Less than $5 Middle School Literature Lesson

NEW IN 2021: Rigorous! Thought-provoking! Discussion-Based! This 45-page EDITABLE mini-unit promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The discussion questions, quizzes on poetic devices, and analytical writing assignment will challenge your students to dig beneath the surface of Dickinson's poems and generate profound interpretive insights!!

Here are some highlights from this 45-page mini-unit on Dickinson's poetry:

• 10 Poems by Emily Dickinson: The 10 poems in this mini-unit feature Emily Dickinson's best works of poetry. The packet includes a representative sampling of riddle poems ("It sifts from Leaden Sieves"), nature poems ("There's a certain Slant of light"), death poems ("Because I could not stop for Death"), feminist poems ("I'm ceded — I've stopped being Theirs"), ars poetica ("I dwell in Possibility"), and more. The 10 poems are split between two Homework Packets, with each packet containing 5 poems. (12 pages)

• Discussion Questions: This bundle features a list of discussion questions for two poems from each of the homework packets. The discussion questions will ensure that every class discussion starts on a productive note. 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. (15 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)

• 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 homework packets: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. Answer keys included. (4 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)

• 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)

The entire 45-page unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word doc and PDF. Because the Word doc is fully editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit your teaching style and/or 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 in a PDF file, which is easy to navigate and quick to print!

Because I believe that teachers should be able to see exactly what they'll be getting before they purchase, the preview for this resource allows viewing accesses to 20 pages. Click on the green “PREVIEW” button to see exactly what you’ll get. . . .

Thank you for choosing “Rigorous Resources”!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

P.S. Don't forget to click “follow” for email updates on new products by Rigorous Resources. New products will be 50% OFF for the first 24 hours!

Overview of poetry includes 21 slides and starts at the beginning of time then finishes with 19TH century (for 20th century see Origins of Poetry 20th Century PowerPoint). Includes poets, social concepts (lifestyles, fashions, entertainment), links to readings and visuals, resources, photos of fashions and poets. A complete overview for students that can be broken down by time periods using the contents slide. Easy for students to follow and comprehend.

Engage Your Students with the Wonders of the Coral Reef!

Bring the vibrant underwater world of coral reefs to life with this captivating resource designed for Grades 5 and 6! "The Silent Symphony of the Coral Reef" offers a multi-faceted learning experience that combines a visually stunning video with a thoughtfully crafted text, perfect for engaging your students in reading comprehension, science, and descriptive writing.

What's Included:

• High-Quality Video: Immerse your students in the beauty and diversity of coral reefs with a captivating video showcasing the incredible creatures and vibrant colors of this underwater ecosystem.

• EAL-Friendly Text: The accompanying text is written in clear, accessible language, making it ideal for English Language Learners and students of all reading levels.

• Engaging Activities: Spark curiosity and critical thinking with a variety of activities focused on descriptive language, figurative language, sentence variety, and creating mental images. These activities encourage students to analyze the text, deepen their understanding of the topic, and enhance their writing skills.

• Teacher's Answer Key: Save valuable time with question possibilities & additional ideas.

Why Choose This Resource?

• Cross-Curricular Connections: Seamlessly integrate reading comprehension, science, and writing instruction.
• Visually Stunning: Capture students' attention with vibrant underwater footage and imagery.
• EAL Support: Accessible learning opportunities for English Language Learners.
• Ready-to-Use Activities: Minimize prep time with engaging, ready-to-implement activities.
• Differentiated Instruction: Meet the needs of all learners with adaptable activities.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the author's craft in a text.
• Analyze textual evidence to support claims about the author's purpose.
• Connect the author's purpose to the overall message of the text.
• Expand vocabulary and descriptive writing skills.
• Looks at sentence length, tone, figurative language, imagery
• Develop a deeper understanding of coral reef ecosystems and their importance.

Perfect for:

• Whole-class instruction
• Small group work
• Independent study
• Centers
• Enrichment activities

Bring the magic of the coral reef into your classroom! Click here to purchase now and inspire your students with the wonders of the underwater world!

While The Great Gatsby provides an in-depth portrayal of American culture during the Roaring Twenties, its storyline mirrors one told many times before, potentially as old as the country itself: a man rises from destitution to wealth, only to find that his fortune does not afford him the privileges enjoyed by those born into their elite status.

The central character is Jay Gatsby, a wealthy New Yorker whose occupation is vague. Gatsby is primarily known for the lavish parties he throws each weekend at his opulent Gothic mansion in West Egg. He is thought to be linked to illegal bootlegging and several criminal activities. The storyteller, Nick Carraway, resides next to Gatsby in West Egg.

This lesson plan for The Great Gatsby is designed to last approximately 90 minutes. The student activities vary and are presented in a separate worksheet. In the end, the answer key for the assignments is given separately at the end of the lesson plan.

This social emotional learning lesson uses Terry Bisson's short story They're Made Out of Meat. During this SEL lesson, students complete a pre-reading activity, read the short story (not included), answer questions related to the text, and contemplate the ways that they can demonstrate social awareness. In particular, this lesson focuses on the idea of excluding others. Students are asked to think about the reasons they exclude others and what they might be missing by excluding people. There is also an opportunity for whole class discussion regarding the idea of social awareness.

This lesson also focuses on short paragraph writing. The presentation contains an outline and example of a 6 sentence response. Students will first collect evidence to support a response about the identity of the short story's speakers. Then, they will practice writing the 6 sentence paragraph supporting their claim about the identity of the speakers.

This resource includes:

- a slides presentation to follow: 6 sentence paragraph outline and example, discussion questions

- 5 worksheets: pre-reading, an activity to help students determine the identity of the story's speakers, questions about social awareness in the text, and a reflection about themselves to increase self-awareness

- a teaching guide

This resource features a lesson plan and materials for the Human Tic Tac Toe Review Game, an engaging and competitive way to review Edgar Allan Poe's chilling tale of cold-blooded murder, The Tell-Tale Heart. Let's face it, review days can be boring for both teachers and students, so liven them up with this collaborative game. The resource includes not only a meticulously detailed lesson plan and set-up instructions, but over 40 questions on plot, literary elements, vocabulary, and figurative language from The Tell-Tale Heart, as well as questions about Poe himself. Besides simple set-up, very little preparation is needed for this lesson and if your students are like mine, they will ask for this form of review for every unit of study!

Product Includes:

• Comprehensive lesson plan and set-up instructions
• 40+ questions on plot, literary elements, vocabulary, figurative language, and Poe
• 1 blank question sheet to write your own questions
• Signs and materials for game play

This lesson plan is ideal on a day leading up to the final quiz on The Tell-Tale Heart. It is recommended to be used in conjunction with the Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide.

___________________________________________________________________

Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Tell-Tale Heart:

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Anticipation Guide and Lesson Plan

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Creative Writing Assignment on Perspective

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Figurative Language Challenge Activity

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart/The Black Cat Compare Contrast Essay

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

But why stop with one story? We have enough Edgar Allan Poe resources to frighten your students for months!

⭐ The Raven Literature Guide

⭐ The Black Cat Literature Guide

⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Literature Guide

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide

⭐ The Cask of Amontillado Literature Guide

⭐ The Fall of the House of Usher Literature Guide

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Short Story BUNDLE

___________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Theme Analysis Made Simple! This resource includes a mini lesson, list of thematic topics, and theme analysis graphic organizers to explore the story element theme, making it perfect for any unit or novel study.

The resource includes:

• Mini Lesson (Google Slides): An engaging presentation that introduces the concept of theme, guiding students in distinguishing it from the main idea and exploring its significance in storytelling.
• Common Thematic Topics List: A curated list of thematic topics to help students recognize and connect recurring themes across different texts.
• Graphic Organizers (3 Choices): Versatile templates for students to organize their thoughts and evidence when analyzing themes, supporting deeper engagement with the texts they read.

This resource is ideal for deepening students' understanding of how conflicts shape character development and story progression!

Be sure to follow my store to stay up to date on sales, freebies, and new products!

Engaging Fiction Comprehension - Character, Plot, Solution

This resource includes a 500+ word engaging fiction story centered around a compelling character facing a problem and coming up with a thoughtful solution. The complex narrative is written at a high 5th - 6th grade reading level and tackles mature themes including passion, injury, depression, and overcoming adversity that will resonate with middle school students.

The passage is followed by 5 multiple choice questions and 2 short answer questions focused on analyzing the central character's motivations and development, understanding the plot points and central conflict, and examining how the character grapples with and solves the key problem in the story. Detailed sample responses and an answer key are provided.

This fiction comprehension resource is perfect for:

Analyzing character traits, motivations, and development

Plot analysis and plot structure

Conflict and resolution

Theme and central ideas

Critical thinking and analysis

Key terms: character, plot, conflict, solution, fiction comprehension, upper elementary, middle school reading

With engaging content and thought-provoking questions, this resource provides an excellent opportunity for upper elementary or middle school students to practice standards-aligned ELA skills. This comprehension activity engages learners in analyzing high-level narrative fiction.

This 45-page EDITABLE poetry curriculum promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The 12 poems in this mini-unit all focus on the complex nature of family dynamics and parent-child relationships.

Because teenagers are caught up in complex relationships with their parents, 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 45-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems about Parent-Child Relationships: The two homework packets contain a total of 12 poems by a diverse range of award-winning poets such as Sylvia Plath, Theodore Roethke, Sharon Olds, Audre Lorde, Li-Young Lee, Galway Kinnell, Tony Hoagland, Ada Limón, and others. Every poem focuses on a different kind of parent-child dynamic. Because teenagers have a lot to say about relationships with parents, these 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 used in the poems from the homework packets: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. The digital versions of the quizzes on Google Forms will grade every student's work and automatically 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 the 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. (10 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 44-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

Help students understand literary criticism and what it is and is not. Includes: group/individual activity to define literary criticism examples of literary criticism journals compare and contract of "critic" definitions links to literary criticism journals where not to find literary criticism types and definitions of literary criticism Simple overview of literary criticism and where to find proper information for academic essays.

The tragedy of political aspirations

A courageous Scottish general called Macbeth is given a prediction by three witches that he will someday be King of Scotland. Driven by ambition and urged into action by his wife, Macbeth kills King Duncan and quickly transforms into a tyrannical leader. Core themes in Shakespeare's Macbeth encompass: the conflict of good and evil, the perils of ambition, the impact of supernatural elements, the disparity between appearance and truth, as well as loyalty and remorse. A prominent theme in Macbeth is ambition, evident in both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. They are lured by the notion that Macbeth will ascend to the throne – Macbeth is uncertain about his choices, but his wife is relentless in pursuing her desires – she considers her husband a coward and seems willing to go to any lengths.

Ambition drives one to wickedness - it empowers Macbeth, increasing his resolve, yet ultimately leads to his wife's madness.

Ambition ultimately destroys Macbeth as well, as he turns into a tyrant and consequently alienates his friends.

This lesson plan, which lasts nearly 6 hours (depending on your class size, of course), provides a comprehensive analysis of William Shakespeare's renowned play. It comprises spoken and written tasks, arranged into four worksheets. The responses are also incorporated.

This resource should be use with the short story How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium by Matt De La Peña. This is the first short story in the book Flying Lessons and Other Stories. This resource includes a presentation with 11 slides which you can display to students. It also includes a colored and b/w version of 4 pages of student worksheets. The first page focuses on point of view, the second on vocabulary, the third on tiered reading response questions, and the fourth on a focus standard- RL.8.3. The presentation contains an answer key.

This product serves as a chance for your students to get creative as they work on their summarizing skills with the oftentimes difficult and fast-paced work of fiction, Monster by Walter Dean Myers. Each student is responsible for answering questions and ultimately writing a "Breaking News Article" on one day of the trial of Steve Harmon. A 4-day suggested procedure is included so virtually no preparation is needed for this engaging activity. This engaging, student-tested resource is Common Core aligned.

Product Includes:

• Full assignment directions
• 4 Day Suggested procedure
• List of comprehension questions
• Graphic organizer for article
• Scoring guide for project

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Save over 20% on this resource when you purchase as part of a growing bundle of all Monster products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Monster (Myers) Activity BUNDLE

___________________________________________________________________________

Also, check out these great resources to complement your unit on Monster:

⭐ Monster (Myers) Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan

⭐ Monster (Myers) Literature Guide

⭐ Monster (Myers) Quizzes for Entire Novel

⭐ Monster (Myers) ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Monster (Myers) Socratic Seminar Lesson & Materials

⭐ Monster (Myers) vs. Murder on a Sunday Morning Compare Contrast Project

⭐ Monster (Myers) Literature Guide and Quizzes BUNDLE

___________________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Conflict Analysis Made Simple! This resource includes a mini lesson, interactive notebook, and conflict analysis worksheets to explore the story element conflict, making it perfect for any unit or novel study.

The resource includes:

• Mini Lesson (Google Slides): An engaging presentation introducing the concept of conflict and its various types, helping students grasp how conflicts drive a story's plot.
• Interactive Notebook Foldable: A hands-on activity that reinforces students' understanding of different conflict types.
• Conflict Analysis Worksheets (5 Choices): Graphic organizers that guide students in applying their knowledge to analyze conflicts in stories, suitable for independent reading or class novel studies.

This resource is ideal for deepening students' understanding of how conflicts shape character development and story progression!

Be sure to follow my store to stay up to date on sales, freebies, and new products!

Overview of 20th century poetry includes 17 slides. Includes poets, social concepts (lifestyles, fashions, entertainment), links to readings and visuals, resources, photos of fashions and poets. A complete overview for students that can be broken down by sub-divisions. Easy for students to follow and comprehend.

The tragedy of political aspirations

A courageous Scottish general called Macbeth is given a prediction by three witches that he will someday be King of Scotland. Driven by ambition and urged into action by his wife, Macbeth kills King Duncan and quickly transforms into a tyrannical leader. Core themes in Shakespeare's Macbeth encompass: the conflict of good and evil, the perils of ambition, the impact of supernatural elements, the disparity between appearance and truth, as well as loyalty and remorse. A prominent theme in Macbeth is ambition, evident in both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. They are lured by the notion that Macbeth will ascend to the throne – Macbeth is uncertain about his choices, but his wife is relentless in pursuing her desires – she considers her husband a coward and seems willing to go to any lengths.

Ambition drives one to wickedness - it empowers Macbeth, increasing his resolve, yet ultimately leads to his wife's madness.

Ambition ultimately destroys Macbeth as well, as he turns into a tyrant and consequently alienates his friends.

This lesson plan, which lasts nearly 6 hours (depending on your class size, of course), provides a comprehensive analysis of William Shakespeare's renowned play. It comprises spoken and written tasks, arranged into four worksheets. The responses are also incorporated.

This no-prep lesson covers the social emotional learning competency- responsible decision-making! Ray Bradbury's classic short story A Sound of Thunder provides students ample opportunity to analyze the decisions that characters make. This also provides an opening for teachers to talk with students about making responsible decisions in their own lives. The story is not included in this resource, but can be easily found online.

This resource is half ELA aligned and half SEL aligned. You will find comprehension, setting, and theme questions along with questions designed to make students think about their own decision making processes and the decisions of characters within the short story.

This resource contains:

• A Pre-Reading Activity where students are asked to think about their own decision making processes.

• A 20 Question Reading Quiz to check student comprehension of the short story.

• A 10 Slide Presentation to accompany the student worksheets. This presentation also contains a definition of responsible decision-making and a class discussion question.

• Text-Related Short Answer Questions that encourage students to think more deeply about the story.

• Decision Making Short Answer Questions that are related to the text. Students are asked to consider the decision making process of the main character in A Sound of Thunder.

• Decision Making Short Answer Questions that are related to the student. These questions encourage students to think about potential consequences before making decisions and ways to avoid being sucked into other people's bad decisions.

• A Teaching Guide with Answers to all questions on the student worksheets. The guide makes this lesson ideal for a substitute day!

This resource features an engaging lesson plan for students to discuss symbols found within Richard Connell's thrilling tale, The Most Dangerous Game. The gallery walk is an ideal technique to achieve 100% student engagement within your classroom in a non-intimidating way. It is a great lesson for administrator observations due to the high level of student engagement, physical movement around the classroom, and deep level of interaction with the text.

Resource Includes:

• Full-length CCSS-aligned lesson plan
• Student worksheet

___________________________________________________________________

Also, check out these great resources to supplement your unit on The Most Dangerous Game by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ The Most Dangerous Game Escape Room

⭐ The Most Dangerous Game Socratic Seminar

⭐ The Most Dangerous Game Reader's Theater Script

___________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

An easy to understand presentation to help students with mood and tone. Includes: Definitions Quotes Examples Group/Individual Activities with word banks Whole class reviews (Poetry and Prose) Great for literature classes and writing reviews! Meets CCSS.

Romeo and Juliet is a play created by Shakespeare. It is a tragic romantic story where the two main characters, Romeo and Juliet, are supposed to be fierce opponents but ultimately fall in love. Due to the ongoing conflict between their families, they cannot be with each other, resulting in their decision to end their lives as they cannot bear the agony of being apart. Romeo and Juliet is a heartbreaking drama written by Shakespeare.

Unquestionably, the primary and most important theme of the play is love. The drama focuses on romantic love, especially the passionate longing that ignites immediately when Romeo and Juliet encounter each other for the first time. In Romeo and Juliet, love is a passionate, thrilling, prevailing force that transcends all other values, loyalties, and emotions.

This lesson plan focused on Shakespeare's famous tragedy is designed to last approximately 6 hours (of course, depending on your class size). Many tasks are organized in five worksheets. Their replies are also incorporated at the conclusion.