“What is the theme of this story?” Now there’s a question all pupils dread. Rather than encountering a sea of faces that look like they were painted by Edward Munch, face a classroom filled with smiles and confidence. Show your readers...

Are you are considering a unit on Beowulf or Superman, on myths, or tricksters? Here's a great overview you can use to launch a study of universal themes and archetypes. The focus here is on the oral tradition, but the concepts apply to...

Who was Vincent van Gogh? Most of the questions can be answered in two or three sentences; however, there is at least one essay prompt and one personal response question that require longer answers. Questions call for a good mix of...

If you are teaching Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound, you can't afford to miss this source. An extensive list of ideas outlines numerous discussion topics, writing prompts, comprehension questions, oral presentations, and projects. Have class...

Introduce your young readers to fiction written by women authors. For each story, they explore the way these daughters discover and claim their own identities. Individually, class members use the literature to examine their role in their...

Introduce your middle schoolers to the lives of past Native Americans. First, learners work together to put photographs in a sequence. Then, using their sequence, they create stories to share with the whole class. No matter how old your...

Discover some of the themes of Dr. Seuss's major books. They see that despite being written for young people, Dr. Seuss' books contain powerful messages and important themes.

Students compare aspects of children's books that teach diversity and respect. They examine universal values such as courage and bravery, respect and apathy. They create a final project based on their ability to recognize the values in...

A Venn diagram is a great tool. Middle schoolers research specific authors from different time periods, cultures, and genres. In groups, they create a Venn Diagram in order to compare and contrast two pieces of literature by the same...

In this reading comprehension activity, students respond to 2 short answer and essay questions based on themes in All the King's Men. Students may also complete their choice of 3 reading activities suggested.

In this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 3 short answer and essay questions based on themes in Miller's All My Sons. Students may also complete their choice of 3 reading activities suggested.

In this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 3 short answer and essay questions based on All My Sons. Students may also complete their choice of 3 reading activities suggested.

Pupils practice differentiating between categories of art and entertainment. They also practice telling the difference between character themes and universal themes. They find a text to relate to themselves and write about it.

Students examine how to skim textual material. They read an article, and identify the main ideas by reading first and last paragraphs, topic sentences, and other organizational clues.

Students read different types of literature in a group setting. They discuss the related themes and research them. They create a PowerPoint presentation on the information they have collected.

Students produce a bulleted list of five facts about Greek Theater, complete the comparison graphic of Greek Theater Web sites, and create a bulleted list of four major themes.

This is a study guide for William Shakespeare's Comedy Much Ado about Nothing.

This website provides an annotated, on-line version of the Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth. It provides an introduction, character bios with images, themes, a glossary, summaries of each scene of each Act, and the complete text with...

[Free Registration/Login Required] This learning module focuses on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew including why it is considered a "problem play." It includes information about the abuse of women in the 1500-1600's, a chart of how...

[Free Registration/Login Required] This slide show lesson focuses on analyzing conflict in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It includes analyzing excerpts and reading a scene and answering questions.

Determining the theme is not easy; you have to use the clues the author leaves to figure it out yourself. The author implies information about the story through plot points, setting, and characters. You infer and draw conclusions based...

[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a detailed lesson with activities concerning Macbeth's doubts and uncertainties over killing Duncan. The idea of this resource is to compare Macbeth's doubts about killing Duncan with Brutus'...

[Free Registration/Login Required] This slide show lesson and worksheet focus on whether Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew is a misogynistic play, displays hatred or dislike of women. Students must take a stand, and write an essay...

Discover a world beyond "The Glass Menagerie," when you visit this site featuring links to lesson plans for this work. This site also features links to information on the life and work of Tennessee Williams.