Source: Maryland Public Television: Knowing Poe
Collect facts about Poe's life and the time in which he lived to determine how this affected his writing. Summarize information about world events, Poe's family and his literature in 1821 and 1837.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: American. United States History: 1801-1861.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Masterpiece Theater
Study the life and work of James Agee. Determine the extent to which James Agee's characters in "A Death in the Family" are real or idealistic, and explore Agee's themes of grief, religion, music and coming of age.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mark Twain
Analyze humor in the writing style of Mark Twain. Modeling Twain's style, write a "report from the 21st Century" embellishing students' own experiences and a comedy sketch about current events or personalities.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Debate/Public Speaking. Literature: American. Writing: Composition.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Maryland Public Television: Knowing Poe
Investigate answers to questions about Edgar Allan Poe's life and write an obituary or newspaper article that briefly explains the life and death of this American author.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Writing: Composition.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: American Masters
Understand relationships between literature, culture and society. Explore the effects of author's style and literary techniques on the quality of a work and the influence of the entertainment industry in shaping views.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Media Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Culture Shock
Develop a deep understanding of the history and culture of African-Americans. Recognize the historical roots and present-day manifestations of stereotypes and critically examine how Twain used these stereotypes in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: American. Reading: Reading Comprehension. Cultural Studies: African American Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Maryland Public Television: Knowing Poe
Discover how the melodic sounds and insistent rhythms of a poem's words add immensely to understanding and appreciating this art form. Consider the statement that music with a pleasurable idea is poetry.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Critical Thinking Skills. Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Jazz
Interpret key themes and concepts in "Invisible Man" that are also found in jazz compositions; describe the influence of jazz on the characters in "Invisible Man;" and explain the influence of jazz on Ralph Ellison as a writer.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Music.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Broadway: The American Musical
Compare and contrast literary works and the contemporary musicals they inspired within the context of their influence on popular culture. Adapt an excerpt from a literary work into a three-minute musical and produce it for an audience.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Drama/Dramatics. Literature: American. Writing: Composition. Music.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Maryland Public Television: Knowing Poe
Explore varied elements of plot and characterization and define the terms "protagonist," "antagonist" and "narrator." Apply these in relation to characters' thoughts, words, speech patterns and deeds in "The Cask of Amontillado."
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Critical Thinking Skills. Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Masterpiece Theater
Examine the plot, characters, themes and cultural context of the story. Compare and contrast the book with the film adaptation.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Film. Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Great Performances
Analyze the plot of the musical "South Pacific," and create a graphic organizer that compares and contrasts two characters. Discuss how the dialogue and the lyrics in "South Pacific" address racial prejudice.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Music.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Culture Shock
Examine how America is still affected by slavery today, discuss the extent to which "Huck Finn" is a racist novel, identify alternative endings for the book and determine if the novel should be taught in American schools.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Reading: Reading Comprehension.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Masterpiece Theater
Expand students' knowledge and understanding of the novel, the author and the era in which the book was written. Explore the changes made when the novel was transformed into a play and later into the current screenplay.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Film. Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Masterpiece Theater
Explore Hughes' work and the film through its major themes: race and class. Compare and contrast literature and film using examples from Cora Unashamed and other film adaptations.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies, The Arts
Topics: Film. Literature: American. Cultural Studies: African American Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Maryland Public Television: Knowing Poe
Examine the literal meaning of Edgar Allan Poe's short story classic "The Tell-Tale Heart." Evaluate the usefulness of an online tool that allows readers to annotate and bookmark comments and questions about literature for later study.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Science & Tech
Topics: Critical Thinking Skills. Literature: American. Communications & Computing.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The West
Examine the works of various American writers, and select elements in their works that demonstrate a distinctly Western voice. Compare their works with those of contemporary Western authors.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The West
Explore the life and literature of Mark Twain, and describe the impact he had on the public's view of the American West. Read portions of his book Roughing It for examples of stereotypes and truths about the West of his time.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: American. United States History: 1850-1877.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The American Novel
Consider the history of the American novel in terms of the literary movements that have occurred within the context of United States history. Write an original piece in the style of an American writer.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Critical Thinking Skills. Literature: American. Historical Perspective. Media Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOW
Examine and analyze the life and poetry of Naomi Shihab Nye, and discuss stereotyping. Write a persuasive letter in response to her open letter "To Any Would-Be Terrorists."
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: American. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: WGBH: Teachers' Domain
Examine a poem to explore its basic theme - an exploration of mother love - and use of language to evoke emotions. Discover how the poet uses comparison, humor and irony to keep the message of love from lapsing into a cliché.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Poetry and Poets.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: American Masters
Explore the theme of invisibility in Ralph Ellison's book, "The Invisible Man", in their own lives, and in their communities. Write an essay on the theme of the personal experience of invisibility.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: American. Cultural Studies: African American Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Maryland Public Television: Knowing Poe
Explore vocabulary through the context of Poe's poem "The Raven." Work individually or in small groups to write and present a review of The Raven that includes the new vocabulary and the main points of the poem.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Critical Thinking Skills. Literature: American. Vocabulary.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Culture Shock
Connect and analyze the institution of slavery, conditions under which slaves lived, the varied ways in which they resisted these conditions, and stereotyping to Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: American. Reading: Reading Comprehension. Cultural Studies: African American Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: American Masters
Examine the lyric form, the dramatic form, and mythology, as well as the concept of the American dream, through the work of Tennessee Williams.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Reading: Reading Comprehension.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Culture Shock
Analyze certain instances of pejorative language used by Mark Twain in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Relate own experiences and feelings by deciding if pejorative terms should be used within context or in "classic" literary works.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Reading: Reading Comprehension.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Point of View
Investigate the idea of artistic production in isolation from society by studying the life and work of the reclusive janitor Henry Darger, whose paintings and prose weren't discovered until after his death.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Maryland Public Television: Knowing Poe
Select pictures that fit your impression of Edgar Allan Poe's chilling short story "The Black Cat," and compare your selections with others to consider how people interpret stories differently.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Critical Thinking Skills. Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Culture Shock
Analyze the characters of Jim and Huck in "Huck Finn", discuss the concepts of the hero and the struggle for identify and examine how the novel reflects plantation stereotypes.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Reading: Reading Comprehension.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Masterpiece Theater
View, read and discuss Conan Doyle's tale, The Hound of Baskersvilles, and compare and contrast the story with the film. Explore the genres and elements of mystery and suspense that are present, and analyze characters, especially Sherlock Holmes.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Reading: Reading Comprehension.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Examine oral history sources relating to immigration to the U.S., and identify shared immigrant experiences. Learn how to conduct an oral history interview to gather first-hand stories about immigrant experiences.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: American. Storytelling. Immigration.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Maryland Public Television: Knowing Poe
Examine and discuss each characteristic of Edgar Allan Poe's definition of "poetry." Create your own definition of poetry by identifying characteristics you feel define the genre.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Critical Thinking Skills. Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Culture Shock
Define "satire", discuss hor using satire is different from delivering an overt message, and examine how Mark Twain uses satire in "Huck Finn." Compare and contrast satire and irony and find examples of both in the novel.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Reading: Reading Comprehension.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NewsHour Extra
Research lyrics and/or poems associated with a specific American war, and create a poster with information on the history and significance of the works. Write a song or poem about the war in Iraq or war in general.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies, The Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Media Studies. Music.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Independent Lens
Explore the universal themes and lessons about American history and society found in children's books, specifically those of Dr. Seuss. Identify the themes in Theodor Geisel's works and the techniques the author uses to get his ideas across.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Reading: Reading Comprehension.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The Blues
Examine the correlation between blues music and African American literature, understand what life was like for African Americans in the Jim Crow South and explore the literature produced by African Americans throughout the 20th century.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies, The Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Cultural Studies: African American Studies. United States History: 1929-1945. Music.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The American Novel
Explore the idea of the "American dream" in the past and today and through real and fictional human stories. Record oral narratives of people who are working toward the American dream and write a dramatic version of an American dream story.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Critical Thinking Skills. Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Masterpiece Theater
Examine the deep truths about life and values in the themes of Thornton Wilder's classic play Our Town. Explore the plot and characterization in Our Town through dramatic reading or staging of the play.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Drama/Dramatics. Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Jazz
Explore poetry, jazz, rap and hip hop music, and discover the common threads that run through the poetry and music. Examine how the themes and subject matter of the poetry and music reflect the lifestyle of the period.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies, The Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Cultural Studies: African American Studies. Music.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Jazz
Connect themes of literary forms and art to Harlem Renaissance jazz. Compare and contrast historical and fictionalized versions of the jazz scenes of the Harlem Renaissance, and describe the impact of jazz on African-American literature.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies, The Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Cultural Studies: African American Studies. Music.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The Civil War
Evaluate Walt Whitman's role as poet, historian and American visionary by analyzing his effectiveness in recording historic events and concepts through his poetry and by examining his reactions to the conditions of Civil War hospitals.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: American. United States History: 1850-1877.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Art in the 21st Century
Compare and contrast personal letters, memoirs, songs, poems and visual art that represent the experiences of wartime participants. Define "voice" in art and literature and create a narrative from the point of view of a wartime participant.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Literature: American. Non-Fiction: Letters, Diaries and Essays. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Masterpiece Theater
Explore the sense of place Cather evokes in The Song of the Lark, and discuss the story's themes of immigration, westward expansion, small town life and the American dream of remaking oneself. Compare a portion of the book with the film's script.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Film. Literature: American.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
