Category Archives : FREE LESSONS


Free Exploring the Elements of Fiction in Creative Writing

Description

As an introduction to story writing and the creative writing process, these visual notes are a great way for students to understand what that process is and what it is not.

Note sheet includes the following topics:

❒ What makes a story good?

❒ What about the plot?

❒ Narrative unity

❒ Building suspense

❒ Includes practical examples as explanations

The resource also includes a chart to help students think about the important elements in their own stories.

Please see the preview for more details.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Building Suspense in Creative Writing

Creating Characters in Creative Writing

Creative Writing Activity

Creative Writing Bundle

Introduction to Creative Writing

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
2 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Free: The Chrysalids- Chapter 1 Interactive Breakout Game

Description

The Chrysalids Game for Chapter 1 is the perfect addition to any novel unit!

According to research, using games when teaching increases student participation, comprehension, as well as fostering emotional and social learning.

Today’s 21st- century student needs to be fully engaged in learning to gain knowledge and then apply it in meaningful ways. Many teachers find that traditional comprehension questions are not engaging and often do not reinforce understanding. Both teacher and student often find answering the traditional chapter questions tedious and uninteresting.   

Help your students become fully engaged with John Wyndham’s “The Chrysalids” by incorporating these short, fun games into your unit.  

This game is also available as a bundle to save you time and money. Check out the bundle and where games for every chapter in the novel are included. Click here.

The game includes 25 quality questions that check the student’s understanding and are varied to include:  

  • Important vocabulary and terms
  • Symbolism
  • Irony
  • Foreshadow
  • Literary elements
  • Plot 
  • Characters
  • Quotes
  • Everything you would ask in traditional comprehension questions

The breakout room includes clues and answers for the teacher. The teacher can give students hints if they struggle in their quests.

The games created are interactive, engaging, and varied to maintain student interest. Each game includes a different theme with different challenges. Some games have game-show quiz-style questions, while others are like mini breakout rooms. Even better, the games require no preparation for the teacher. Other than an internet connection, nothing else is required! Merely share the game link with students, and they’re off to work on their own. The games also inform students of the correct answer to all questions, so they will learn the necessary information before moving on to subsequent material.

Students can play these games as a group or individually. Create a class challenge to see who can complete the games in less time. The possibilities are endless! These games are also a great way to engage students in learning online.

The activities will take 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the game and the student’s abilities.

I love doing this activity at the beginning of my lessons to review the previous chapter, which facilitates discussions and class activities.

The games can be played on any PC, laptop or tablet, Smartphone, Mac, or Chromebook. Anything that can access the internet can be used to access the games.  

You may also be interested in the following products:

❒ Analyze This!

❒ Short Story Bundle

❒ I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

❒ ELA Literature Study Unit

❒ Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
1 Game
Answer Key
Does not apply
Teaching Duration
30 minutes


Free Giver Chapter 1 Review Game

Description

This FREE The Giver Review Game for Chapter 1 is the perfect addition to any novel unit!

According to research, using games when teaching increases student participation, comprehension, as well as fostering emotional and social learning.

Today’s 21st- century student needs to be fully engaged in learning to gain knowledge and then apply it in meaningful ways. Many teachers find that traditional comprehension questions are not engaging and often do not reinforce understanding. Both teacher and student often find answering the traditional chapter questions tedious and uninteresting.   

Help your students fully engage with Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” by incorporating these short, fun games into your unit.  

The review game for chapter 1 includes 29 quality and varied questions that reinforce students’ understanding.  Questions asked are based on:  

❒ Symbolism

❒ Irony

❒ Foreshadow

❒ Literary elements

❒ Plot 

❒ Characters

❒ Themes

❒ Quotes

❒ Everything you would ask in traditional comprehension questions

Students will answer questions correctly to find their way through various challenges in this breakout-style game.  Students will solve mysteries, find clues, complete challenges, and answer questions to review the novel.   Everyone wins when they are learning and having fun!

This mystery-themed breakout review game provides a teacher guide and answer key.

The games created are interactive, engaging, and varied to maintain student interest. Each game includes a different theme with different challenges. Some games have game-show quiz-style questions, while others are like mini breakout rooms. Even better, the games require no preparation for the teacher. Other than an internet connection, nothing else is required! Merely share the game link with students, and they’re off to work independently. The games also inform students of the correct answer to all questions, so they will learn the necessary information before moving on to subsequent material.

Students can play these games as a group or individually. Create a class challenge to see who can complete the games in less time. The possibilities are endless! These games are also a great way to engage students in learning online.

The activities will take 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the game and the student’s abilities.

I love doing this activity at the beginning of my lessons to review the previous chapter, facilitating discussions and class activities.

The games can be played on any PC, laptop or tablet, Smartphone, Mac, or Chromebook. Anything that can access the internet can be used to access the games.  

Check out The Giver Game Bundle – save money and have fun!

You may also be interested in the following products:

❒ The Chrysalids Game Bundle

The Outsiders Game Bundle

❒ Check out my other Interactive Games

❒ Analyze This!

❒ Short Story Bundle

❒ I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

❒ ELA Literature Study Unit

❒ Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy

It’s teaching made easy!


Free: The Outsiders Chapter 1 Review Game

Description

This FREE  Outsiders Game for Chapter 1 is the perfect addition to any novel unit!

According to research, using games when teaching increases student participation, comprehension, as well as fostering emotional and social learning.

Today’s 21st- century student needs to be fully engaged in learning to gain knowledge and then apply it in meaningful ways. Many teachers find that traditional comprehension questions are not engaging and often do not reinforce understanding. Both teacher and student often find answering the traditional chapter questions tedious and uninteresting.   

Help your students become fully engaged with S.E. Hinton’s”The Outsiders” by incorporating these short, fun games into your unit.  

The review game for chapter 1 includes 30 quality and varied questions that reinforce students’ understanding.  Questions asked are based on:  

❒ Symbolism

❒ Irony

❒ Foreshadow

❒ Literary elements

❒ Plot 

❒ Characters

❒ Themes

❒ Quotes

❒ Everything you would ask in traditional comprehension questions

Students will answer questions correctly to find their way through various mazes; they will become detectives to solve a case and will answer questions given by a jukebox in true Greaser fashion.

The games created are interactive, engaging, and varied to maintain student interest. Each game includes a different theme with different challenges. Some games have game-show quiz-style questions, while others are like mini breakout rooms. Even better, the games require no preparation for the teacher. Other than an internet connection, nothing else is required! Merely share the game link with students, and they’re off to work on their own. The games also inform students of the correct answer to all questions, so they will learn the necessary information before moving on to subsequent material.

Students can play these games as a group or individually. Create a class challenge to see who can complete the games in less time. The possibilities are endless! These games are also a great way to engage students in learning online.

The activities will take 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the game and the student’s abilities.

I love doing this activity at the beginning of my lessons to review the previous chapter, facilitating discussions and class activities.

The games can be played on any PC, laptop or tablet, Smartphone, Mac, or Chromebook. Anything that can access the internet can be used to access the games.  

Check out the Outsiders Game Bundle and save money

You may also be interested in the following products:

❒ The Chrysalids Game Bundle

❒ Check out my other Interactive Games

❒ Analyze This!

❒ Short Story Bundle

❒ I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

❒ ELA Literature Study Unit

❒ Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
1 game
Answer Key
Does not apply
Teaching Duration
N/A


Free: The Chrysalids- Chapter 1 Interactive Breakout Game

Description

The Chrysalids Game for Chapter 1 is the perfect addition to any novel unit!

According to research, using games when teaching increases student participation, comprehension, as well as fostering emotional and social learning.

Today’s 21st- century student needs to be fully engaged in learning to gain knowledge and then apply it in meaningful ways. Many teachers find that traditional comprehension questions are not engaging and often do not reinforce understanding. Both teacher and student often find answering the traditional chapter questions tedious and uninteresting.   

Help your students become fully engaged with John Wyndham’s “The Chrysalids” by incorporating these short, fun games into your unit.  

This game is also available as a bundle to save you time and money. Check out the bundle and where games for every chapter in the novel are included. Click here.

The game includes 25 quality questions that check the student’s understanding and are varied to include:  

  • Important vocabulary and terms
  • Symbolism
  • Irony
  • Foreshadow
  • Literary elements
  • Plot 
  • Characters
  • Quotes
  • Everything you would ask in traditional comprehension questions

The breakout room includes clues and answers for the teacher. The teacher can give students hints if they struggle in their quests.

The games created are interactive, engaging, and varied to maintain student interest. Each game includes a different theme with different challenges. Some games have game-show quiz-style questions, while others are like mini breakout rooms. Even better, the games require no preparation for the teacher. Other than an internet connection, nothing else is required! Merely share the game link with students, and they’re off to work on their own. The games also inform students of the correct answer to all questions, so they will learn the necessary information before moving on to subsequent material.

Students can play these games as a group or individually. Create a class challenge to see who can complete the games in less time. The possibilities are endless! These games are also a great way to engage students in learning online.

The activities will take 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the game and the student’s abilities.

I love doing this activity at the beginning of my lessons to review the previous chapter, which facilitates discussions and class activities.

The games can be played on any PC, laptop or tablet, Smartphone, Mac, or Chromebook. Anything that can access the internet can be used to access the games.  

You may also be interested in the following products:

❒ Analyze This!

❒ Short Story Bundle

❒ I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

❒ ELA Literature Study Unit

❒ Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
1 Game
Answer Key
Does not apply
Teaching Duration
30 minutes


Free Frankenstein Note-Taking for Critical Thinking

Description

This is an excerpt from my Frankenstein Note-Taking for Critical Thinking ResourceI hope you will enjoy this free preview.

This is a description of the full resource.

This thought-provoking resource encourages students to think critically about the novel to extend their knowledge of themes and how they are developed.  The package is a great alternative to the traditional comprehension questions usually assigned by teachers and invites students to think deeply about the materials read.  The instructional strategy used within these pages is similar to that of a “flipped classroom” created to further engage students in their learning.

Instead of traditional comprehension questions given after chapters, students are given guided note-taking sheets (in Google Docs) where they are prompted on what kind of information to focus on within each chapter. For example, some chapters rely heavily on symbol development while others focus more on character development.  Students will learn how to take effective notes and how to ask effective questions thus developing the novel’s themes.  The second part of the sheet requires students to extend their learning by participating in small group discussions where they learn how to ask Socratic questions, discuss important novel elements in guided discussions, and participate in creative activities to further investigate the characters’ motivations.

Each sheet prompts students on which information to focus their notes on and includes a group activity where students are encouraged to develop their own questions based on the chapters’ thematic focus to deepen their understanding of the intricacies of the novel and the literary elements used to develop themes.  This teaching strategy creates independent and responsible learners.  When students have completed their group work, a guided discussion with the entire class highlights different perspectives on how to analyze Shelley’s classic tale.  

All materials are available in Google Docs and are modifiable.

Students learn how to:

Be independent

Take good notes

Work in a group setting

Ask good questions

Be responsible in their learning

Analyze the novel

Become engaged in their learning

To think critically

Also included:

  • Success criteria, overall expectations, and an evaluation grid are included for teachers who want to evaluate the notes and the group discussions.
  • Peer and Self-Evaluation grids are included for students
  • Pacing guide for the teacher to help with planning

This resource also pairs well with my Frankenstein Unit and Workbook.

A total of 30 pages.

Check out the preview for a free sample.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Thematic Poetry Unit: Editable

Much Ado About Nothing Complete Unit

Poetry Unit for Senior Students

Lord of the Flies Unit – No Prep Required

Hamlet Complete No Prep Unit

Romeo and Juliet – No Prep Unit

Death of a Salesman – No Prep Unit

Wuthering Heights Student Workbook

It’s teaching made easy!


Free Creating a board Game Assessment Tool

Description

Assess your students’ knowledge of literature with this fun and creative evaluation. Not only will your students learn by creating a game, but other will learn as well by playing it.

This is a self-evaluation (and teacher assessment) rubric to guide students and teachers in the evaluation process.)

This rubric was created to help students understand exactly what is expected of them for this evaluation. It is also an excellent tool to assess students’ progress and final product.

This self-assessment rubric is part of the bundle as well.

Self-evaluation grids are a great way to guide students in their evaluations. Students will know exactly what is expected of them and will be made responsible for their own success. This package can also easily be changed to be used as peer-evaluations.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Group Work Assessment Tool

Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy Game

I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry
Rubrics: Self-Evaluation Bundle

Thesis Writing Activity

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
3 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Free Frankenstein Activity

Description

Who is the real monster in Frankenstein?

This activity has been designed to help students to understand the creature’s character. Is he a friend, or is he an enemy? Is he solely responsible for his misery?

This activity helps to develop students’ argumentation skills in a fun and meaningful way.

This free activity is part of a larger unit:

Frankenstein No Prep Unit

I hope you enjoy it.

You may also be interested in the following products:


Frankenstein Bundle

Frankenstein Activity

Frankenstein Workbook

Paragraph Writing Activity (Frankenstein)

The Yellow Wallpaper No Prep Mini-Unit

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
2 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
1 hour


Free Inference Cheat Sheet

Description

Do your students insert examples and quotes into their texts without properly analyzing them? Without proper analysis, an essay can sound like a long, drawn-out list written in complete sentences. We teach students to infer and to analyze, but they sometimes forget to incorporate this into their texts and essays.

I have created an “Inference Cheat Sheet” with key inferencing words and phrases to remind students that after inserting a piece of evidence, they need to explain its relevance.

Included are:

❒ Two different styles of the at-a-glance “Cheat Sheet.”

❒ An inference poster (8.5×11) – as seen on the cover.

❒ Two different styles of letters for an inference bulletin board.

❒ A copy of ALL the phrases used on the Cheat Sheet to create a bulletin board in class.

I hope that this resource will be helpful to students in your classes.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Analyze This!

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Essay Writing Flip Book

Parts of Speech Grammar Circles

Poster: Developing Themes in Literature

Teaching the Essay Package

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
24 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


May 2022 Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern 

 

Welcome to our MayTeacher Talk.  All of us from the Teacher Talk collaborative would like to wish you a happy and prosperous summer. We have so many fab tips this month from fun activities, ELA and reading ideas, to high interest learning. You don’t want to miss reading these blog posts from some awesome educators.

If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here…The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, “Feel free to email me at deann.marin@gmail.com for any questions you might have.”
 
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Rejoice! It’s the End of the School Year

Rejoice, it’s the end of the school year. We’re so eager for summer that we sometimes forget about all the things we have to do for the last few weeks of school.  Hopefully, you’ll be celebrating a successful year with our students.  For those of you who didn’t have a great year, it’s time to cheer, you never have to see this group of kids again, at least not in your classroom. 

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Welcoming the Summer Slide
It’s an exhilarating time of the year! Testing should be over by now (Pleeeease tell me that’s true for you!), classrooms are getting packed up and summerized, and we’re celebrating all the learning that has happened for our students in this important piece of their childhood.
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Patriotic Karaoke

If your classes need a pick-me-up before the school year ends, consider patriotic karaoke for some rousing fun with educational value.

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Create a Focused Learning Environment using Feng Shui for the Classroom
Do you feel like your classroom needs an uplift, but you don’t have the time or money to achieve your goal? Consider making a few Feng Shui adjustments. Your classroom will go from stuffy to energized with only a few changes because the “chi” or the energy of the room, is happy to circulate.
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How to Correct Mixed Metaphor and Malapropisms

 

The use of mixed metaphors and malapropisms can be quite comical. Learn how to avoid them.
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Classroom Organization Ideas: What to Do Now to Reduce Your Workload Later

Check out these 7 great tips to learn what you can do now in your classroom to reduce your workload later.

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Click here to enter


April 2022 Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern 

Welcome to our April Teacher Talk.  All of us from the Teacher Talk collaborative would like to wish you a happy and prosperous spring.  We have so many fab tips this month from fun activities, ELA and reading ideas, to high interest learning. You don’t want to miss reading these blog posts from some awesome educators.

If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here…The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, “Feel free to email me at deann.marin@gmail.com for any questions you might have.”
 
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April Activities Just for Your Students
Some fun and engaging activities for you to do with your students during the month of April or whenever.
 
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Read Aloud Magic
Add a little magic to your read-alouds by taking your students through a portal inside the book.
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5 Ways to Up the FUN Factor at the End of the School Year
 

The end of the school year can be difficult at best and disastrous at worst. Your students are ready for summer, and you are anxious to close the year out without incident. Here are 5 ways to up the FUN factor at the end of the year

 
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Make an Old Story New Again
 

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Rework a plot from a story you’ve read or a movie you’ve seen and make it your own.

 
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Junk Art
 

One of the best things about teaching reading is that you can find anything to read about any holiday and make it teachable. When April rolls around, one of my favorite Earth Day activities is making art from junk and having students write stories about their creations.

 
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Let’s Play Bingo!
 
Learn 3 ways to use BINGO in your math class.

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The Best Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged During Tough Teaching Times
 

Learn some of the best strategies for keeping students engaged during the most challenging times of the year.

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You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Free Inference Cheat Sheet

Description

Do your students insert examples and quotes into their texts without properly analyzing them? Without proper analysis, an essay can sound like a long, drawn-out list written in complete sentences. We teach students to infer and to analyze, but they sometimes forget to incorporate this into their texts and essays.

I have created an “Inference Cheat Sheet” with key inferencing words and phrases to remind students that after inserting a piece of evidence, they need to explain its relevance.

Included are:

❒ Two different styles of the at-a-glance “Cheat Sheet.”

❒ An inference poster (8.5×11) – as seen on the cover.

❒ Two different styles of letters for an inference bulletin board.

❒ A copy of ALL the phrases used on the Cheat Sheet to create a bulletin board in class.

I hope that this resource will be helpful to students in your classes.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Analyze This!

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Essay Writing Flip Book

Parts of Speech Grammar Circles

Poster: Developing Themes in Literature

Teaching the Essay Package

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
24 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Free Poster: Developing Themes in Literature

Description

This is a nice visual to help students remember the process of developing themes.

Free Poster to help students remember the steps to take when developing themes in literature.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Analyze This!

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Inference Cheat Sheet

Superhero Themed Parts of Speech Posters

Thesis Writing Poster

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
1 page
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Free Thesis Writing Poster

Description

As any English teacher can tell you, the thesis statement is the most important part of the essay. It defines the arguments and orients the reader. Unfortunately, many students have difficulty with the thesis statement. This is why I have created the “7 Steps to Writing an Effective Thesis Statement” poster.

The poster is a step by step guide on how to write the thesis starting with selecting a topic the student understands and walks them through the process until the end.

I am making the poster available in different formats for the facility of use in the classroom:

❒ The first format measures 70 cm (27.6 inches) (easy printing) PDF

❒ The second format measure 97 cm (38.2) – information can be more easily read from further away (easy printing) PDF

❒ One smaller poster PDF

❒ An image format JPEG

You may also be interested in the following products:

Creative Writing Bundle

Essay Writing Flip Book

Free Thesis Writing Activity

Inference Cheat Sheet

Teaching the Essay Package

Thesis Writing Activity

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
4 different formats of posters
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


March 2022 Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern 

Welcome to our March Teacher Talk.  All of us from the Teacher Talk collaborative would like to wish you a happy and prosperous spring.  We have so many fab tips this month from fun activities, ELA and reading ideas, to high interest learning. You don’t want to miss reading these blog posts from some awesome educators.

If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here…The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, “Feel free to email me at deann.marin@gmail.com for any questions you might have.”
 
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It’s… March Let’s Go Fly a Kite
As an award for good behavior, my special needs class’s favorite activity was making & flying kites. When I taught sixth grade, my kids also loved this project.

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Starting with Scribble

Ideas for celebrating National Scribble Day!

 
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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Study Practices
In spite of what many people think, there are some very common study practices that are not very effective. There are others that are somewhat helpful, and then there are several that research shows are very effective.
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What to Have in a Literature Circle Resource Center

By Marcy Howe of It’s a Teacher Thing

Discover the most important items to have in your literature circles resource center.

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Tips to Save Money on Groceries

Grocery prices are soaring. Here are some tips to save money on groceries.

 
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The Value of Project-based Learning -A Solid Gold Learning Nugget

The value of project-based learning goes beyond keeping your students actively involved in their own education. It teaches them cooperation, time management, and public speaking. Try this solid gold nugget in your own classroom.

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You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Free Creating a board Game Assessment Tool

Description

Assess your students’ knowledge of literature with this fun and creative evaluation. Not only will your students learn by creating a game, but other will learn as well by playing it.

This is a self-evaluation (and teacher assessment) rubric to guide students and teachers in the evaluation process.)

This rubric was created to help students understand exactly what is expected of them for this evaluation. It is also an excellent tool to assess students’ progress and final product.

This self-assessment rubric is part of the bundle as well.

Self-evaluation grids are a great way to guide students in their evaluations. Students will know exactly what is expected of them and will be made responsible for their own success. This package can also easily be changed to be used as peer-evaluations.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Group Work Assessment Tool

Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy Game

I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry
Rubrics: Self-Evaluation Bundle

Thesis Writing Activity

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
3 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Free Exploring the Elements of Fiction in Creative Writing

Description

As an introduction to story writing and the creative writing process, these visual notes are a great way for students to understand what that process is and what it is not.

Note sheet includes the following topics:

❒ What makes a story good?

❒ What about the plot?

❒ Narrative unity

❒ Building suspense

❒ Includes practical examples as explanations

The resource also includes a chart to help students think about the important elements in their own stories.

Please see the preview for more details.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Building Suspense in Creative Writing

Creating Characters in Creative Writing

Creative Writing Activity

Creative Writing Bundle

Introduction to Creative Writing

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
2 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


February 2022 Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern 

Welcome to our February Teacher Talk.  All of us from the Teacher Talk collaborative would like to wish you a Happy February.  We have so many fab tips this month from Math, ELA and reading ideas, to High interest learning and our featured author for the month, you don’t want to miss reading these blog posts from some awesome educators.

If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here…The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, “Feel free to email me at deann.marin@gmail.com for any questions you might have.”
 
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All You Need is Love and Kindness

 

My husband got up one gloomy morning and went to the gas station to fill his car, when he went to pay, the gas pump said, “prepaid.” A kind person, from the goodness of his/her heart, paid for his gas. Needless to say, it brought a big smile to his face.
 
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Celebrate Reading
 


Ways to celebrate March is Reading month.

 
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Discover How to Effectively Use Running Record Assessments with Primary
 Students

 

Wouldn’t it be great to get insight into what a student does when he/she reads? Learn how in this post!
 
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Bully Tales
My encounter with this student who was a school bully produced a surprising result.

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Tips to Use Whose vs.Who’s and Their vs. There, vs.They’re

Help your students learn an easy way to choose between confusing words.

 
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Palindromes in Words and Numbers
I was getting ready to pay for my meal at a buffet when I noticed the cashier’s name tag. It read “Anna” to which I replied, “Your name is a palindrome!” The cashier just stared at me in disbelief. I explained that a palindrome was letters that read the same backwards as forwards. Because you could read her name forwards and backwards, it qualified as a palindrome. In fact, February 22, 2022 will be a palindrome if written as 2-22-22!

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How to Deal with Common Problems During Literature Circles
 
Learn about 6 of the most common problems teachers face during literature circles and solutions for each problem.

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Teacher Talk’s Featured Author – Alison Monk


Alison Monk of The Literacy Garden is Teacher Talk’s Featured Author. Alison’s TpT store at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Literacy-Garden has amazing ELA resources, book companions, and morning work for your classroom. Get her free close reading lesson using nonfiction magazine-styled passages.

 
 
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Click here to enter


Free Poetry Lesson: Analyzing Poetry (NO PREP)

Description

FREE LESSON – This mini-unit on Walt Whitman’s “I Heard the Learned Astronomer” and “A Noiseless, Patient Spider,” teaches students how to analyze poetry. Students must learn to observe, connect, make inferences, and draw conclusions on themes.

This mini-guide includes:

❒ a detailed lesson plan for the teacher

❒ poems for students

❒ answer key and poetry annotation

This mini-guide includes six pages. I hope you enjoy it.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Thematic Poetry Unit: Editable
Analyze This!

ELA Literature Study Unit

Figurative Language & Poetic Devices Jeopardy Game

I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

Poetry Unit for Senior Students

Poster: Developing Themes in Literature

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
6 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
90 minutes


Free Group and Skit Evaluation Rubric

Description

Group work is always tricky to evaluate because there is so much going on. In addition, as educators, we are required to give detailed feedback on students’ performances.

I created this FREE document to make the teacher’s job easier, and to allow students to be responsible for their success as well.

Self-evaluation grids are a great way to guide students in their evaluations. Students will know exactly what is expected of them and will be made responsible for their success. This package can also easily be changed to be used as peer evaluations.

This self-evaluation grid will help students as well as teachers to assess students’ group work. When students use this grid to assess their work, there are no surprises when they receive their final mark. This grid, in particular, allows the students to become organized and responsible for their individual parts.

These self-evaluation grids are also very helpful to teachers:

❒ Helps the teacher justify the final mark;

❒ Helps to identify students’ weaknesses and strengths;

❒ Helps parents and students better understand the task required;

❒ Helps teachers create rubrics for the final evaluation.

Because of formatting issues, this package was created in a PDF document, but I can easily email you a Word file to be easily modified and changed according to the individual teacher’s needs.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Creating a Board Game Assessment Tool

ELA Report Card Comments

I Have, Who Has? Game for Teaching Figurative Language & Poetry

Opinion Piece Bundle

Rubrics: Self-Evaluation Bundle

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
2 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Free Poetry Lesson on Metaphors

Description

This FREE lesson is a sample from one of my complete units on poetry. See the links below for more information.

❒ Lesson 4 (from the Thematic Poetry Unit) : Fun with metaphors – This lesson includes a journal prompt, a “Fun with Metaphors” worksheet to help students further understand metaphors, students will analyze William Blake’s “A Poison Tree,” and will complete the worksheet on the poem.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

An editable version the Thematic Poetry Unit can also be purchased using this link: ***EDITABLE Thematic Poetry Unit

Click here for a non-editable version of the unit Thematic Poetry Unit

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Description of the Thematic Poetry Unit – Summary of lessons included:

❒ Lesson 1: Introduction to poetry – Includes a journal prompt, notes on how to approach poetry, an activity to familiarize students with poetry further, and a review on figurative language (with notes.)

❒ Lesson 2: Figurative Language Review – The lesson includes a journal prompt (a creative poetry activity), students will play Figurative Language Jeopardy (PPT) to review figurative language.

❒ Lesson 3: Introduction to analysis – The lesson includes a journal prompt, students will learn to analyze poetry using Walt Whitman’s “When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer” and “The Quiet Patient Spider.”

❒ Lesson 4: Fun with metaphors – This lesson includes a journal prompt, a “Fun with Metaphors” worksheet to help students further understand metaphors, students will analyze William Blake’s “A Poison Tree,” and will complete the worksheet on the poem.

❒ Lesson 5: Fun with allusions – This lesson begins with a journal prompt, a “Fun with Allusions” worksheet, students analyze Simon and Garfunkel’s song “The Sound of Silence.” (poem not included) However, a blank (editable) page is included in the document to paste the lyrics from the internet. This will help you create a more cohesive looking unit.

❒ Lesson 6: Tone and Attitude – Students will do a video (or song version) comparison analysis by completing the “Video Comparison” worksheet.

❒ Lesson 7: Symbolism – Students will complete the “Fun with Idioms” worksheet, will analyze Robert Frost’s poems “The Road not Taken” and “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” they will complete the worksheets for both poems, and learn how to write a PEEL paragraph using the notes provided.

❒ Lesson 8: Writing about poetry – This is a writing clinic of sorts where students will learn to identify strong topic sentences and well-developed paragraphs. An example of a well-developed paragraph is included.

❒ Lesson 9: Historical allusions: This lesson begins with a journal prompt, students will analyze Cara Dillon’s song “There were Roses” and complete the accompanying worksheet. (Please note that this poem is not included.)

❒ Lesson 10: Thematic connections – Students will work in collaborative groups on the “Thematic Connections” worksheet, which compares two of the poems studied in the unit. *An optional activity is included: Students will write a comparative paragraph comparing one similar theme in both poems. An example of a paragraph is included.

❒ Lesson 11: Allusions and analysis – this lesson begins with a journal prompt, The study of Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” by watching a Ted Talk, analyzing Mumford and Son’s song “The Cave,” and completing the worksheet. (Please note that the song lyrics are not included.)

❒ Lesson 12: Connections – students will learn to make important connections in poetry by completing the worksheets of the “Battle of the Pronouns” and “Cave vs. Cave” to further develop the themes in Mumford and Son’s song “The Cave.”

❒ Lesson 13: Theme review – Students will refine and review how to develop a theme in a poem (which applies to any work of literature) by completing the worksheet “The Cave – Themes and Meanings,” students will then write a theme in paragraph form.

❒ Lesson 14: Evaluation (test) – editable with answer key and comment sheet to facilitate marking

You may also be interested in the following products:

Free Thesis Writing Activity

Poetry Lesson: Analyzing Poetry

Poetry Unit for Senior Students

Teaching the Essay Package

The Yellow Wallpaper No Prep Mini-Unit

Much Ado About Nothing No Prep Unit

❒Brave New World Student Notebook

Essay Writing Flip Book

Frankenstein Bundle

Hamlet Bundle

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
7 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
55 minutes


January 2022 Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

 
 

It’s 2022! Time sure flies. We have some great ideas for you in our January edition of Teacher Talk. So, hurry on over to see what these creative educators are doing this month.

 
If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here…The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, “Feel free to email me at deann.marin@gmail.com for any questions you might have.”
 
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I Dreaded My Third Period Class
It was cold and blustery outside, one of those days you just wanted to stay under the covers, but truth be told, I immediately thought about how I dreaded my third period class, I so wanted to turn over and forget about it for a while. I knew I had to face it, so I begrudgingly got out of bed. Alas, it was only hump day, and I had a busy schedule, so I dragged myself out of bed, had my cup of coffee and a piece of toast.
 
 
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Goals and Dreams
Ideas for going beyond “I Have a Dream” for MLK Day.

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New Year, New Focus
 


First week back after winter break. . . what a week! With our classroom numbers fluctuating due to students quarantining or testing positive, and so much uncertainty, diving right into the curriculum was not an option. We went back to the basics: what do we need to improve in?

 
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Under The Blotter: Engagement Questions
Need a way to encourage independent reading? I have kept these particular reading engagement questions under my desk blotter for many, many years—so many that I don’t even know who did the research for them, but I do know these questions are effective in improving reading motivation, in the person who responds, AND in those who listen to the answers.
 
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The Beauty of Math Patterns

Some people say mathematics is the science of patterns which I think is a pretty accurate description. Not only do patterns take on many forms, but they occur in every part of mathematics. But then again patterns occur in other disciplines as well. They can be sequential, spatial, temporal, and even linguistic. Discover more about pattern in this blog post.

 
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MLK in ELA: Ideas for Reading & Writing About Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
 
10 ideas for reading and writing about Martin Luther King, Jr.

************************************

 
Essential Literature Circles Mini Lessons: What to Teach Your Students
Literature circles and mini-lessons go hand-in-hand. Discover the most important mini-lessons to teach your students and take your literature circles to new levels!
************************************
Test Prep Tournaments That Work!
 

Get your students ready for your chapter tests, district-mandated tests, and the high-stakes state tests with test prep tournaments! They are a fun way to review for upcoming tests AND they work!

 
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You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter



Free: Inference Cheat Sheet

Description

Do your students insert examples and quotes into their texts without properly analyzing them? Without proper analysis, an essay can sound like a long, drawn-out list written in complete sentences. We teach students to infer and to analyze, but they sometimes forget to incorporate this into their texts and essays.

I have created an “Inference Cheat Sheet” with key inferencing words and phrases to remind students that after inserting a piece of evidence, they need to explain its relevance.

Included are:

❒ Two different styles of the at-a-glance “Cheat Sheet.”

❒ An inference poster (8.5×11) – as seen on the cover.

❒ Two different styles of letters for an inference bulletin board.

❒ A copy of ALL the phrases used on the Cheat Sheet to create a bulletin board in class.

I hope that this resource will be helpful to students in your classes.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Analyze This!

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Essay Writing Flip Book

Parts of Speech Grammar Circles

Poster: Developing Themes in Literature

Teaching the Essay Package

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
24 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


FREE Frankenstein Debate

Description

The Frankenstein Debate Package includes topics for students, a Procedure Sheet to help teachers take notes during the debate, as well as an evaluation sheet.

This free activity is part of a larger unit:

Frankenstein No Prep Unit

I hope you enjoy this resource.

You may also be interested in the following products:


Frankenstein Activity

Frankenstein Bundle

Frankenstein Workbook

Paragraph Writing Activity (Frankenstein)

The Yellow Wallpaper No Prep Mini-Unit

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
4 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


December 2021 Teacher Talk

 Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

It’s December and time for our holiday version of Teacher Talk. Getting ready for the holiday festivities or just looking for some great ideas. You don’t want to miss what these creative educators are doing this month.
 
If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here…. The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative.  If you decide to join, “Feel free to email me at deann.marin@gmail.com if you have any questions”
 
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An Amazing Holiday Values Lesson

I woke up this morning, December 19, 2021, and thought about how much things have changed since the pandemic. 

*********************************************
A Celebration of Values for the Holidays

Ideas for bringing reflections and values to the celebrations of the season!

*********************************************
 
The Best Gift of All: Connection

One of the biggest challenges I’ve noticed since being back in school in person is the need for conversational skills. In class during morning meeting, we spend time devoted to talking and interacting with one another. While I can foster this in the classroom, I know practicing communication skills need to continue at home.

*********************************************
Giving Books as Gifts
Books make great gifts for everyone, but here are two keys for giving books that children, especially, will enjoy and that will motivate them to read even more.

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Measuring Snow – A Craft for the Un-Crafty
 
I am not a very crafty person; so, I am always looking for items that are easy to make that I can give to my grandchildren. One year, I gave them a snowman making kit that included buttons, a carrot, six rocks and two sticks. This year, I am giving them a Snow Measuring Tool. Not is it only fun to use, but it also helps them to practice using a ruler. Learn how you can make one!
*********************************************
 
The Benefits of Literature Circles in the Classroom
Ever thought about using literature circles in your classroom as part of your reading program? Learn more about what literature circles are and why they are an effective addition to your classroom reading program.
 
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Good Writers Vary Their Sentence Patterns
 

Good Writers Vary Their Sentence Patterns and often place phrases and dependent clauses at the beginning of their sentences.

 
*********************************************
5 Tech Tips to Keep Teacher Sanity
Technology Tips for Teachers in the Classroom.
 
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You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Free Super Hero Themed Parts of Speech Posters

Description

FREE Super Hero themed Parts of Speech Posters are a great visual way to teach students to remember the nature of words. This is a great addition to any language arts class.

You may also be interested in the following products:

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

How to Write a Paragraph

Parts of Speech Grammar Circles

Sentences Grammar Circles For Easy & Effective Grammar

Spelling Flip Book

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
10 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


Free Exploring the Elements of Fiction in Creative Writing

Description

As an introduction to story writing and the creative writing process, these visual notes are a great way for students to understand what that process is and what it is not.

Note sheet includes the following topics:

❒ What makes a story good?

❒ What about the plot?

❒ Narrative unity

❒ Building suspense

❒ Includes practical examples as explanations

The resource also includes a chart to help students think about the important elements in their own stories.

Please see the preview for more details.

You may also be interested in the following products:

Building Suspense in Creative Writing

Creating Characters in Creative Writing

Creative Writing Activity

Creative Writing Bundle

Introduction to Creative Writing

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
2 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
N/A


November 2021 Teacher Talk

 Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

It’s November Teacher Talk Time…..Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. Time sure flies.  We have so many great tips and ideas for you from awesome educators. Be sure to take a look at what everyone has to say.

If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog link-up, sign up here….The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative.
 
 If you decide to join, feel free to email me at deann.marin@gmail.com for any questions you might have and mention me when you sign up.
********************************************
Attitude of Gratitude
Attitude of Gratitude: Things I'm Thankful For

 

I woke up in a funk the other morning so I pulled the covers over my head trying to go back to sleep.  As I began to doze, my dog stuck her head under the sheet and I felt her cold nose on my leg. I knew that trying to stay in bed was futile, so I threw on some clothes and took her outside feeling frustrated and annoyed. As we began walking, the pain in my knee and heel started to subside and the phrase, attitude of gratitude came into my head as I realized how lucky I am to be able to walk, others aren’t so fortunate. 
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Multiple Ways to Multiply
When we spend enough time early in the year on place value and number sense, teaching multiplication and division go much more smoothly. Students grasp the concept of multiplication in multiple ways, so I try to introduce more than “the only way” to solve.
********************************************
 
Four Easy Ways to Encourage an Attitude of Gratitude
 


Easy ways to encourage gratitude in your students this month, and keep it going all year long.

 
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Mix it up – STEM and Language Arts
When you integrate STEM and Language Arts, you prepare your students for future employment. Communication skills are just as important as STEM skills. Involve your whole class in a STEM-based creative writing activity with “STEM Stories.”
 
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A Special Thank You To All School Helpers
 
 
This post is a special Thank-You to all those helpful people we find in our schools, paid and unpaid, but particularly for one very special person.
********************************************
How to Turn a Terrible Teaching Day into a Great One


5 tips on how teachers can turn a terrible teaching day into a great one.

 
********************************************
 
Tips to Strengthen Your Sentences

Here are three ways to help your students strengthen their sentences.

 
********************************************

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Free Poetry Lesson on Metaphors

Description

This FREE lesson is a sample from one of my complete units on poetry. See the links below for more information.

❒ Lesson 4 (from the Thematic Poetry Unit) : Fun with metaphors – This lesson includes a journal prompt, a “Fun with Metaphors” worksheet to help students further understand metaphors, students will analyze William Blake’s “A Poison Tree,” and will complete the worksheet on the poem.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

An editable version the Thematic Poetry Unit can also be purchased using this link: ***EDITABLE Thematic Poetry Unit

Click here for a non-editable version of the unit Thematic Poetry Unit

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Description of the Thematic Poetry Unit – Summary of lessons included:

❒ Lesson 1: Introduction to poetry – Includes a journal prompt, notes on how to approach poetry, an activity to familiarize students with poetry further, and a review on figurative language (with notes.)

❒ Lesson 2: Figurative Language Review – The lesson includes a journal prompt (a creative poetry activity), students will play Figurative Language Jeopardy (PPT) to review figurative language.

❒ Lesson 3: Introduction to analysis – The lesson includes a journal prompt, students will learn to analyze poetry using Walt Whitman’s “When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer” and “The Quiet Patient Spider.”

❒ Lesson 4: Fun with metaphors – This lesson includes a journal prompt, a “Fun with Metaphors” worksheet to help students further understand metaphors, students will analyze William Blake’s “A Poison Tree,” and will complete the worksheet on the poem.

❒ Lesson 5: Fun with allusions – This lesson begins with a journal prompt, a “Fun with Allusions” worksheet, students analyze Simon and Garfunkel’s song “The Sound of Silence.” (poem not included) However, a blank (editable) page is included in the document to paste the lyrics from the internet. This will help you create a more cohesive looking unit.

❒ Lesson 6: Tone and Attitude – Students will do a video (or song version) comparison analysis by completing the “Video Comparison” worksheet.

❒ Lesson 7: Symbolism – Students will complete the “Fun with Idioms” worksheet, will analyze Robert Frost’s poems “The Road not Taken” and “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” they will complete the worksheets for both poems, and learn how to write a PEEL paragraph using the notes provided.

❒ Lesson 8: Writing about poetry – This is a writing clinic of sorts where students will learn to identify strong topic sentences and well-developed paragraphs. An example of a well-developed paragraph is included.

❒ Lesson 9: Historical allusions: This lesson begins with a journal prompt, students will analyze Cara Dillon’s song “There were Roses” and complete the accompanying worksheet. (Please note that this poem is not included.)

❒ Lesson 10: Thematic connections – Students will work in collaborative groups on the “Thematic Connections” worksheet, which compares two of the poems studied in the unit. *An optional activity is included: Students will write a comparative paragraph comparing one similar theme in both poems. An example of a paragraph is included.

❒ Lesson 11: Allusions and analysis – this lesson begins with a journal prompt, The study of Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” by watching a Ted Talk, analyzing Mumford and Son’s song “The Cave,” and completing the worksheet. (Please note that the song lyrics are not included.)

❒ Lesson 12: Connections – students will learn to make important connections in poetry by completing the worksheets of the “Battle of the Pronouns” and “Cave vs. Cave” to further develop the themes in Mumford and Son’s song “The Cave.”

❒ Lesson 13: Theme review – Students will refine and review how to develop a theme in a poem (which applies to any work of literature) by completing the worksheet “The Cave – Themes and Meanings,” students will then write a theme in paragraph form.

❒ Lesson 14: Evaluation (test) – editable with answer key and comment sheet to facilitate marking

You may also be interested in the following products:

Free Thesis Writing Activity

Poetry Lesson: Analyzing Poetry

Poetry Unit for Senior Students

Teaching the Essay Package

The Yellow Wallpaper No Prep Mini-Unit

Much Ado About Nothing No Prep Unit

❒Brave New World Student Notebook

Essay Writing Flip Book

Frankenstein Bundle

Hamlet Bundle

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
7 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
55 minutes


Free Frankenstein Activity

Description

Who is the real monster in Frankenstein?

This activity has been designed to help students to understand the creature’s character. Is he a friend, or is he an enemy? Is he solely responsible for his misery?

This activity helps to develop students’ argumentation skills in a fun and meaningful way.

This free activity is part of a larger unit:

Frankenstein No Prep Unit

I hope you enjoy it.

You may also be interested in the following products:


Frankenstein Bundle

Frankenstein Activity

Frankenstein Workbook

Paragraph Writing Activity (Frankenstein)

The Yellow Wallpaper No Prep Mini-Unit

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
2 pages
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
1 hour