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.
This summative test covers William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and includes an answer key, as well as a standards-based rubric for scoring essays. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will:
Demonstrate knowledge significant characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events throughout the play
Identify the context of meaningful quotations in the play
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices applied in the play including hyperbole, metaphor, malapropism, oxymoron, hyperbole, personification, invective, and pun
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to explore the complexities of Benedick’s character
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 2, of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. 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.
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.
More specifically, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Discern the intended effect of Shakespearean language in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Determine the tone of a given excerpt
Consider autobiographical parallel, drawing an informed inference about Shakespeare’s philosophy on the purpose of dramatic performances based on details provided in this scene
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of assessments covering chapters 5 and 6 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. These activities eliminate the need for take-home assessment planning without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
These resources may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these activities for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these materials, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore the symbolism associated with a given object or character
Discern the greater significance of given details
Discern the intended effects of given details
Determine the function of a given chapter
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism, allusion, paradox, and more
Explore themes in context
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapters 5 and 6 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. This worksheet is delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, and it eliminates the need for take-home assessment planning while upholding the need for rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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.
More specifically, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore the symbolism associated with a given object or character
Discern the greater significance of given details
Discern the intended effects of given details
Determine the function of a given chapter
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism, allusion, paradox, and more
Explore themes in context
Incorporate more science fiction into middle and high school classrooms and evaluate general reading comprehension with this plot-based quiz covering the sci-fi short story titled “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The protagonist
The setting
Expository details
External conflicts
The consequences of significant actions
Interactions between and among characters
The resolution
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, five close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Discern tone in context
Discern the intended effect of Shakespeare’s choices related to characterization
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast characters in the play
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, metaphor, simile, personification, oxymoron, hyperbole, situational irony, dramatic irony, and more
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 2, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. 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.
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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Describe tone in context
Discern the intended effect of figurative expressions in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Discern the main function of a given passage
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 3, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. 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.
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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Consider nuances in words with similar meanings
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Describe the nature of the relationship between Antonio and Sebastian
Apply knowledge of literary devices including paradox and hyperbole
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 3 of William Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, four close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Materials in this bundle may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these materials, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Discern the main function of a given passage
Discern the intended effects of Shakespeare’s stylistic choices
Discern tone in context
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including oxymoron, situational irony, dramatic irony, ambiguity, paradox, hyperbole, and more
Explore the text for thematic significance
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 4, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. 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.
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 engaging in this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of an oxymoronic phrase
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including oxymoron, situational irony, dramatic irony, ambiguity, and alliteration
Explore the text for thematic significance
With this summative test covering the entirety of William Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night, English teachers will evaluate students’ essay writing skills and comprehension of characters, plot, and craft. A test prep study guide, answer key, and standards-based essay rubric are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will:
Demonstrate knowledge of primary and secondary characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events that take place throughout the novel
Evaluate substantive excerpts for deeper meaning
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, allusion, assonance, euphemism, hyperbole, metaphor, oxymoron, personification, and simile
Generate an essay about the influence of love on three characters
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Help high school students explore how Gabriel Garcia Marquez used literary devices such as hyperbole, personification, simile, metaphor, and imagery to develop a compelling short story: “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World.” Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions in which students evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims. An answer key is included.
Help high school students enhance their active reading habits and close reading analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Included are the following: a plot-based, multiple choice quiz; a short answer alternate quiz option for re-assessment purposes; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading questions; a craft analysis activity; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Determine the greater significance of a given detail
Discern the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Examine how characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole, personification, simile, metaphor, and imagery
Argue whether the wives’ feelings toward their husbands are justified
Consider whether the villagers are better off for having met the drowned man
Support claims and inferences with reasoned thinking and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and practice close reading analysis skills with this rigorous worksheet covering “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This activity helps to eliminate take-home assessment planning duties, saving teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. A detailed answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and 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 engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Determine the greater significance of a given detail
Discern the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Examine how characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Argue whether the wives’ feelings toward their husbands are justified
Consider whether the villagers are better off for having met the drowned man
Support claims and inferences with reasoned thinking and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this plot-based quiz covering Mark Twain’s tall tale “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” also known as “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog” and “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” Alternatively, this set of questions may serve as a guided reading document to foster active reading habits. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of:
Setting
The reason for the narrator’s frustration
The speaking style of Simon Wheeler
Characterization of Jim Smiley
Characterization of Daniel Webster
Characterization of Andrew Jackson
Simon Wheeler’s compulsive gambling
The reason Wheeler hands off his box to the stranger
The stranger’s trickery
The resolution
Help high school students explore how Mark Twain used literary devices like hyperbole, allusion, and simile to develop an exaggerated short story in “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” also known as “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog” and “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions in which students evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included.
Help high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this resource for teaching “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett. 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 1200 to 1300, the narrative is a suitable selection for high school English Language Arts classes.
Close reading analysis worksheet. By engaging with this exercise, students will articulate what is stated explicitly and implicitly; provide a description of the narrative’s setting; analyze how complex characters think, interact, and behave; explore the dynamic transformation of a character; discern the tone of a given passage; explore cause-and-effect relationships; compare and contrast characters; apply knowledge of literary devices including simile and anthropomorphism; explore how the author achieves effects such as conveying a sense of awe; conduct brief online research; 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 task handouts. 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.
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning duties with this plot-based, multiple choice quiz covering the short story “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett. Alternatively, this resource may serve as a guided reading handout to foster active reading habits among students. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Setting
The protagonist’s background
The nature of the interactions between Sylvia and the hunter
The differences between the lives of Sylvia and the hunter
Help high school Creative Writing students better understand the conventions of science fiction and prepare for the drafting of original sci-fi short stories with this comprehensive, low-prep, standards-aligned unit plan. All supporting materials are provided in both Word Document and PDF formats. More specifically, the following are included:
A detailed, standards-based unit plan articulating the unit’s transfer goal(s), essential question(s), enduring understanding(s), learning target(s), academic vocabulary, formative assessment(s), summative performance task(s), and learning plan(s).
A PowerPoint presentation addressing the conventions of the science fiction genre.
Representative science fiction narratives.
Worksheets to facilitate analysis of representative literature.
Detailed directions.
A comprehensive outline for student planning.
A document to facilitate the editing process.
A comprehensive rubric for evaluating student writing.
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night (Act 4) with this bundle featuring a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading activities. By engaging with these resources, students will identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply knowledge of literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, make engagement with text visible, and more. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Apply knowledge of dramatic irony, situational irony, and paradox
Determine the significance of Feste’s participation in the newest plot to make a fool out of Malvolio
Consider the intent of character actions
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Analyze the author’s craft to determine how the audience is supposed to feel as a result of character development
Explore the psychological state of Toby in the context of the scene
Apply knowledge of allusion
Identify an excerpt from the scene that features an example of oxymoron
Identify an excerpt in the scene that conveys Feste’s confidence
Write with clarity and precision