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Think Literature


Lesson Plans	Activities	Video Clips	Online Field Trip

Lesson Plans

Is It Really a Mockingbird? -- How did Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird depict the Great Depression? In this lesson plan, students research the economy of the 1930s, learn about Jim Crow laws and examine the Scottsboro Trials.
Subject(s): Language Arts, Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

Mango Madness -- Examine the coming-of-age novel The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and have your students build a dream house using 3-D Architectural technology!
Subject(s): Language Arts, Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

The Story About Ping -- In this lesson, first grade students explore the world of sensory details in literature. Using the five sense words, students discover that authors appeal to the senses by using descriptive words to tell a story.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 1

Poe I Know -- This lesson will send students on a journey through cyber space using an online field trip presented by Thinkport. Students will gather information about Edgar Allan Poe while navigating this exciting interactive field trip.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 6

Goldilocks -- In this lesson, students learn about the importance of planning and pre-writing before attempting to write a story. They pick out the details and main idea using the story of Goldilocks and then write a class sequel to this well-known story.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 1

And They Read Happily Ever After -- Who needs a fairy godmother, anyway? Read the story of Cinder Edna, a problem solver who doesn’t need magic to get the ball, and teach your students about the concepts of goods and services.
Subject(s): Language Arts, Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 3, 4, 5

Serious Laughter -- Ninth grade students are introduced to the use of satire in literature during this ninety minute lesson. Students will examine political cartoons and essays in order to define satire, determine the tools of satire, as well the objects of satire.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 9

Literature Circles with Primary Students Using Self-Selected Reading -- This lesson from ReadWriteThink is a structured guideline for helping students learn to think about the books they read, and to ask questions about books shared by other students. It is especially appropriate for mixed-age and upper primary classes.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 1, 2

Literature Circles: Getting Started -- This lesson from ReadWriteThink explores Literature Circles, a great way to supplement a reading program in a literature-based classroom. Students create and answer comprehension questions, discover new vocabulary, and examine elements of literature.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 3, 4, 5

Phonics Through Literature: Learning About the Letter "M" -- This ReadWriteThink lesson incorporates the use of children's literature and activities that focus on learning about the letter "m" to teach students about phonics. Students learn about phonics by participating in an integrated array of activities.
Subject(s): Arts, Educational Technology, Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 1, 2

Exploring Literature Through Letter Writing Groups -- In this lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students discuss literature through a series of letter exchanges. Exchanged letters can take the form of handwritten letters, typed letters, electronic documents, e-mail, online discussion posts, and even Weblog posts.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12, Community College, Higher education

In Literature, Interpretation Is the Thing -- In this lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students examine how classic works of literature often reflect attitudes of a particular time that conflict with modern attitudes. Using Shakespeare's "Hamlet," they look beyond this conflict by examining the relationship between the text and a reader's interpretation.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

A Journal for Corduroy: Responding to Literature -- This lesson, from ReadWriteThink, leads first-grade students to reflect on and respond to literature through journal writing. Students read books in the Corduroy series and interact with a stuffed bear to personalize their experiences.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 1, 2

Characterization in Literature -- In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students explore various methods authors use to create effective characters. Students consider what makes a character believable and create their own characterizations. They also write a short script using the characters they created and act out the script.
Subject(s): Arts, Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

Who's Got Mail? Using Literature to Promote Authentic Letter Writing -- This lesson, from ReadWriteThink, uses literature and shared writing to teach letter-writing format and promote authentic letter writing. Students listen to and talk about stories dealing with correspondence, then participate in a collaborative, whole-group letter-writing activity
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 3, 4, 5

Activities

Cartoons and Characterization -- In this activity students will learn about varied elements of plot and characterization. They will define the terms protagonist, antagonist and narrator and apply them to characters in The Cask of Amontillado.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 6, 7, 8

Organizational Structure of Text -- How do authors organize their ideas? In this activity, students examine several literature excerpts and analyze their organizational structure.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 5

The Noble Art of Poetry -- A poet needs to write with imagination, sensitivity and eloquence. But what is poetry? Is stanza and verse all that's necessary? How important are the rhythm and the sounds of the words? How long can a poem be?
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 6, 7, 8, 9

How Did Kangaroo Get His Pouch? -- Have you ever wondered how the sky came to be or why bears don't have tails? In this activity, students will choose a legend, read it, and locate the different legend elements in a story.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 4

Two Sides to A Story! -- Every story has another viewpoint that can change the whole meaning. Read two versions of the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” one from the pig’s point of view and one from the wolf’s, and analyze the differences.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 3

Mad About Poe 1 - Literal Meaning of "The Tell-Tale Heart" -- This activity is written to help students decipher the literal meaning of Poe's, 'The Tell-Tale Heart.' It is meant as a precursor to the Mad About Poe 2 Activity, which looks at the interpretive or figurative meaning of the story.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 6, 7, 8, 9

Mad About Poe 2 - Interpretive Meaning of "The Tell-Tale Heart" -- Students will determine the figurative meaning of Poe's, 'The Tell-Tale Heart' in this activity. It may be used after the Mad About Poe 1 Activity, which looks at the literal meaning of the story.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 6, 7, 8

The Black Cat Drawings -- Students will use the Picture This interactive in reading The Black Cat to gain a better understanding of this complex and chilling short story.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 6, 7, 8

Officer Buckle & Gloria -- Join Officer Buckle and his friend Gloria to learn some important safety tips.
Subject(s): Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 2

Video Clips

Blueberries for Sal (RealVideo) and (Windows Media)
A blueberry picking trip ends with a mix-up as Sal and a young bear end up trading mothers by accident! Follow their heartwarming story as they work to sort things out.

Doctor De Soto (RealVideo) and (Windows Media)
A mouse dentist, a sly fox with a toothache; how will Dr. De Soto be able to handle such a scary situation?

Getting to Know William Steig (RealVideo) and (Windows Media)
An interview with William Steig, author and illustrator of such tales as "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" and other favorites.

Make Way for Ducklings (RealVideo) and (Windows Media)
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard encounter many troublesome ordeals as they try to find a nice place to raise a family in the city of Boston. But with the help of a kind policeman and many others, they soon find the home of their dreams.

Strega Nona (RealVideo) and (Windows Media)
When Big Anthony uses Strega Nonna's magic pasta pot without permission, things start to get sticky indeed...