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.
Help high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this resource for teaching “The Open Window” by Saki. Additional materials are included to facilitate planning for unexpected teacher absences. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Included are the following:
Public domain short story. With an estimated Lexile Measure range of 1000 to 1100, the narrative is a suitable selection for middle and high school English Language Arts classes.
Close reading analysis worksheet. By engaging with this exercise, students will articulate what is stated explicitly and implicitly; identify the point of view and setting details; analyze how complex characters think, interact, and behave; discern the meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases; examine cause-and-effect relationships; apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony; cite textual evidence in support of claims; and write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision. Questions are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Close reading analysis worksheet answer key.
Low-prep lesson plan for unexpected absences. This comes pre-filled with learning targets and agenda items. Space is also designated for classroom teachers to identify the name(s) of their class(es), the hour(s) of their class(es), student leaders, and upcoming homework assignments and assessments.
Bell ringer activity. Help a substitute teacher engage students (and find time to take attendance) with a thematically linked writing prompt.
Miscellaneous performance tasks handout. Extend student thinking and learning in the event of unexpected absences with this item outlining creative tasks pertaining to the short story. For example, students may write poetry or journal entries from the perspective of a character; write a brief retelling of the narrative from a different character’s perspective; explore the thematic significance of stories; review the overall quality of the narrative with objectivity and supporting evidence; and more.
Support the development of high school close reading skills with this assessment on the short story “Slave on the Block” by Langston Hughes. A variety of question types facilitates the process of analyzing character interactions, articulating the significance of objects and events, citing relevant and compelling textual evidence to support claims, and more. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
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, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
By engaging in this exercise, students will…
Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly
Identify point of view and setting
Analyze how complex characters think, interact, and behave
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Write with clarity and precision
Articulate the significance of Luther’s posing
Draw parallels between the character of Luther and the roses he carries
Explore character motivations and intentions
Examine cause-and-effect relationships
Discern meaning in unfamiliar words and phrases
Apply knowledge of literary devices including symbolism and situational irony
Articulate how the story’s title relates to the Carraways’ treatment of Luther
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and minimize assessment planning responsibilities with this close reading analysis worksheet covering George Orwell’s essay titled “Shooting an Elephant.” An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Articulate the dominant internal conflict
Determine the function of a given anecdote
Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony
Infer the message that the narrator’s inaction would have sent to the community
Consider how the author achieves specific effects with emphasis on how the resolution provides a sense of relief
Investigate autobiographical parallels, conducting brief research on the author’s life
Write about literature 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 Virginia Woolf’s short story “The New Dress.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Discern the functions of various passages and excerpts
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Articulate the hypocritical nature of the protagonist’s behavior
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing and metaphor
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Reduce teacher workload, promote homework accountability, and measure general reading comprehension with this assessment on chapters 22 through 24 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Setting
Victor’s struggles with socialization
The content of Elizabeth’s letter
Victor’s paranoia
The cause of Alphonse’s death
Victor’s solitary confinement
Victor’s reaction to the discovery of Elizabeth’s corpse
Victor’s decision to disclose information to law enforcement
Victor’s desire to retaliate
The effect of Victor’s dreams on his psychological state
Victor’s death
The creature’s remorse
Reduce teacher workload, promote homework accountability, and measure general reading comprehension with this assessment on chapters 19 through 21 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Victor’s perception of Henry
The purpose of a letter received by Henry and Victor
Victor’s “blasted tree” metaphor
Victor’s decision to work in isolation
Victor’s concern for the global consequences of his actions
Victor’s betrayal of the creature
Victor’s effort to dispose of his materials
Accusations leveled against victor
Henry’s cause of death
Kirwin’s gradually increasing compassion toward Victor
Variables that contribute toward Victor’s release from prison
Reduce teacher workload, promote homework accountability, and measure general reading comprehension with this assessment on chapters 16 through 18 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The De Lacey family’s reaction to the creature’s presence
The creature’s expression of anger toward the De Lacey family
How the creature’s genuine goodness manifests
The effect of Nature on the creature
The creature’s request of Victor
The conditions by which Victor will agree to the creature’s request
The creature’s method of compelling Victor to agree to his request
Victor’s psychological state after the agreement is reached
Victor’s father’s recommendation to raise his son’s spirits
Henry’s effect on Victor
The reason for delays in Victor’s work
Reduce teacher workload, promote homework accountability, and measure general reading comprehension with this assessment on chapters 13 through 15 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The creature’s vocabulary development
The effects of education on the creature
Felix’s background
Setting
Accusations against Safie’s father
Factors contributing to the severity of a legal judgment
Safie’s desire for independence
The creature’s discovery in the woods
The creature’s decision to approach the De Laceys
Biblical allusions
The creature’s reaction to rejection
Reduce teacher workload, promote homework accountability, and measure general reading comprehension with this assessment on chapters 10 through 12 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Victor’s reaction to the creature’s appearance
The creature’s expectations of Victor
The creature’s request for compassion
Victor’s dynamic character
The villagers’ treatment of the creature
The creature’s selflessness toward the rustic family
The creature’s observations about the rustic family
The creature’s commitment to stop stealing food
The creature’s first experiencing seeing himself
The effect of the rustic family’s kindness on the creature
Reduce teacher workload, promote homework accountability, and measure general reading comprehension with this assessment on chapters 7 through 9 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The intent of the letter Victor’s father writes
Victor’s sighting of the creature scaling the mountains
The framing of Justine
The Frankenstein family’s opinion of Justine
Circumstantial evidence that jeopardizes Justine
The interaction between Justine and a priest
Victor’s reason for remaining silent
Victor’s terrible guilt after the verdict is reached
The effect of the trial on Elizabeth’s world outlook
The effect of Nature on Victor
Reduce teacher workload, promote homework accountability, and measure general reading comprehension with this assessment on chapters 4 through 6 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Victor’s investigation of death and decomposition
The unintended consequences of Victor’s ambitiousness
The moment Victor is overcome by dread
Victor’s decision not to tell Henry about his work
Victor’s stated belief that ambitiousness should be regulated
Behaviors that reflect Victor’s mental breakdown
Henry’s role as a caretaker
Elizabeth’s assessment of the Frankenstein family
Justine’s relationship with the Frankenstein family
Justine’s personal background
Reduce teacher workload, promote homework accountability, and measure general reading comprehension with this assessment on chapters 1 through 3 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Victor’s childhood upbringing
The adoption of Elizabeth
The reason Victor’s parents give up their wandering ways
Henry Clerval’s role in Victor’s life
Victor’s interest in science
Caroline’s dying wish
Victor’s pursuit of an education
The nature of Krempe’s interaction with Victor
Waldman’s role in Victor’s life
Support the development of high school close reading skills and analysis of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein with this comprehensive bundle of worksheets. To accommodate classroom and distance learning settings, each resource is delivered as Word Documents and PDFs. A variety of high-order question types facilitates the process of analyzing character motivations, applying knowledge of literary devices, making logical inferences, articulating ideas in writing with clarity and precision, and supporting claims with relevant textual evidence. Answer keys and a copy of the public domain text are provided.
By completing these exercises, students will be able to:
Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Explore character motivations
Articulate Walton’s professional objective(s)
Apply knowledge of literary devices
Articulate cause-and-effect relationships
Infer with which statement Walton is most likely to agree
Define complex words and phrases in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Analyze how the author’s craft contributes to the development of mood
Discern subtle and more obvious distinctions among adjectives
Discern the primary function of chapters one through three
Articulate Victor Frankenstein’s epiphany in a given passage
Analyze the importance of Victor’s epiphany
Make logical inferences about character modes of thinking
Articulate what diction reveals about the narrator’s psychological state
Make logical inferences about how the narrator perceives himself as he works toward generating life
Analyze the contradictory nature of Victor Frankenstein
Infer the cause of Victor’s disturbing dream
Draw parallels between Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner and Shelley’s Frankenstein
Explore Henry’s compassion and selflessness
Analyze figurative language to articulate its effect
Explain the significance of a locket
Articulate how Victor contributes to a grave injustice
Compare and contrast complex characters
Explain the significance of the pool of water
Analyze how Victor becomes a dynamic character in the context of a given chapter
Articulate how chapter 10 is different from chapter 11
Explore “the barbarity of man”
Explore how the creature demonstrates childlike naivety
Articulate how the creature acquires an education
Articulate how a person’s value is determined by society, according to the creature’s teachings
Discern the effect that learning has on the creature’s psychological state
Discern what the treatment of Safie’s father reveals about about the class system
Articulate the influence of Paradise Lost on the creature
Compare and contrast the creature to the biblical character of Adam
Articulate the effect of animal imagery
Explain the function of a given scene
Discern a logical inference about the author’s personal philosophy based on the text
Explain how the creature appeals to Victor’s intellect and emotions
Articulate Victor’s internal conflict
Explain the function of Henry’s character in chapter 18
Analyze the author’s craft to discern how Shelley aligns Victor’s experiences with his creature’s
Evaluate Victor’s psychological state
Make logical predictions in context
Compare Victor to Justine
Analyze the effect of Victor’s dialogue in context
Analyze how complex characters interact
Explore the topic of systemic inequity
Articulate Victor’s internal conflict in a given excerpt
Discern the tone of Elizabeth’s letter to Victor
Analyze the treatment of Elizabeth and other female characters in the novel
Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
Articulate the significance of Victor’s condition at the end of the novel
Extend comprehension and support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of analytical questions on chapters 22 through 24 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. With this resource, high school English teachers can save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain chapters are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. More specifically, students will be able to:
Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, metaphor, situational irony, and symbolism
Articulate Victor’s internal conflict in a given excerpt
Define complex words in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Discern the tone of Elizabeth’s letter to Victor
Isolate a false statement about plot among a set of true statements
Analyze the treatment of Elizabeth and other female characters in the novel
Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
Articulate the significance of Victor’s condition at the end of the novel
Extend comprehension and support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of analytical questions on chapters 19 through 21 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. With this resource, high school English teachers can save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain chapters are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. More specifically, students will be able to:
Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, metaphor, and aposiopesis
Define complex words and phrases in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Analyze the author’s craft to discern how Shelley aligns Victor’s experiences with his creature’s
Evaluate Victor’s psychological state
Make logical predictions in context
Compare Victor to Justine
Analyze the effect of Victor’s dialogue in context
Analyze how complex characters interact
Explore the topic of systemic inequity
Extend comprehension and support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of analytical questions on chapters 16 through 18 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. With this resource, high school English teachers can save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain chapters are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. More specifically, students will be able to:
Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile and dramatic irony
Isolate a factual statement about plot from falsehoods
Define complex words and phrases in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Explore the creature’s psychological state
Analyze the author’s craft to infer intent
Articulate the effect of animal imagery
Explain the function of a given scene
Discern a logical inference about the author’s personal philosophy based on the text
Explain how the creature appeals to Victor’s intellect and emotions
Articulate Victor’s internal conflict
Explain the function of Henry’s character in chapter 18
Extend comprehension and support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of analytical questions on chapters 13 through 15 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. With this resource, high school English teachers can save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain chapters are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. More specifically, students will be able to:
Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices including antithesis, allusion, and irony
Isolate a factual statement about plot from falsehoods
Articulate how the creature acquires an education
Articulate how a person’s value is determined by society, according to the creature’s teachings
Define complex words in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Discern the effect that learning has on the creature’s psychological state
Discern what the treatment of Safie’s father reveals about about the class system
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Articulate the influence of Paradise Lost on the creature
Compare and contrast the creature to the biblical character of Adam
Explain the greater significance of a given excerpt
Extend comprehension and support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of analytical questions on chapters 10 through 12 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. With this resource, high school English teachers can save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain chapters are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. More specifically, students will be able to:
Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing and allusion
Isolate an accurate statement about plot among a set of falsehoods
Explain the significance of the pool of water
Discern the function of a given paragraph
Analyze how Victor becomes a dynamic character in the context of a given chapter
Analyze the author’s craft
Articulate how chapter 10 is different from chapter 11
Explore “the barbarity of man”
Explore how the creature demonstrates childlike naivety
Extend comprehension and support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of analytical questions on chapters 7 through 9 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. With this resource, high school English teachers can save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain chapters are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. More specifically, students will be able to:
Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony
Define complex words and phrases in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Analyze figurative language to articulate its effect
Isolate an accurate statement about plot among a set of falsehoods
Explain the significance of a locket
Articulate how Victor contributes to a grave injustice
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Compare and contrast complex characters
Extend comprehension and support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of analytical questions on chapters 4 through 6 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. With this resource, high school English teachers can save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain chapters are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. More specifically, students will be able to:
Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony
Define complex words and phrases in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Analyze the author’s craft
Articulate what diction reveals about the narrator’s psychological state
Make logical inferences about how the narrator perceives himself as he works toward generating life
Analyze the contradictory nature of Victor Frankenstein
Isolate a falsehood from accurate statements about plot
Infer the cause of Victor’s disturbing dream
Draw parallels between Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner and Shelley’s Frankenstein
Explore Henry’s compassion and selflessness
Explore the interactions of complex characters
Discern the function of a given paragraph
