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 vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “The Kiss” by Anton Chekhov. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: affirm, ardor, benevolently, cumbersome, desultory, diffidence, doff, hasten, hasty, hearty, heedless, idle, incredulously, inveigle, ironical, irresolution, joviality, morose, mournful, mutter, obscure, pensive, piously, satiety, superfluity, temerity, timid, traverse, vague, verst, and weary.
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 eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short story “The Heavenly Christmas Tree,” otherwise known as “The Beggar Boy at Christ’s Christmas Tree.” The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The narrator’s identity
The young boy’s living conditions
A reason for wandering
The boy’s bold decision
The adults’ general reaction to the boy
External conflicts
What the boy hears beside the wood stack
A significant invitation
A devastating discovery
The narrator’s perspective on the story he tells
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short story “The Heavenly Christmas Tree,” otherwise known as “The Beggar Boy at Christ’s Christmas Tree.” A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: amuse, clang, dullness, dusk, famine, fancy, kindle, kopeck, morsel, porter, rheumatism, shutter, and wretched.
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 eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz on the short story “The Kiss” by Anton Chekhov. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The protagonist’s job
The characterization of primary and secondary characters
The nature of the protagonist’s invitation
The location of the titular kiss
The effects of the kiss on each person
Factors contributing to the protagonist’s negative self-reflection
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “The Little Mermaid.” A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain fairy tale, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: beckon, betrothal, bough, dowager, drab, earnestly, ethereal, hasten, heartily, idle, indifferent, melodious, mournfully, procure, timid, and trifle.
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 eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz on the short story “The Burglar’s Christmas” by Willa Cather. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Setting
The protagonist’s name
The protagonist’s backstory
An acquaintance’s concern for the protagonist
The protagonist’s epiphany about his life circumstances
The nature of the dialogue between the protagonist and a young woman
The protagonist’s behavior inside the mansion
Dimly familiar objects
The owners of the mansion
The protagonist’s assessment of his past
Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Sandra Cisneros’ Christmas-themed short story titled “Three Wise Guys, Un Cuento de Navidad.” An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including idiom, metaphor, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, and personification
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about coming-of-age 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 short story “The Burglar’s Christmas” by Willa Cather. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: despondently, discordant, dolefully, futile, garish, hasten, introspection, loaf, lustrous, refuge, remonstrance, reproach, sophistry, unobtrusive, and vexed.
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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the holiday-themed short story “Three Wise Guys: Un Cuento de Navidad” by Sandra Cisneros. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: atole, chicharras, comadre, descend, doilies, guillotine, improvise, obstructed, plea, portable, prophecy, sashay, and urracas.
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 eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz on Truman Capote’s holiday-themed short story “A Christmas Memory.” The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with coming-of-age fiction. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Point of view
The characterization of the protagonist’s best friend
The protagonist’s personal interests
The protagonist’s goals
Bonding activities between the protagonist and his friend
The characterization of Mr. Haha
Christmas gifts
The significance of this particular Christmas
The resolution
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the holiday-themed short story “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: carnage, cavort, chastise, dilapidated, disposition, garish, goad, inaugurate, murmur, prosaic, shudder, sprightly, and vaguely.
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 eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz on the short story “At Christmas Time” by Anton Chekhov. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with coming-of-age fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The general characterization of the parents
Yegor’s paid task
Yegor’s response to a character’s anguish
The passing of time
Setting
The nature of the relationship between a daughter and her parents
Yefimya’s homelife
The name of Yefimya’s husband
The husband’s profession
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the Christmas-themed short story 'The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: ardent, cascade, coax
depreciate, falter, fixedly, imply, imputation, instigate, laboriously, meretricious, parsimony, and prudence.
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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “At Christmas Time” by Anton Chekhov. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: abide, ailing, bereaved, coarse, conceited, doze, efficacy, habitual, hasten, invincible, porter, stifling, subside, and unintelligible.
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 eliminate assessment planning duties with this plot-based quiz covering Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Ugly Duckling,” a story of resilience. 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 reason for the mother duck’s impatience
The absence of the ducklings’ father
A suggested reason for one egg’s lack of hatching
Lessons the mother duck teachers her babies
The mother duck’s internal conflict
The treatment of the ugly duckling
The ugly duckling’s interactions with wild ducks
Threats that soon face the ugly duckling upon running away
How the duckling’s appearance may have saved its life
The reason the ugly duckling enters an old cottage
The inhabitants of the cottage
The treatment of the ugly duckling by the cottage’s residents
An awe-inspiring sight
How the ugly duckling survives the cold winter
A request the ugly duckling makes of the swans
The resolution
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapter 8 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: clamor, conciliatory, dismay, fortnight, impart, intently, lamentation, murmur, refuge, successive, weary, and wistful.
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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapter 10 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: denounce, eminent, frugally, haughty, hearty, invariably, misgiving, morose, rheumy, subversive, taciturn, and trifle.
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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapter 7 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: capitulate, coccidiosis, continually, countenance, decree, incite, rejoice, retribution, thwart, treachery, tumult, and whinny.
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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapter 9 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: bray, complicity, contemptuously, dart, demeanor, indignantly, internment, knacker, oration, superannuated, temper, and waft.
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
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapter 3 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: cryptic, hoist, humble, indefatigable, leisure, maxim, obstinate, principle, quarrel, seclusion, shirk, and toil.
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