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 middle and high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering a classic Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Girl Without Hands,” also known as “The Maiden Without Hands” and “The Armless Maiden.” Themes addressed include the power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed
Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques
Discern tone in context
Determine the purpose of a given passage
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, euphemism, foreshadowing, invective, metaphor, simile, situational irony, symbolism, and more
Consider themes in context
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
Evaluate general reading comprehension and maximize students’ interest in works of fiction with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Girl Without Hands,” also known as “The Maiden Without Hands” and “The Armless Maiden.” Themes addressed include the power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate engagement with the narrative. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The miller’s understanding of his deal with a stranger
The stranger’s underhandedness
The true identity of the stranger
The maiden’s attempts at saving herself
The means by which the maiden loses her hands
The assistance of a guardian fairy
The nature of the relationship between the king and the maiden
The king’s gift to the maiden
The trickery of the wizard and its effect on the king’s relationship with the maiden
The message displayed on the cottage
The reason the maiden’s hands grow back
The length of time the king travels in search of the maiden
The nickname of the maiden’s son
The son’s initial reaction to learning the identity of his father
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 the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Girl Without Hands,” also known as “The Maiden Without Hands” and “The Armless Maiden.” Themes addressed include the power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit. A plot-based quiz, a close reading inference worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a 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 tone in context
Determine the purpose of a given passage
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, euphemism, foreshadowing, invective, metaphor, simile, situational irony, symbolism, and more
Consider themes in context
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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Singing Bone.” Themes addressed include betrayal and the virtue of kindness. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain short story, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: benign, caper, clamber, decree, enterprise, laceration, lamentation, malice, odious, penurious, precarious, shrewd, swiftly, and valorous.
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, facilitate vocabulary development, sharpen critical thinking skills, and maximize interest in works of fiction with this bundle of materials for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Simeli Mountain.” Themes addressed include the consequences of greed and the virtues of discipline and modesty. A plot-based quiz, a close reading inference worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a 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
Determine the functions of given passages
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, dramatic irony, invective, metaphor, simile, situational irony, and more
Consider themes in context
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
Evaluate general reading comprehension and maximize students’ interest in works of fiction with this plot-based quiz covering the ghostly Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Stolen Farthings.” Themes addressed include the importance of honoring the memories of the lost and doing good deeds for others. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
A description of the ghost
The ghost’s behavior
The father’s comments
The mother’s revelation
The discovery of two objects
What happens with the two objects
The resolution
Help middle and high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering a ghostly Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Stolen Farthings.” Themes addressed include the importance of honoring the memories of the lost and doing good deeds for others. An answer key and copy of the short story 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
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed
Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques
Discern tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on epiphany
Consider themes in context
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
Evaluate general reading comprehension, sharpen critical thinking skills, and maximize students’ interest in works of fiction with this bundle of materials for teaching the ghostly Grimm’s fairy tale “The Stolen Farthings.” Themes addressed include the importance of honoring the memories of the lost and doing good deeds for others. A plot-based quiz, a close reading inference worksheet, 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
Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques
Discern tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on epiphany
Consider themes in context
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
Help middle and high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering a Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Three Languages.” Themes addressed include the importance of respecting one’s talents and the power of communication. An answer key and copy of the short story 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
Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed
Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given passage
Discern tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on foreshadowing, invective, situational irony, and more
Consider themes in context
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
This bundle of 20 assessments promotes analytical thinking, measures and extends reading comprehension, and offers flexibility of choice to differentiate and satisfy the academic needs of students of varying proficiency levels in classroom and distance learning settings. Included are close reading activities, answer keys, and copies of public domain texts. Short story selections include the following:
“Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin *
“Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell *
“The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe *
“The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving *
“The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield *
“The New Dress” by Virginia Woolf *
“The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane *
“The Open Window” by Saki *
“The Oval Portrait” by Edgar Allan Poe *
“A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett *
“After Twenty Years” by O. Henry *
“The Businessman” by Edgar Allan Poe *
“The Legend of the Christmas Rose” by Selma Lagerlof *
“The Old Tombstone” by Hans Christian Andersen *
“The Wind Blows” by Katherine Mansfield *
“The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen *
“The Stolen Farthings” by the Brothers Grimm *
“Slave on the Block” by Langston Hughes
“The Wives of the Dead” by Nathaniel Hawthorne *
“The Sparrow and His Four Children” by the Brothers Grimm *
(* denotes a public domain text)
By completing these analysis exercises, students will demonstrate the following high-order skills:
An ability to apply knowledge of more complex literary devices to the texts including foreshadowing, situational irony, dramatic irony, hyperbole, personification, metaphor, symbolism, theme, and more
An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations and other elements of plot
An ability to discern and articulate details that illustrate contrasts between characters
An ability to define complex words by taking into consideration denotative definitions, connotative definitions, and context clues
An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of claims
An ability to discern mood and tone in context
An ability to discern author’s intent
An ability to conduct brief research and articulate historical and autobiographical parallels
An ability to analyze text structures
An ability to analyze text to determine the function of an excerpt
An ability to analyze a text for how it conforms to the conventions of a particular genre
An ability to establish formal tone, paying attention to conventions of written English
An ability to take leadership in class discussions, addressing nuances in the author’s craft to help peers understand literature from different perspectives
Help high school students explore literary craft with this activity covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Black Cat.” With this worksheet, students will isolate and reflect upon textual details that are consistent with the conventions of Dark Romanticism, horror, and supernatural fiction. An answer key is provided, as well as a copy of the narrative, which makes for an excellent addition to a short story unit for grades 9 through 12. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this literary craft analysis activity, students will:
Isolate examples of compelling sensory description
Isolate characterization details that elicit emotional responses from readers
Isolate details that evoke the spirit of Halloween
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on dramatic irony, foreshadowing, metaphor, personification, situational irony, and symbolism
Convey information through speech and writing in a coherent manner
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Black Cat.” The following are included: a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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 maximize students’ interest in fiction with this plot-based quiz covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Masque of the Red Death.” The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate engagement with the narrative. An answer key and copy of the text are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The prince’s name
The number of people he has isolated at the abbey
Forms of entertainment provided
The prince’s intentions
The collective attitude toward fear and grief
The length of time from isolation to the announcement of a ball
The prince’s declaration regarding party attire
The prince’s reaction to the Red Death costume
The time of the Red Death’s arrival
A weapon the prince intends to use for defense
An unsettling discovery about the suspicious figure
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Black Cat.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a literary craft analysis activity, a vocabulary application exercise, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, anaphora, hubris, hyperbaton, paradox, and simile
Conduct brief research on Roman mythology to discern and articulate why the name Pluto carries symbolic value
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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The following are included: a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Masque of the Red Death.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the narrative, 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
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Articulate how setting influences character actions
Apply knowledge of literary devices including anaphora, consonance, inversion, simile, and situational irony
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
Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering Edgar Allan Poe’s supernatural short story “The Fall of the House of Usher.” 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 excerpts
Explore the connection between the plot of the short story and the content of the poem titled “The Haunted Palace”
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of various sound and literary devices including alliteration, personification, euphemism, foreshadowing, situational irony, hyperbole, epiphany, juxtaposition, and more
Conduct brief research on Swiss painter Henry Fuseli to develop greater understanding of Poe’s allusion to him
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
Evaluate general reading comprehension and maximize interest in supernatural fiction with this plot-based quiz on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate engagement with the narrative. An answer key and copy of the text are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
How the narrator comes upon the House of Usher
The narrator’s descriptions of the House of Usher
What the narrator means when he refers to “shadowy fancies”
A characterization of the relationship between the narrator and Roderick
The content of the letter Roderick wrote the narrator
What the narrator means when he refers to Roderick’s "reserve [which] had always been excessive and habitual.
The Ushers’ ancestry
A description of the narrator as he first explores the House of Usher
Roderick’s ill appearance
Madeline’s relationship to Roderick
Madeline’s unusual medical condition
Roderick’s ability to play the guitar
Why Roderick wants to keep Madeline’s corpse in the house
A realization that Roderick and Madeline were twins
A strange sight through the window
Peculiar noises
Roderick’s terrible fear regarding Madeline
Roderick’s death
The narrative’s resolution
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Edgar Allan Poe’s supernatural short story “The Fall of the House of Usher.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading inference worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, 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 most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Determine the functions of given excerpts
Explore the connection between the plot of the short story and the content of the poem titled “The Haunted Palace”
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of various sound and literary devices including alliteration, personification, euphemism, foreshadowing, situational irony, hyperbole, epiphany, juxtaposition, and more
Conduct brief research on Swiss painter Henry Fuseli to develop greater understanding of Poe’s allusion to him
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
Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado.” 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
Examine grammatically correct structure
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Discern tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing and verbal irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature