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: Mark Twain
Explain, test and analyze the value of different types of humor. Reflect on writings about everyday life.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Debate/Public Speaking. Writing: Composition.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Great Performances
Synthesize information from a variety of sources concerning Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and describe the conflict between characters in the famous play. Explore the era during which Shakespeare lived, and write a script for an opera.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Literature: British. Writing: Composition. Drama/Dramatics. Music.
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: NOW
Analyze the writing style of author Isabel Allende. Write a poem, short story or other piece of creative writing that reflects an historical event such as the Chilean Revolution or September 11, 2001.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: World. Reading: Reading Comprehension. Writing: Composition. Civics: Current Events/Issues. Geography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NewsHour Extra
Explore two formats for newspaper articles: the "straight news" article and the "in depth" news article. Interview someone on the local level about a current national issue, and write a newspaper article covering the interview.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Journalism. Writing: Composition. Civics: Current Events/Issues.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Great Performances
Evaluate a dance performance and write a review. Compare the choreography of Bob Fosse to current music videos.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Writing: Composition. Dance.
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: Nature
Observe a team of veterinarians helping a cheetah that was injured in a fight. Create a blog to share information about cheetahs and the challenges they face.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Science & Tech
Topics: Writing: Composition. Animals: Mammals.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Ancestors In The Americas
Explore generalizations about Chinese people living on the U.S. western frontier in the late 1900s and identify specific instances in films. Learn how to support generalizations with details to make complete paragraphs.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Organizing Information & Ideas. Writing: Composition. Cultural Studies: Asian American Studies. United States History: 1870-1900.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: My Journey Home
Examine a variety of proverbs and quotations from literature that explore the meaning of "home," and explore how culture affects the way we perceive others. Express personal feelings about home in a variety of creative writing activities.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Writing: Composition. Anthropology/Cultures.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Ken Burns American Stories
Evaluate the impact of radio as compared to other current broadcast media. Prepare an essay which compares and contrasts how past national news events were reported on both radio and TV.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Writing: Composition. Media Studies. Technology and Civilization.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Point of View
List the attributes of a good father, explore and discuss the difficulties and importance of communication across generations and write a letter to someone who has influenced your life.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Writing: Composition. Cultural Studies: African American Studies. Family Life.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: In Search of Myths and Heroes
Explore characterization, plot and setting and compare these elements in mythology and modern works of literature, film and television. Retell myths in modern settings or modern-day stories using a mythological Greek setting.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Mythology. Writing: Composition.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOW
Explore ways that both inward and outward journeys can be a source of creativity by observing the lives and works of others. Learn ways language choices can alter the effect of a piece, and draw from one's own personal experience to write a journal.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Writing: Composition. Geography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: American Masters
Explore political ramifications of censorship through study of Elia Kazan and Arthur Miller during the House Un-American Activities Committee. Perform part of "The Crucible" and write an allegorical script exploring experiences of discrimination.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies, The Arts
Topics: Writing: Composition. Civics: Civil and Human Rights. United States History: 1945-early 1970s. Film.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The War
Examine letters of one soldier from the front lines at Anzio and discuss why he never told his family what he was really experiencing. Imagine that you are a soldier fighting on the front lines of a specific battle and create a letter to your family.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Non-Fiction: Letters, Diaries and Essays. Writing: Composition. United States History: 1929-1945. War.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting: Art Beat at School
Analyze, discuss and compare sources of inspiration and writing styles, including use of words and imagery, of various songwriters. Create a journal documenting your life experiences and write a song or poem that reflects those experiences.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Creative Thinking. Poetry and Poets. Writing: Composition. Music.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: American Masters
Write a script based on books on which Lon Chaney's films were based, and compare student's work to Chaney's.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Reading: Reading Comprehension. Writing: Composition.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Great Performances
Explore the art of storytelling. Retell parts of the Stravinsky opera "The Nightingale" using contemporary lyrics and poetry.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Storytelling. Writing: Composition. Music.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The Great War
Define "total war," and explore the extent of human casualties in World War I, including how people died and which groups were especially targeted. Explore poems written by World War I soldiers, and create original descriptive works and poetry.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Literature: World. Writing: Composition. World History: 1900-1945.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Art in the 21st Century
Study the form of the ode using both written and visual examples. Choose a favorite landscape or place, and write and illustrate an ode to represent the feelings and significance inspired by that chosen place.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Writing: Composition. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Thomas Eakins - Scenes from Modern Life
Explore societal norms in the 1880's and the current times and examine the work and life of Thomas Eakins. Discuss the concepts of individuality and the impact of "being different" on the artist's creative process.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Social Skills. Writing: Composition. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Art in the 21st Century
Consider the ethical issues surrounding the exposure of other people's personal stories through art and literature. Create a narrative incorporating the stories of friends and family.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies, The Arts
Topics: Writing: Composition. Ethics. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mark Twain
Identify and describe the influence slavery had on Mark Twain's writing, and consider the powerful impact Twain's vernacular storytelling ability had on his audience. Determine the current status of race relations and ethnic differences.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Storytelling. Writing: Composition. Cultural Studies: African American Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NewsHour Extra
Define "quote" and "aphorism," differentiate between the two and describe situations where they might be used. Examine the concepts of war and terrorism using quotes and aphorisms as a springboard, and write and share original quotes or aphorisms.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Reading: Reading Comprehension. Writing: Composition.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mark Twain
Appreciate the value of scrapbooks in Mark Twain's personal and professional life, noting how portions of his collected memorabilia inspired some of his writing and described life in the 19th century. Create and analyze collaborative scrapbooks.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Organizing Information & Ideas. Writing: Composition.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Art in the 21st Century
Explore the ways that visual art relates to creative writing and the process of creativity. Consider how language might be used to emulate or mimic the systematic styles of a variety of visual artists.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Writing: Composition. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Mark Twain
Practice the art of creating effective tall tales and delivering the stories in the style of Mark Twain. Describe Mark Twain's conflicting lifestyles and values.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Debate/Public Speaking. Storytelling. Writing: Composition.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Art in the 21st Century
Examine the function of the alter-ego in contemporary art and literature. Create an alter-ego, and illustrate the alter-ego's adventures in a comic narrative.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Writing: Composition. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Point of View
Explore the differences between writing (or drawing) in a personal journal (or sketchbook) and writing (or creating artwork) that will be viewed by other people. Create your own personal journal or sketchbook.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Writing: Composition. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Nature
Design and build a model for an aircraft that will either fly the fastest and farthest, glide the longest or be the most maneuverable in a competition. Write a legend or myth about a raptor.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Science & Tech
Topics: Creative Thinking. Writing: Composition. Animals: Birds. Design & Invention. Motion & Forces.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Chasing The Sun
Explore excerpts from autobiographies written by aviators throughout history, and write an autobiographical, first-person essay describing a momentous life experience. Follow the writing process and offer constructive criticism to classmates.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Non-Fiction: Biography and Autobiography. Writing: Composition.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: American Masters
Learn about characterization in writing, and write a short story.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Reading: Reading Comprehension. Writing: Composition.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: KQED: Educator Resources
Analyze photographs to identify setting, compositional features and the photographer's purpose. Use techniques of descriptive language to analyze, interpret and infer the historical context of a photograph.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, The Arts
Topics: Writing: Composition. Critical Thinking Skills. Media Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: By the People: Election 2004
Gain an appreciation for citizen participation in politics by reviewing past movements to extend the right of suffrage to other groups. Write effective and persuasive letters to leaders concerning a fictitious amendment to lower the voting age.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Writing: Composition. Writing: Mechanics. Civics: United States Government.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The Perilous Fight: America's World War II in Color
Investigate personal letters sent to and from Americans involved in World War II, and interview someone with memories from that time. Write a story from this person's point of view, based on the interview and other research.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Non-Fiction: Letters, Diaries and Essays. Writing: Composition. United States History: 1929-1945.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Point of View
Use writing as a conflict resolution strategy and re-writing as a way to improve writing skills. Learn to respectfully critique another's writing and consider situations from a variety of perspectives.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Reading & Language Arts
Topics: Conflict Resolution. Writing: Composition. Writing: Mechanics.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting: Art Beat at School
Experience hip-hop poetry demonstrated by two African-American poets. Learn how to perform poetry in tandem, expressing social and life experience in art.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Writing: Composition. Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: By the People: Election 2004
Examine the process of researching, writing, and presenting an effective and convincing political speech to various political groups. Research political party platforms and write, present, and assess speeches based on these platforms.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Debate/Public Speaking. Writing: Composition. Civics: United States Government.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NewsHour Extra
Understand the definition of plagiarism, how to avoid it and the consequences involved. Examine the current debate over scholarly ethics and the correct method of citation.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Writing: Composition. Civics: Current Events/Issues. Ethics.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
Analyze the media's responses to Jack Johnson. Role-play reporters to compose headlines and subheadings that capture an African-American perspective.
Grade Level: 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Social Studies
Topics: Journalism. Writing: Composition. Cultural Studies: African American Studies. Media Studies.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
