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.
Evaluate general reading comprehension and align English Language Arts and World History curricula with this plot-based quiz covering Ernest Hemingway’s short story “Old Man at the Bridge,” a piece of historical fiction addressing the Spanish Civil War. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate engagement with the narrative. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Point of view
The narrator’s role
Weather conditions
A relevant holiday
The old man’s age
The old man’s home city
The reason the old man is the last person to leave the city
The old man’s personal background
The old man’s health condition
The old man’s perspective on cats
And more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and help middle and high school students relate to works of fiction with this plot-based quiz covering Cynthia Rylant’s short story titled “Checkouts.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
The protagonist’s reaction to moving
The narrator’s perspective on the act of suffering
Why the narrator enjoys grocery shopping
The job of the protagonist’s love interest
Qualities the protagonist appreciates about her love interest
Qualities the love interest appreciates about the protagonist
The boy’s reaction to the protagonist’s smile
The amount of time that passes between encounters
The narrator’s perspective on children who want things
The narrator’s comparison between humans and a certain kind of animal
Why the protagonist becomes less interested in the boy
Where the boy starts working after leaving the grocery store
Evaluate general reading comprehension and align English Language Arts and American History curricula with this plot-based quiz covering Ray Bradbury’s Civil War-based short story “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate engagement with the narrative. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Setting
The drummer boy’s name
The drummer boy’s age
The amount of time the drummer boy has served
Whether the drummer boy enlisted legitimately or illegitimately
The general’s grave expectations for the following day
The general’s assessment of the soldiers’ preparation
The general’s evaluation of the drummer boy’s role
The resolution
Evaluate general reading comprehension and help middle and high school students relate to works of fiction with this plot-based quiz covering Borden Deal’s short story titled “Antaeus.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Point of view
Setting
The protagonist’s general characterization
The reason T.J.'s family moved
T.J.'s new social group
The group’s hangout spot
What T.J. wants to plant versus his peers
The identity of the person who threatens the kids’ work
The kids’ decision concerning the fate of the garden
Evaluate general reading comprehension and help middle and high school students relate to works of fiction with this plot-based quiz covering Cherylene Lee’s short story titled “Hollywood and the Pits,” which focuses on the life of a former child actor who begins her pursuit of new interests. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The age at which the narrator entered the Hollywood business
What the narrator credits with her entry into Hollywood
The mother’s attitude toward her daughter’s work
The means by which the narrator’s father shows support
A collaborative performance
A famous figure with whom the narrator performed
The narrator’s general attitude toward entertaining others
How the mother treated the narrator at home
The narrator’s interaction with a reporter
The grandmother’s hobby
The narrator’s new interest
How the mother reacts to the narrator’s new interest
Evaluate general reading comprehension and help middle and high school students relate to works of fiction with this plot-based quiz covering Leslie Marmon Silko’s short story titled “Uncle Tony’s Goat.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text, which is of special appeal to those who stories involving animals. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Point of view
The narrator’s questionable behavior
The source of the narrator’s injury
Uncle Tony’s response
The narrator’s worry
Uncle Tony’s perspective on animals and their relationship with humans
The fate of the goat
How long Uncle Tony is gone
Uncle Tony’s emotional state upon returning
The goat’s distinguishing quality
Support vocabulary development, enhance reading comprehension, and align English Language Arts and American History curricula with this set of games and activities covering Ernest Hemingway’s short story “Soldier’s Home,” a piece of historical fiction focusing on the effects of war on a Marine who returns from fighting in World War I. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: ambition, apocryphal, atrocity, bar, beau, boast, court, elaborately, hamper, muss, noncommittal, resentful, vaguely, and wander.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Evaluate general reading comprehension and align English Language Arts and World History curricula with this plot-based quiz covering Rebecca Harding Davis’ short story “Life in the Iron Mills,” one of the earliest narratives representing the realist movement in American Literature. A dominant theme is the unpleasant effects of the industrial revolution on common workers, such as the two Welsh immigrants who propel the story. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
General characterization of Deborah
General characterization of Wolfe
General characterization of the narrator
General characterization of Clarke Kirby
General characterization of Mitchell
General characterization of Haley
General characterization of Janey
A significant object in the story
Evaluate general reading comprehension and align English Language Arts and American History curricula with this plot-based quiz covering Ernest Hemingway’s short story “Soldier’s Home,” a piece of historical fiction focusing on the effects of war on a Marine who returns from fighting in World War I. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate engagement with the narrative. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The protagonist’s educational background
The military branch in which the protagonist is enlisted
Why the protagonist finds it difficult to talk to others
The protagonist’s physical effects of lying and exaggerating stories
The protagonist’s musical instrument
What the protagonist does that temporarily makes him feel better
Helen’s relation to the protagonist
The protagonist’s relationship with his parents
How the protagonist makes his mother cry
The protagonist’s response to his mother’s tears
The resolution
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, sharpen critical thinking skills, and maximize interest in works of fiction with this bundle of materials for teaching Rudyard Kipling’s short story “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” from The Jungle Book. A plot-based quiz, close reading inference worksheet, vocabulary application activity, crossword puzzle, word search game, the short story, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques
Discern the functions of given details and characters
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast Rikki-tikki-tavi and the cobras, Nag and Nagaina
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on foreshadowing, hyperbole, invective, onomatopoeia, situational irony, and more
Conduct brief research on the Hindu god Brahm to connect the allusion to setting
Reflect on themes in context
Articulate whether the protagonist’s killing of baby snakes is justified or not
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning
Write about literature with clarity, precision, and accuracy
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering the short story “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” by Rudyard Kipling, from The Jungle Book. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
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 given details and characters
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast Rikki-tikki-tavi and the cobras, Nag and Nagaina
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on foreshadowing, hyperbole, invective, onomatopoeia, situational irony, and more
Conduct brief research on the Hindu god Brahm to connect the allusion to setting
Reflect on themes in context
Articulate whether the protagonist’s killing of baby snakes is justified or not
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning
Write about literature with clarity, precision, and accuracy
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Rudyard Kipling’s short story “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” from The Jungle Book. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: brood, cantonment, cower, cunningly, draggled, fledgling, gait, inherit, mournful, providence, scornfully, scuttle, singe, sluice, trot, valiant, and veranda.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this plot-based quiz covering Rudyard Kipling’s short story “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” from The Jungle Book. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Rikki-tikki’s condition when Teddy first encounters him
The motto of a mongoose
A typical goal of a mongoose
The father’s opinions of Rikki-tikki
The species represented by Darzee
The relationship between Nag and Nagaina
A common misunderstanding about the mongoose
The quality that makes Karait more dangerous than Nag and Nagaina
How Rikki-tikki commits to maximizing strength and speed
The characterization of Chuchundra
Rikki-tikki’s attack on Nag
Nag’s ultimate cause of death
Rikki-tikki’s criticism of Darzee
Rikki-tikki’s plan to destroy Nagaina
Darzee’s initial reaction to Rikki-tikki’s plan
How Darzee’s wife deceives Nagaina
What the family is doing when Nagaina threatens them
The fight between Rikki-tikki and Nagaina
What awakens Rikki-tikki the night following Nagaina’s death
Evaluate general reading comprehension and help middle and high school students relate to works of fiction with this plot-based quiz covering Cynthia Rylant’s short story titled “Papa’s Parrot.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Mr. Tillian’s business
Mr. Tillian’s feelings about Harry and his friends’ regular visits
The name of Mr. Tillian’s parrot
What Mr. Tillian does when business slows down
How Harry feels about Mr. Tillian’s interactions
The nature of Harry’s teasing
A sudden, alarming incident
How Harry helps to keep his father’s business afloat
The parrot’s repeated question
Harry’s epiphany
Evaluate general reading comprehension and help middle and high school students relate to works of fiction with this plot-based quiz covering Gary Soto’s coming-of-age short story titled “Seventh Grade.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the text. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
Character names
Efforts to gain attention and affection
An awkward incident
The narrator’s weakest school subject
General characterization of Mr. Bueller
How the narrator feels toward his teacher
How the relationship between the narrator and his love interest develops
The narrator’s prediction for his immediate future
Evaluate general reading comprehension and align English Language Arts and American History curricula with this plot-based quiz covering Yoshiko Uchida’s short story “The Bracelet,” which addresses the upheaval of a Japanese-American family’s life in the wake of World War II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Setting
The narrator’s perception of her family home
The reason the narrator’s father is away
An aspect of life in which the father took great pride
A visitor
A description of the bracelet
A discussion about loyalty
The narrator’s initial reaction to learning the family would live in an apartment
What function the apartment used to serve
What happens to the bracelet
The family’s fate as time goes on
The insight of the narrator’s mother
Evaluate general reading comprehension and align English Language Arts and world history curricula with this plot-based quiz covering China Achebe’s short story “Civil Peace,” which addresses a family’s life following the Nigerian Civil War. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
Jonathan’s self-image
The number of living children Jonathan has
The name of Jonathan’s wife
Jonathan’s prized possession
Jonathan’s employment history
The name of Jonathan’s home city
The state of Jonathan’s home upon his return
Jonathan’s new business endeavor
A definition of “egg rasher”
A potentially dangerous incident
How Jonathan gets out of the incident unharmed
Jonathan’s favorite proverb
Evaluate general reading comprehension, sharpen critical thinking skills, and align English Language Arts curriculum with world history by using these resources for Tim O’Brien’s short story “Ambush,” which addresses a soldier’s experience during the Vietnam War. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings
Isolate details that contribute to a surreal atmosphere
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Discern the functions of given details and characters
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on onomatopoeia
Articulate how the narrative fits the classification of ‘cautionary story’
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning
Write about literature with clarity, precision, and accuracy
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering the short story “Ambush” by Tim O’Brien, which addresses a soldier’s experience during the Vietnam War. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings
Isolate details that contribute to a surreal atmosphere
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Discern the functions of given details and characters
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on onomatopoeia
Articulate how the narrative fits the classification of ‘cautionary story’
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning
Write about literature with clarity, precision, and accuracy
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Evaluate general reading comprehension and align English Language Arts curriculum to world history with this plot-based quiz covering Tim O’Brien’s short story “Ambush,” which addresses a soldier’s experience during the Vietnam War. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate engagement with historical fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
A daughter’s question
The nature of the father’s response
Setting
Secondary characters
A deadly object
The description of an “enemy”
The driving force behind the narrator’s deadly actions
The narrator’s post-killing assessment of the situation
