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.
Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions for The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Covering chapters 31 through 34, this worksheet saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Articulate how the government has failed in its mission to divide women in the context of chapter 31
Interpret an idiomatic phrase as it is used in the text
Isolate a false statement about plot among a set of true statements
Analyze how complex characters develop and interact
Compare and contrast characters
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and portmanteau
Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings
Explain an example of paradox in the context in chapter 34
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions for The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Covering chapters 40 through 46, this worksheet saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters develop and interact
Explore a character’s psychological state
Isolate a true statement about plot from a series of false statements
Analyze the author’s craft
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Explain how a character’s personal history influences their present behavior
Discern the tone of a remark in context
Articulate the significance of a given detail
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices including ambiguity and anaphora
Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 2 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore themes in the context of the chapter
Analyze character actions and motivations
Explore the symbolic meaning of a given detail
Infer the intended effect of the author’s word choices
Articulate the greater significance of the animals’ decision to rename the farm
Discern the functions of a given passage
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence
Reduce teacher workload, measure reading comprehension, and promote homework accountability with this quiz on chapters 17 through 19 of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important plot details:
Bilbo’s justification for bargaining
Thorin’s response to Bilbo’s justification
Unity among dwarves, elves, and men
The return of the Eagles
Thorin’s realization about what would make for a merrier world
The new King Under the Mountain
Bards gifts to Bilbo
Beorn’s new role
Gandalf’s statement regarding a more peaceful forest
The surprise awaiting Bilbo at home
Reduce teacher workload, measure reading comprehension, and promote homework accountability with this quiz on chapter 12 of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important plot details:
Bilbo’s frustration
Unique quality of dragons
Bilbo pilfering treasure
The adventurers’ terrible realization concerning Smaug
The adventurers’ abrupt frustration toward Bilbo
Speaking in riddles
Smaug’s suspicions and plan to attack
The function of the thrush
The Arkenstone
Reduce teacher workload, measure reading comprehension, and promote homework accountability with this quiz on chapter eight of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important plot details:
Lighting watch-fires
A deep-sleep state
Hastily using the last of the arrows
Bombur’s dream
Veering off the path in Mirkwood
Bilbo’s transformative experience involving a spider
Bilbo’s sword
Abduction by the wood-elves
The Elvenking’s questioning of Thorin
Thorin’s reluctance to share details
The consequence Thorin faces
This product offers four culminating project options once students finish reading The Hobbit. In addition, comprehensive rubrics for each project are offered. Project options are listed below:
1. Ten Journal Entries
Objective: Demonstrate an understanding of characterization and character transformation over the course of a text.
Pretend you are Bilbo Baggins. Write a minimum of 10 journal entries detailing your journey. These entries should not be plot summary! Rather, they should provide insight into Bilbo’s thoughts… ***complete details included in purchased version***
2. Comic Strip/Graphic Novel
Objective: Demonstrate an ability to discern key events leading to a transformation of character.
Adapt a chapter of your choice into a comic strip or graphic novel. Be advised: You are expected to select a chapter in which a key character undergoes a significant transformation, and you are to artistically reflect that transformation. You must extract key quotations… ***complete details included in purchased version***
3. Character Interview
Objective: Demonstrate an understanding of characterization and character transformation over the course of a text.
This option would work best with one partner. Choose wisely, for both individuals will receive the same grade--no exceptions. Your commitment to this project choice reflects your acceptance of that condition. Develop a list of 25 open-ended (not “yes/no”) questions that a reporter… ***complete details included in purchased version***
4. Travel Brochure
Objective: Demonstrate a firm grasp of setting and its influence on character and plot development.
Pretend you are a travel agent whose job is to arrange visits to settings referenced in The Hobbit. Choose four of the following settings: Bag End, Rivendell, Ravendell, Mirkwood, Lonely Mountain, and Lake Town. Create one pamphlet for your four settings. The pamphlet should include… ***complete details included in purchased version***
Objectives of projects include (but are not limited to) the following:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of characterization
2. Demonstrate an understanding of dynamic character
3. Demonstrate an ability to discern key evidence in support of ideas
4. Demonstrate an understanding of setting and its influence on plot development
5. Demonstrate an ability to work efficiently in both independent and group contexts
Measure general comprehension and hold students accountable for reading Farley Mowat’s nonfiction book Never Cry Wolf with this set of printable assessments on chapters 9 through 16. In addition to a multiple choice quiz, a short answer version is provided, which may double as a guided reading worksheet to encourage active engagement with the text. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing both Word Document and PDF versions. Questions pertain to the following details.
“Wolf naps”
Uncle Albert
A fear for the wolves’ survival
A staple of the wolves’ diet
George’s painful experience
The purpose of a scientific experiment
The main point of Ootek’s story
How wolves catch fish
The death of large quantities of caribou
Ootek’s unique skill
The wolves’ behavior
An experiment involving Mike’s husky
Save time and measure general reading comprehension with this printable quiz on “Black Angel,” a short story by Nancy Springer. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this multiple choice assessment makes it easier to quickly and efficiently gather data on student recall and reading habits. An answer key and a copy of the public domain narrative are provided.
By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
The reason for the Jersey Devil’s frustration
Distinguishing characteristics of the nameless child
The comparison of the Jersey Devil to another mythical being
The reason for the nameless child’s presence in the woods
Where the Jersey Devil takes the child
The purpose of the Jersey Devil’s visit to the World Tree
Dynamic character
A new dynamic to the relationship between the child and the Jersey Devil
The World Tree’s judgment of the Jersey Devil
Symbolism
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze chapter 30 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is provided. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, these instructional materials save teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
Copyright restrictions prohibit the inclusion of the complete chapter, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel.
By engaging in this exercise, students will:
Examine the context of a given passage
Analyze character dialogue to discern meaning and intent
Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations
Analyze an excerpt to discern its significance
Fairy tales are not just for elementary readers; even middle and high school students may use Grimms’ fairy tales as tools for extending beyond reading comprehension and practicing close reading analysis skills. “Donkey Cabbages” by the Brothers Grimm is a representative short story that promotes active engagement with fiction. English Language Arts teachers may assign this set of rigorous questions to complement the story and evaluate students’ high-order skills. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others
Articulate what makes a particular character’s actions suspicious
Analyze nuances in words with similar meanings
Select the most appropriate synonym to replace a word in the text
Discern the greater significance of a given detail
Articulate the irony associated with a given detail
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including situational irony, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, and juxtaposition
Isolate an example of figurative language from among several options
Examine the authors’ diction to determine its intended effect
Defend claims and ideas with valid reasoning and relevant evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze chapter 22 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is provided. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, these instructional materials save teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
Copyright restrictions prohibit the inclusion of the complete chapter, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel.
By engaging with this resource, students will do the following:
Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Draw logical inferences in the context of a given passage
Analyze character actions and statements to discern character intent
Isolate factual statements from false statements
Analyze figurative language to discern deeper meaning
Consider the thematic significance of the interaction between Jem and Maudie Atkinson (a belief that there is hope for positive change in the American justice system, although that change will probably happen slowly)
Engage a variety of middle and high school students with the incorporation of Grimm’s fairy tales into the classroom. “The Elves and the Shoemaker” by the Brothers Grimm is a short story about the positive effects of performing good deeds for others. With this set of high-order questions, teachers will be able to extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills. While the close reading activity upholds academic rigor, the brevity of the narrative helps teachers fill awkward gaps in their teaching schedules. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing this activity, students will perform the following tasks:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, simile, hyperbole, allusion, and symbolism
Explore theme
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary material
Defend claims and ideas with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and stamina with this rigorous set of close reading analysis questions on a short story titled “Cool Air” by H.P. Lovecraft. With an estimated Lexile Measure of 1200-1300, the narrative and its corresponding activity are suitable additions to high school fiction units, especially at the 11th and 12th grade levels and during the Halloween season. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Articulate what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Explore character intentions and motivations
Analyze how complex characters behave and interact
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, situational irony, and dramatic irony
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in context
Identify relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Gothic fantasy and horror are genres that maximize many high school students’ engagement with literature. “The Cats of Ulthar” by H.P. Lovecraft is a macabre short story featuring savage neighbors, an avenging curse, and flesh-eating felines—making it an especially chilling choice for the Halloween season. This rigorous worksheet on “The Cats of Ulthar” helps English teachers support the development of close reading analysis skills and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Discern a key purpose of the mythological allusions delivered in the exposition
Draw parallels between the author’s choices and knowledge of cat-related proverbs
Explore the antagonistic characterization of the community’s old couple
Examine the narrator’s feelings toward the people of Ulthar
Explore the greater significance of imagery from a mythological perspective
Investigate the author’s decision to name a key character after an Egyptian figure
Discern the functions of several paragraphs
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices including personification, irony, inversion, and onomatopoeia
Make logical inferences about the author’s decision to include two seemingly insignificant details
Identify and explain a significant example of foreshadowing in the story
Argue whether the people of Ulthar are better or worse off for having gone through their experiences
Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
For many high school readers, science fiction, supernatural fiction, and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “From Beyond” by H.P. Lovecraft is a compelling short story that features elements consistent with those genres: advanced technology, parallel realities, alien life, and more. This rigorous worksheet covering “From Beyond” helps English teachers extend student learning beyond reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Analyze a passage in the text in order to discern its function.
Define complex vocabulary in context
Analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations
Analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character relationships
Analyze the text for literary devices such as foreshadowing, situational irony, and theme
Find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim
Analyze context clues to discern and articulate the significance of a given detail
Articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity and precision
This resource extends beyond text comprehension, helping high school students analyze the formal elements of fiction and respond thoughtfully in writing to questions about literature. The featured short story is titled “The Singing Bone” by the Brothers Grimm. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story, which has an estimated Lexile measure of 1100-1200, are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Define complex words and phrases in context, with emphasis on archaic usage
Analyze nuances in word meanings
Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a word
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text with emphasis on lesser known concepts: metonymy, epizeuxis, polysyndeton, and anastrophe
Apply knowledge of more basic literary devices to the text: consonance, assonance, alliteration, personification, and situational irony
Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 10 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. This worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Make logical inferences about characters’ intentions and motivations
Analyze character relationships
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the novel
Determine the intended effect of a word as it is used in the novel
Explore the greater significance of Animal Farm’s name change
Apply knowledge of figurative language
Analyze a particular detail to infer the author’s intent
Defend the claim that the animals are collectively worse off than before Napoleon’s rule
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Hamlet. With a focus on Act 4, scene 2, this resource saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
More specifically, students will be able to:
Discern the tone of a given passage
Identify the meaning of a particular line
Identify an example of metaphor and explain its intended meaning
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
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this set of quizzes on Life As We Knew It, a dystopian young adult novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer, with emphasis on chapters one through four. A multiple choice assessment is provided, as well as a subjective version. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important details:
The relationship between Miranda and her mother
The neighbors’ collective reaction to the meteor strike
The subsequent natural disasters that occur
The significance of school not being cancelled the following day
Miranda’s heroism in the face of disaster
People’s peculiar purchasing habits at the supermarket
Rumors that begin to circulate
Miranda’s step-mother and her condition
Megan’s alarming response to the worldwide disaster
Matt’s arrival home and his comments on heroism