Say hello to a platform dedicated to industrious, yet overtasked teachers like you. Say goodbye to countless hours spent developing relevant and engaging ELA lessons. Whether you are teaching the fundamentals of grammar, creative writing skills, classic literature, or contemporary fiction, you will find thousands of activities and assessments to help you achieve a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing academic rigor.
Say hello to a platform dedicated to industrious, yet overtasked teachers like you. Say goodbye to countless hours spent developing relevant and engaging ELA lessons. Whether you are teaching the fundamentals of grammar, creative writing skills, classic literature, or contemporary fiction, you will find thousands of activities and assessments to help you achieve a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing academic rigor.
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet (Act 4) with this bundle that features a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading activities. By engaging with these resources, students will identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply knowledge of literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, make engagement with text visible, and more. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Define complex words and phrases in context
Verify interpretations of words and phrases using reference materials such as a dictionary and thesaurus
Identify an example of figurative language and explain its effect
Apply knowledge of verbal irony, sibilance, personification, consonance, and inversion to the text
Isolate a factual statement about plot development from falsehoods
Analyze character actions and dialogue to discern character motivations
Analyze a character’s dialogue to discern what it suggests about their psychological state
Identify and explain Claudius’s dominant internal conflict
Analyze Hamlet’s dialogue to discern and articulate how he portrays Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as less than human
Cite textual evidence in support of the claim that Hamlet shows disrespect toward the king
Analyze the author’s craft to discern what effect is created by presenting several consecutive brief scenes
Isolate a factual statement about plot development from falsehoods
Identify why it is important for Claudius to give the illusion of careful consideration when banishing Hamlet
Identify Hamlet’s justification for calling Claudius his mother
Make a logical inference about Hamlet’s thinking based on dialogue
Compare and contrast Hamlet and Ophelia
Compare and contrast Hamlet and Laertes
Determine the primary purpose of Hamlet’s letter to Horatio
Discern the tone of a given passage
Cite textual evidence in support of claims and ideas
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet (Act 3) with this bundle that features a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading activities. By engaging with these resources, students will identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply knowledge of literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, make engagement with text visible, and more. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Discern what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Analyze character statements and behaviors to draw logical inferences about character development and motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text with emphasis on metaphor and personification
Make logical inferences about why the ghost reappears when it does
Analyze complex vocabulary and phrasing in context to determine meaning and intended effect
Analyze an excerpt to determine its primary function
Analyze dialogue to draw well informed inferences about Shakespeare’s philosophy on the purposes of dramatic performances
Articulate ideas with clarity and precision
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet (Act 2) with this bundle that features a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading activities. By engaging with these resources, students will identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply knowledge of literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, make engagement with text visible, and more. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Discern what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Identify a variety of functions this scene serves
Analyze character statements and behaviors to draw logical inferences about character development and motivations
Analyze complex vocabulary and phrasing in context to determine meaning and intended effect
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text with emphasis on situational irony
Compare and contrast two characters
Articulate ideas with clarity and precision
Defend a claim with textual evidence
Analyze the factors contributing to Hamlet’s internal conflict (the contradictory nature of religious values coupled with codes of honor)
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet (Act 1) with this bundle that features a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading activities. By engaging with these resources, students will identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply knowledge of literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, make engagement with text visible, and more. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Define complex words and phrases in context
Verify interpretations of words and phrases using reference materials such as a dictionary and thesaurus
Discern the tone of a given passage
Isolate a falsehood about plot development among factual statements
Analyze character actions and dialogue to discern character motivations
Cite textual evidence in support of claims and ideas
Discern the most adequate characterization of Horatio
Analyze plot from a historical context
Analyze character dialogue to discern and articulate what is implied
Apply knowledge of dynamic character to the text
Apply knowledge of foreshadowing to the text
Identify context clues that suggest Horatio’s opinion on supernatural occurrences is correct
Explain how Denmark gained authority over Norwegian lands
Make an inference about author’s intent, analyzing plot to determine what is suggested about the universe and its relationship to humankind
Conduct brief research to answer a question connecting Greek mythology to the drama
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 5 of William Shakespeare’s King Lear with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a quiz on characters and plot, three close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Materials in this bundle may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these activities, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, personification, simile, onomatopoeia, and oxymoron
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 4 of William Shakespeare’s King Lear with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a quiz on characters and plot, seven close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Materials in this bundle may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these activities, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the functions of given scenes
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Evaluate whether Lear is better off or worse off as a result of plot developments
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, simile, symbolism, and more
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 3 of William Shakespeare’s King Lear with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a quiz on characters and plot, seven close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of Shakespeare’s narrative techniques and figurative language
Define words/phrases as they are used in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Describe tone in context
Consider the greater significance of given details
Determine the primary function of given excerpts/scenes
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare two characters in the play (Edgar and Edmund)
Apply knowledge of literary devices including assonance, hyperbole, personification, paradox, metaphor, verbal irony, dramatic irony, situational irony, and apheresis
Conduct brief research on pelicans to better understand their symbolic value in context (“pelican daughters”)
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s King Lear with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a quiz on characters and plot, four close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words/phrases as they are used in context
Explore nuances in words with similar meanings
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Demonstrate general awareness of the characteristics of an Elizabethan audience
Describe tone in context
Determine the primary functions of given excerpts
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare Gloucester and Lear
Compare and contrast Edgar and Lear
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony, metaphor, assonance, onomatopoeia, inversion, personification, juxtaposition, dramatic irony, and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s King Lear with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a quiz on characters and plot, five close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words/phrases as they are used in context
Explore nuances in words with similar meanings
Choose the most appropriate synonym for a given word
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Describe tone in context
Consider the greater significance of given details
Determine the primary function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, hyperbole, synecdoche, antithesis, aphorism, allusion, dramatic irony, situational irony, and double denotation
Conduct brief research on mythological and historical subjects
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 5 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, eight close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effects of figurative language in context
Define complex words and phrases in context
Discern the greater significance of given details
Determine the function of given details and scenes
Discern tone in context
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on hyperbole, simile, metaphor, personification, foreshadowing, allusion, and symbolism
Conduct brief online research in order to answer a question
Articulate the greater significance of the placement of young Siward’s fatal injuries
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 4 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, three close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Discern apparent contradictions in dialogue
Define complex words and phrases in context
Explain the intended effect of figurative language in context
Discern tone in context
Determine the function of a given scene
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast the characters of Lady Macduff and Lady Macbeth
Compare and contrast the murders of Lady Macduff and her son to previous homicides
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as simile, paradox, invective, hyperbole, situational irony, and more
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 3 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, six close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Define challenging words as they are used in the text
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Discern tone in context
Determine the function of given details
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare characters in the play
Analyze Shakespeare’s incorporation of religious imagery to articulate what it implies about Macbeth
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as allusion, metaphor, euphemism, hyperbole, allusion, callback, situational irony, and more
Consider the symbolism of sleep, diamonds, and an extinguished light in context
Make logical inferences about Elizabethan culture and its perspective on the supernatural
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 2 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, seven close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of Shakespeare’s diction
Analyze language and articulate its intended effect
Discern tone in context
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Define complex and archaic words as they are used in the text
Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare the characters of Banquo and Macbeth
Consider the symbolism of sleep and diamonds in context
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as personification, hyperbole, simile, allusion, dramatic irony, and situational irony
Identify the best textual evidence in support of claims and inferences
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. A plot-based quiz, seven close reading worksheets (one per scene), and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of Shakespeare’s diction
Analyze language and articulate its intended effect
Discern tone in context
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Define complex and archaic words as they are used in the text
Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including assonance, simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, foreshadowing, paradox, allusion, situational irony, verbal irony, and more
Identify the best textual evidence in support of claims and inferences
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 5, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Articulate why Shakespeare may have made this scene so short
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss Shakespearean drama
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 2, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare aspects of Artemidorus’s characterization with Calpurnia’s
Articulate Artemidorus’ distinguishing qualities
Predict whether Caesar will seriously consider Artemidorus’s advice
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss Shakespearean drama
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 5, scene 8, of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Articulate the intended effect of figurative language in context
Discern the intended effects of Shakespeare’s diction
Discern tone in context
Define complex words and phrases in context
Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as metaphor and allusion
Conduct brief online research in order to answer a question
Articulate the greater significance of the placement of young Siward’s fatal injuries
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 5, scene 6, of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Articulate the greater significance of the laying down of boughs
Determine the tone of a character’s dialogue
Define complex words and phrases in context
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as assonance, syncope, personification, foreshadowing, and symbolism
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 5, scene 4, of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effects of Shakespeare’s diction
Define complex words and phrases in context
Determine the function of the scene
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as alliteration and allusion
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 5, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effects of figurative language in context
Define complex words and phrases in context
Determine the function of the scene
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as hyperbole, simile, metaphor, and symbolism
Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision