité
• Écriture: Améliorer le choix de mots
• Écriture: Introductions & Conclusions
• Lecture: Solutionner les mots
• Lecture: La visualisation
• Lecture: Faire des liens
• Lecture: Connaissances antérieures
• Lecture: Faire des prédictions
• Lecture: Faire des inférences
• Lecture: Informations clés
• Lecture: Stratégies de réparation

Rejoignez-moi sur Facebook ! Je partage des ressources gratuites, je vous tiens au courant des soldes et des offres, et je vous invite à collaborer et à donner votre avis.

Vous pouvez gagner des Crédits TeachShare en laissant un commentaire sur tous les produits que vous achetez. Vous pouvez le faire en allant sur votre page Mes achats et en cliquant sur le bouton « Fournir des commentaires ». Vous gagnerez 1 crédit TeachShare pour chaque dollar dépensé !

Pour l'amour du ciel, n'oubliez pas de vous amuser !

Mme Kaitlyn

This St. Patrick's Day Figurative Language Short Passage Set is a no-prep, printable close reading activity that's perfect for middle school and high school. Use it for St. Patrick's Day or any day! This is a 207-word passage filled with 14 examples of figurative language, such as hyperbole, metaphor, simile, and personification. I’ve found that although my students can tell me the definition of these terms, simile is the only one they can truly pick out in a text. As a result, their writing is filled with overused similes that need work! This figurative language passage set is rigorous, uses higher-level words and phrases, and in addition to merely identifying the different types, students will be asked to discuss the impact it has on the reader, as they’re asked to do on standardized testing. Check out my other figurative language passage sets here!

Simply print and go! There is truly no preparation needed, which is why this set is perfect to leave for sub plans, bell ringers, homework, test prep, review or assessment!

*As an optional review activity, use my No-prep Four Corners Figurative Language Activity resource for a fun whole-group game, then use this passage set for assessment!
Activity:
Students can complete all three worksheets as part of a packet, but I suggest using one each day. If you teach allusion, alliteration, idiom, or onomatopoeia, you can ask students to include those in Task 2 where they will be asked to continue the passage using a similar writing style. I have left some blanks on the checklist for this very purpose.

Reflection:
The class can review the answers and comments as a whole group when the activity is complete. You’ll be surprised how much better they’ll get at figurative language after being exposed to some high-quality examples!

INCLUDED WITH YOUR PURCHASE:

• 3 Printable Worksheets

★★I would love to have you as my newest follower!★★ Click here to follow.

Be sure to check out these Popular Resources:

Four Corners Figurative Language Fun Game No Prep -New!

Four Corners Mini Debate Activity- No Prep -New!

Kindness is Respect Chalk Talk Group Activity-NO PREP -New!

Hatchet Pre-Reading Chalk Talk Group Activity-NO PREP -New!

Character Traits Anchor Chart Posters

Transitions Anchor Chart Posters

Elaboration Stems Anchor Chart Posters

Word Choice Anchor Chart Poster Set

Writing Anchor Chart Posters Bundle

Digital Character Shift Chart Google Slides Group Work Any Novel

Digital Character Shift Chart Jamboard Background Any Novel

Digital Vocabulary Google Slides Frayer Model Notebook

Good Readers Reading Comprehension Anchor Poster Bundle

Mood Anchor Chart/Poster

This is a powerpoint presentation that introduces close reading skills of informational texts to students. I created this product last year in order to align with Common Core Standards. Powerpoint reviews the definition of close reading then outlines the 4 major steps of close reading: START WITH THE END IN MIND, NUMBER PARAGRAPHS, "CHUNK" TEXT, and ANNOTATE. My student feedback has been very positive as this is a structured and straightforward approach to close reading informational texts. This powerpoint serves as an excellent introduction to the kind of close reading students need to do for the PARCC test as well as for the Common Core. How to incorporate this powerpoint into your own lessons: Begin by introducing close reading skills with this powerpoint. Then, pass out a short article (I find mine at Kelly Gallagher's Article of the week http://www.kellygallagher.org/article-of-the-week) and model the steps with your students. I put the article up on the SMARTBoard and hand out a copy to each student so we can do it together. This full lesson takes about an hour and a half to two hours to fully complete. ___________________________________________________________________________ Check out these related resources for your ELA classroom: ⭐ Back to School Effective Effort Lesson Plan
⭐ Emergency ELA Lesson Plan BUNDLE
⭐ Guess Your Grade - Effective Effort Form
⭐ Literary Devices Crossword Puzzle
⭐ Literature Activities {{BUNDLE!}}
⭐ Literature Circle Task Cards
⭐ Peer Edit Forms and Lesson Plan ___________________________________________________________________________ ⭐Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐

This "THANK YOU, MA'AM" resource allows teachers to GRAB n' TEACH! This product includes a READY-tO-Print LESSON PLAN, EDITABLE, an Exceptional Student Education [ESE] Accommodations/Modifications, English Language Learners [ELL] Strategies, Differentiation Instruction, a BLANK LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE, and Teacher Notes on the short story. Get the ease and peace-of-mind you need to teach this work.

This PRODUCT Includes:

1. A "THANK YOU, MA'AM" Ready-To-TEACH Lesson Plan with Alternate Activities

2. "THANK YOU, MA'AM" TEACHER NOTES

3. Exceptional Student Education [ESE] Modifications/Accommodations

4. English Language Learner Strategies

5. Black & white versions

You may also appreciate:

SEVENTH GRADE [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]

ELEVEN [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]

END OF SOMETHING [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]

GET A KNIFE! [TASK CARDS]

FUN BLACK HISTORY PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES [BUNDLE]

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING ME ON THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:

TheAngryTeacherBLOG

EMAIL LIST

INSTAGRAM

Facebook

Pinterest

TIKTOK

Hey Angry Teacher Family,

I'm Richard Williams, The Angry Teacher. I've been teaching for 18+ Years , and have amassed quite a bit of knowledge to share. Please consider joining the Angry Teacher family; we'll enjoy having you in the fam!

Please consider checking out the other educational materials and resources in my store.

Also, guys, remember that leaving REVIEWS is a way that TeachShare gives you credit on products! So let's do it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Ditch the reading logs; ignite your students' analytical fire!

The dialectical journal format becomes a springboard for engaging class discussions, fostering active participation and a deeper understanding of the text. I love to use these when we read short stories or novels when I want the students to notice something, but I want them to have the joy of discovery. Someone always, inevitably, picks up on what I wanted to highlight, and the added bonus is that other students get to share their insights, too. Dialectical Journals have been a great confidence builder!

Empower Students to Analyze, Question, and Create Meaning:

• Go beyond summaries: Unlike traditional reading logs, dialectical journals encourage students to think critically about the text, prompting them to identify key quotes, analyze their significance, and connect them to their own thoughts and experiences.
• Cultivate analytical skills: Students learn to question the author's intent, evaluate evidence, formulate their own interpretations, and ask their own questions.

Everything You Need to Get Started:

• Teacher-Friendly Guide: Get a clear roadmap with a Teacher's Guide featuring an introduction lesson for dialectical journals/lesson suggestions.
• Modeling & Practice: A sample journal page is included to model and practice the dialectical journal process with your students.
• Ready-to-Use Dialectical Journals: Choose from Fiction or Nonfiction templates, easily printed as a weekly journal or stand-alone pages. Both formats include:
  • Journal Cover Page
  • Ideas/Concepts to Consider Page to prime students' thinking
  • 5 Journal Pages for efficient printing
  • Weekly Summary Page to encourage reflection and synthesis
• Flexible & Adaptable: A PDF print version and Google Slides access (for all student pages) is included for a seamless transition into your existing classroom workflow.
• Easy Assessment: Scoring Rubric (suitable for both fiction and nonfiction) simplifies grading and provides clear expectations for students.

I hope you'll find this resource as valuable in your classroom as I have in mine, and I hope it makes your teacher life a little bit easier in the process!

Ready to take your students on a magical adventure into the world of fantasy literature? This Elements of Fantasy lesson plan is a spellbinding resource that introduces students to the key components of the fantasy genre. Whether you’re exploring magical systems, embarking on heroic quests, or battling dark forces in the ultimate good vs. evil showdown, this lesson plan has everything you need to cast an enchantment over your classroom.

What’s Included:

✔️ Engaging Slides covering the 6 key elements of fantasy:

• World-Building
• Magical Systems
• Hero’s Journey
• Mythical Creatures
• Quests
• Good vs. Evil

✔️ Fill-in-the-blank Guided Notes for students to actively engage with the lesson content.

✔️ Practice Activities using Harry Potter movie trailers and an excerpt from The Lightning Thief to reinforce concepts.

✔️ Exit Ticket Assessment to ensure student understanding.

Suggested Uses:

• Introduction to Fantasy: Perfect for introducing the genre to 6th-8th graders with relatable, age-appropriate examples.
• Unit Review: Use this resource to review fantasy elements at the end of a genre study.
• Engaging Activities: Incorporate multimedia elements, like Harry Potter trailers and Percy Jackson excerpts, to keep students engaged.

Key Benefits:

• Interactive & Student-Centered: Engages students through guided notes, discussions, and multimedia examples.
• Aligned with Standards: Supports literary analysis and genre exploration aligned with middle-grade ELA standards.
• Flexible for Multiple Uses: Use as a standalone lesson or integrate into a larger fantasy literature unit.
• Easy to Prep: Slides, guided notes, and assessments are ready to go, saving you valuable time!

Get ready to ignite the magic of learning with this detailed and easy-to-use Elements of Fantasy lesson! Whether you’re looking for a fun way to introduce fantasy or need an engaging resource for genre review, this lesson will help your students unlock the door to fantastical worlds.

This 50-page EDITABLE poetry unit promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The 12 poems in this unit pivot on the use of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, etc.

Teach your students how to analyze figurative language through a series of engaging lessons on poems that students are guaranteed to love. The literary device quizzes, discussion prompts, and analytical writing assignment will challenge your students to dig beneath the surface of the text and generate profound interpretive insights!

Here are some highlights from this 50-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems: The two homework packets contain a total of 12 poems by award-winning poets such as Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Elizabeth Bishop, Richard Wilbur, Sylvia Plath, Maya Angelou, Julia Alvarez, Mark Doty, Sharon Olds, and others. The poems in each homework packet derive their meaning from the deft use of sensory images. These carefully selected poems will set the stage for your class to have fascinating and profoundly productive discussions!! (12 pages)

• Literary Devices Glossary: A glossary with definitions and examples of the various types of figurative language, imagery, stanzas, and syntactic devices. Many teachers already have a glossary of literary devices, but I'm providing this in case you need one. (2 pages)

• Literary Devices Quizzes: Open each class with a quiz of 10 questions to assess whether your students can accurately identify the literary devices found in poems from the packet: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. The digital versions of the quizzes on Google Forms will grade every student's work and generate a list of their scores. Answer keys included. (4 pages).

• Discussion Questions: This bundle features a list of discussion questions for two poems in each of two homework packets. The discussion questions will ensure that your class discussions get off to a productive start. Every discussion question is grounded in concrete textual details and challenges students to arrive at lucid interpretive insights! The questions lend themselves to a range of different pedagogical uses: 1) to focus students’ thinking prior to beginning a discussion, 2) to prompt in-class writing, 3) to assign written reflections for homework, etc. Guaranteed to elicit student engagement and foster deep thinking! Answer keys included. (16 pages)

• Quick Writes: The quick writes give students an opportunity to capture and refine the best ideas generated in the discussion. Quick writes can also help reticent students to gather their thoughts so they'll feel ready and eager to contribute. (4 pages)

• Analytical Writing Assignment: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paper on a poem of their choice. The assignment sheet contains detailed instructions for how to generate a formalist analysis of a poem (analyzing how the poem's formal features contribute to its meaning). This kind of formalist analysis is exactly what students are asked to generate on the AP Literature exam! Sample paper included. (3 pages)

This entire 50-page unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word *and* PDF. Because the Word doc is fully editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit the skill levels of your students — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access all of the materials as a PDF — which is easy to navigate and quick to print! Finally, as a free bonus, I'm including links to digital copies of every document in user-friendly platforms like Google Docs and Google Forms.

My store is called “Rigorous Resources” because all of the resources contain rigorous content that will motivate students to engage in thought-provoking and productive discussions. Thank you for choosing “Rigorous Resources”!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

Links to all of the poetry units in this collection:

Poetry Unit #1: Sensory Imagery in Poetry

Poetry Unit #2: Figurative Language in Poetry

Poetry Unit #3: Love Poems

Poetry Unit #4: Ethical Dilemmas in Poetry

Poetry Unit #5: Family Dynamics in Poetry

Store: https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Rigorous-Resources

This 31 page middle grade lesson plan comes ready to implement with easy to follow, color coded examples and activities for teaching, learning, and mastering author's style and types of sentences. Includes: History of Writing and Changes in Styles (1400s and 1700s to current) Models for writing great author's style and types of sentences Practice activities for sentence lengths and varieties Types of sentences (basic, compound, complex, compound-complex) Colorcoded examples of sentences Tips for writing Peer workshopping activities Excellent for homeschool, flipped classes, Gifted & Talented/Pre-Ap/AP, literacy centers, project based classrooms, and test prep. Meets CCSS and state guidelines for ELA. Requires critical thinking and problem solving skills.

This Figurative Language Short Passage Set is a no-prep, printable close reading activity that's perfect for middle school and high school. This is a 206-word passage filled with 14 examples of figurative language, such as hyperbole, metaphor, simile, and personification. I’ve found that although my students can tell me the definition of these terms, simile is the only one they can truly pick out in a text. As a result, their writing is filled with overused similes that need work! This figurative language passage set is rigorous, uses higher-level words and phrases, and in addition to merely identifying the different types, students will be asked to discuss the impact it has on the reader, as they’re asked to do on standardized testing. Check out my other figurative language passage sets HERE!

Simply print and go! There is truly no preparation needed, which is why this set is perfect to leave for sub plans, bell ringers, homework, test prep, review or assessment!

*As an optional review activity, use my No-prep Four Corners Figurative Language Activity resource for a fun whole-group game, then use this passage set for assessment!

Activity:
Students can complete all three worksheets as part of a packet, but I suggest using one each day. If you teach allusion, alliteration, idiom, or onomatopoeia, you can ask students to include those in Task 2 where they will be asked to continue the passage using a similar writing style. I have left some blanks on the checklist for this very purpose.

Reflection:
The class can review the answers and comments as a whole group when the activity is complete. You’ll be surprised how much better they’ll get at figurative language after being exposed to some high-quality examples!

INCLUDED WITH YOUR PURCHASE:

• 3 Printable Worksheets

⭐️ LOOKING FOR MORE RELATABLE ACTIVITIES FOR TEENS?

Check out the Pop Culture ACTIVITY BUNDLE - your solution to no-stress lesson planning and easy print and go sub plans.

INCLUDES THESE HIGH-INTEREST TOPICS FOR TEENS...

⭐️ Crocs

⭐️ Netflix

⭐️ Takis

⭐️ Fortnite

⭐️ MrBeast

⭐️ Air Jordans

⭐️ TikTok

⭐️ OpenAI

6-Page Article & Activity Sets - Includes 8 Sets!

Each set includes...

► 1-page pop culture article

► Reading Comprehension - 7 multiple choice questions

► Critical Thinking - 5 short answer questions

► Crossword Puzzle

► Design Page

► Impossible MAZE

This Pop Culture Bundle for Middle School will make your students WANT to work and stay on task as they read about high-interest trending topics among teens. Also available for High School and Upper Elementary School.

Have a question?

Please check out the Q&A section or message me and I'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Don't forget to leave me feedback! I love to hear what my buyers say, how the product worked for them, and any feedback I can use to improve my product! (It also earns you points towards future TeachShare Purchases)

**For personal and single classroom use only. If using with multiple classrooms, please purchase additional licenses at the discounted rate.**

★I would love to have you as my newest follower!★ Click here to follow.

This "MEDICINE BAG" resource allows teachers to GRAB n' TEACH! This product includes a READY-tO-Print LESSON PLAN, EDITABLE, an Exceptional Student Education [ESE] Accommodations/Modifications, English Language Learners [ELL] Strategies, Differentiation Instruction, a BLANK LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE, and Teacher Notes on the short story. Get the ease and peace-of-mind you need to teach this work.

This PRODUCT Includes:

1. A "MEDICINE BAG" Ready-To-TEACH Lesson Plan with Alternate Activities

2. "MEDICINE BAG" TEACHER NOTES

3. Exceptional Student Education [ESE] Modifications/Accommodations

4. English Language Learner Strategies

5. Black & white versions

You may also appreciate:

A & P [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]

ELEVEN [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]

END OF SOMETHING [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]

GET A KNIFE! [TASK CARDS]

FUN BLACK HISTORY PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES [BUNDLE]

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING ME ON THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:

TheAngryTeacherBLOG

EMAIL LIST

INSTAGRAM

Facebook

Pinterest

TIKTOK

Hey Angry Teacher Fam,

I'm Richard, The Angry Teacher. I've been teaching for 20+ Years , and have amassed quite a bit of knowledge to share. Please consider joining the Angry Teacher family; we'll enjoy having you in the fam!

Please consider checking out the other EDUCATIONAL materials and resources in my store.

Also, guys, remember that leaving REVIEWS is a way that TeachShare gives you credit on products! So let's do it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Are you trying to make theme sticky for your students? This resource includes practice worksheets for three short films under 5 minutes long: Piper, The Present, Pip available on Youtube for free. Students will love the beautiful graphics of the films, and the heart warming lessons to learn from each. I love using these films as mini lessons of about 10 minutes each or you can combine all three into a 30 minute practice session. This can be used virtually or in person, as extension activities or as direct instruction!

Piper: https://youtu.be/WIPV1iwzrzg

The Present: https://youtu.be/WjqiU5FgsYc

Pip: https://youtu.be/07d2dXHYb94

Free Bonus: Using Pixar to teach Somebody wanted, but, so then (Summary!) with answer keys.

This 38-page EDITABLE poetry unit promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The 10 poems in this mini-unit all focus on different kinds of ethical dilemmas.

Because teenagers are genuinely intrigued by ethical dilemmas, these poems will set the stage for your class to have authentic discussions that inspire a whole new depth of reflection. The literary devices quizzes, discussion prompts, and analytical writing assignment will challenge your students to dig beneath the surface of the text and generate profound interpretive insights!

Here are some highlights from this 38-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems about Ethical Dilemmas: The two homework packets contains a total of 10 poems by a diverse range of award-winning poets such as Robert Frost, William Stafford, Ada Limón, Jan Beatty, Ross Gay, and others. Every poem focuses on some kind of ethical dilemma. Because teenagers are genuinely intrigued by ethical dilemmas, these poems will set the stage for your class to have fascinating and profoundly productive discussions!! (10 pages)

• Literary Devices Glossary: A glossary with definitions and examples of the various types of figurative language, imagery, stanzas, and syntactic devices. Many teachers already have a glossary of literary devices, but I'm providing this in case you need one. (2 pages)

• Literary Devices Quizzes: Open each class with a quiz of 10 questions to assess whether your students can accurately identify the literary devices used in the poems from the nightly homework packets: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. The digital versions of the quizzes on Google Forms will grade every student's work and generate a list of their scores. Answer keys included. (4 pages).

• Discussion Questions: This bundle features a list of discussion questions for the first poem in each of two nightly homework packets. The discussion questions will ensure that every class discussion starts on a productive foot. Every discussion question is grounded in concrete textual details and challenges students to arrive at lucid interpretive insights! The questions lend themselves to a range of different pedagogical uses: 1) to focus students’ thinking prior to beginning a discussion, 2) to prompt in-class writing, 3) to assign written reflections for homework, etc. Guaranteed to elicit student engagement and foster deep thinking! Answer keys included. (7 pages)

• Quick Writes: The quick writes give students an opportunity to capture and refine the best ideas generated in the discussion. Quick writes can also help reticent students to gather their thoughts so they'll feel ready and eager to contribute. (3 pages)

• Analytical Writing Assignment: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paper on a poem of their choice. The assignment sheet contains detailed instructions for how to generate a formalist analysis of a poem (analyzing how the poem's formal features contribute to its meaning). This kind of formalist analysis is exactly what students are asked to generate on the AP Literature exam! Sample paper included. (3 pages)

This entire 38-page unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word *and* PDF. Because the Word doc is fully editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit the skill levels of your students — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access all of the materials as a PDF — which is easy to navigate and quick to print! Finally, as a free bonus, I'm including links to digital copies of every document in user-friendly platforms like Google Docs and Google Forms.

My store is called “Rigorous Resources” because all of the resources contain rigorous content that will motivate students to engage in thought-provoking and productive discussions. Thank you for choosing Rigorous Resources!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

Links to all of the poetry units in this collection:

Poetry Unit #1: Sensory Imagery in Poetry

Poetry Unit #2: Figurative Language in Poetry

Poetry Unit #3: Love Poems

Poetry Unit #4: Ethical Dilemmas in Poetry

Poetry Unit #5: Family Dynamics in Poetry

Store: https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Rigorous-Resources

For Middle Grade Students, all writers have it, but do you know what style is and how to recognize it? This 15 page presentation for will help students understand and analyze their own writing styles, as well as other authors' styles. Easy to follow format will have students analyzing style in no time! Includes: Checklist for Authors Handout Definitions for Author's Style . Examples of Classic Literature and Fairy Tale to Analyze How to Find Author's Style in Writing Extra Style Analysis Activities Author's Style Workshopping Handout How and Why to Improve Student's author's style Terminologies and definitions include: Audience—listeners, readers, viewers of work Author’s voice—sets writing apart from others; uniqueness of writing Genre—category/organization pattern of writing Purpose—intent of writing Mood—reader’s emotion to the writing Tone—author’s attitude about subject matter Sentence fluency—cadence, flow, transitions used Sentence variety—lengths/mixture of sentences Word choices—descriptions, figurative language, repetitions, synonyms… Excellent for introducing style, writing concepts, standardized testing reviews, class assessments, college readiness, CCSS, literacy centers, and grammar/editing revisions, Students will be able to identify their authors' styles after working through this presentation.

This Figurative Language Short Passage Set is a no-prep, printable close reading activity that's perfect for middle school and high school. This is a 205-word passage filled with 14 examples of figurative language, such as hyperbole, metaphor, simile, and personification. I’ve found that although my students can tell me the definition of these terms, simile is the only one they can truly pick out in a text. As a result, their writing is filled with overused similes that need work! This figurative language passage set is rigorous, uses higher-level words and phrases, and in addition to merely identifying the different types, students will be asked to discuss the impact it has on the reader, as they’re asked to do on standardized testing. Check out my other figurative language passage sets HERE!

Simply print and go! There is truly no preparation needed, which is why this set is perfect to leave for sub plans, bell ringers, homework, test prep, review or assessment!

*As an optional review activity, use my No-prep Four Corners Figurative Language Activity resource for a fun whole-group game, then use this passage set for assessment!

Activity:
Students can complete all three worksheets as part of a packet, but I suggest using one each day. If you teach allusion, alliteration, idiom, or onomatopoeia, you can ask students to include those in Task 2 where they will be asked to continue the passage using a similar writing style. I have left some blanks on the checklist for this very purpose.

Reflection:
The class can review the answers and comments as a whole group when the activity is complete. You’ll be surprised how much better they’ll get at figurative language after being exposed to some high-quality examples!

INCLUDED WITH YOUR PURCHASE:

• 3 Printable Worksheets

⭐️ LOOKING FOR MORE RELATABLE ACTIVITIES FOR TEENS?

Check out the Pop Culture ACTIVITY BUNDLE - your solution to no-stress lesson planning and easy print and go sub plans.

INCLUDES THESE HIGH-INTEREST TOPICS FOR TEENS...

⭐️ Crocs

⭐️ Netflix

⭐️ Takis

⭐️ Fortnite

⭐️ MrBeast

⭐️ Air Jordans

⭐️ TikTok

⭐️ OpenAI

6-Page Article & Activity Sets - Includes 8 Sets!

Each set includes...

► 1-page pop culture article

► Reading Comprehension - 7 multiple choice questions

► Critical Thinking - 5 short answer questions

► Crossword Puzzle

► Design Page

► Impossible MAZE

This Pop Culture Bundle for Middle School will make your students WANT to work and stay on task as they read about high-interest trending topics among teens. Also available for High School and Upper Elementary School.

Have a question?

Please check out the Q&A section or message me and I'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Don't forget to leave me feedback! I love to hear what my buyers say, how the product worked for them, and any feedback I can use to improve my product! (It also earns you points towards future TeachShare Purchases)

**For personal and single classroom use only. If using with multiple classrooms, please purchase additional licenses at the discounted rate.**

★I would love to have you as my newest follower!★ Click here to follow.

This "THE VELDT" resource allows teachers to GRAB n' TEACH! This product includes a READY-tO-Print LESSON PLAN, EDITABLE, an Exceptional Student Education [ESE] Accommodations/Modifications, English Language Learners [ELL] Strategies, Differentiation Instruction, a BLANK LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE, and Teacher Notes on the short story. Get the ease and peace-of-mind you need to teach this work.

This PRODUCT Includes:

1. A "CIVIL PEACE" Ready-To-TEACH Lesson Plan with Alternate Activities

2. "CIVIL PEACE" TEACHER NOTES

3. Exceptional Student Education [ESE] Modifications/Accommodations

4. English Language Learner Strategies

5. Black & white versions

You may also appreciate:

A & P [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]

ELEVEN [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]

END OF SOMETHING [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]

GET A KNIFE! [TASK CARDS]

FUN BLACK HISTORY PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES [BUNDLE]

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING ME ON THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:

TheAngryTeacherBLOG

EMAIL LIST

INSTAGRAM

Facebook

Pinterest

TIKTOK

Hey Angry Teacher Fam,

I'm Richard, The Angry Teacher. I've been teaching for 20+ Years , and have amassed quite a bit of knowledge to share. Please consider joining the Angry Teacher family; we'll enjoy having you in the fam!

Please consider checking out the other EDUCATIONAL materials and resources in my store.

Also, guys, remember that leaving REVIEWS is a way that TeachShare gives you credit on products! So let's do it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Looking for a lesson that’s spooky AND standards-aligned? Your students will be haunted by curiosity as they dive into the eerie tale of the Bell Witch! Perfect for grades 6-8, this two-day lesson plan takes students on a thrilling exploration of one of America’s oldest ghost stories while building essential reading and writing skills. Whether they believe in the supernatural or not, they’ll be engaged and eager to investigate the legend while meeting CCSS standards.

This Bell Witch Urban Legends Resource Includes: Elements of Urban Legends – A comprehensive mini-lesson that breaks down the mysterious features of urban legends, focusing on storytelling, culture, and the supernatural.
Bell Witch Informational Text – A captivating article about the legend of the Bell Witch and her terrifying haunt of the Bell family in early 19th-century Tennessee.
Character Profile Worksheet – Students will analyze key details from the article to create a legendary profile of the Bell Witch.
Bell Witch Comprehension Quiz – A 10-question quiz to assess students’ ability to infer, analyze, and comprehend textual evidence using STAAR-like questions.
✍️ Spooky Story Starter – A chilling writing prompt that will have your students crafting their own thrilling endings to the Bell Witch saga.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Engaging & Spooky: Ghost stories never go out of style! This lesson will hook students with the thrilling mystery of the Bell Witch, perfect for a spooky classroom theme.
• Standards Aligned: Fully aligned with CCSS standards (RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.5, W.6.2) to help students improve critical thinking, reading comprehension, and writing skills.
• Critical Thinking & Creativity: Students will analyze the text, draw inferences, and use evidence, while also engaging in creative writing with a suspenseful story starter.
• Two-Day Lesson Plan: A structured, easy-to-follow two-day lesson plan that includes reading, group activities, comprehension, and creative writing.
• Flexible for All Learning Styles: This resource can be used for independent work, small groups, whole-class activities, and even Socratic seminars.

Suggested Uses:

• Reading Comprehension: Use the article and quiz to teach important skills such as identifying the central idea, supporting details, and making inferences.
• Creative Writing: Engage students' imaginations as they write their own spooky stories, inspired by the Bell Witch.
• Classroom Discussions: Use this resource for thoughtful discussions about why ghost stories and urban legends endure in culture.
• Socratic Seminars: Guide students in discussing how storytelling reflects cultural fears and beliefs.

Checklist of Benefits: ✅ Captivating Bell Witch legend for spooky-themed learning
✅ Standards-aligned (CCSS) for grades 6-8
✅ Builds critical thinking and reading comprehension skills
✅ Engages students in both creative and analytical tasks
✅ Includes a 10-question STAAR-like quiz
✅ Perfect for 2-day classroom instruction
✅ Flexible for a variety of classroom activities

Don’t let this resource vanish into thin air—grab your Bell Witch urban legend lesson plan today and make learning hauntingly fun for your students!