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.
Promote homework accountability and evaluate general reading comprehension with this quiz covering Act 4 of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Feste’s message from Olivia
Character motivations (why Toby intervenes in a fight)
Olivia’s sudden appearance
“If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!” (context)
Maria’s newest deceptive plot against Malvolio
Malvolio’s treatment and his attempts to improve his situation
Dynamic character (a change within Toby)
“Blame not this haste of mine…” (context)
Dynamic character (a change within Malvolio)
Promote homework accountability and evaluate general reading comprehension with this quiz covering Act 3 of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Cesario’s encountering of Feste
Cesario’s reaction to Olivia’s declarations of love
Olivia’s misinterpretation of Cesario’s motives
Olivia’s breaking of societal expectations in the times of Elizabethan England.
Toby and Fabian’s underhanded deeds
Andrew’s challenge
Sebastian and Antonio’s arrival in Illyria
Antonio’s personal history
Toby’s intentions
Olivia’s newest gift to Cesario
Antonio’s interruption of the duel
A case of mistaken identity and its consequences
Promote homework accountability and evaluate general reading comprehension with this quiz covering Act 5 of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Feste’s delivery of a letter
The use of figurative language and its purpose: “Why should I not, had I the heart to do it, / Like to the Egyptian thief, at point of death, / Kill what I love?”
The context of Viola’s claim that she would die “a thousand deaths”
Olivia’s rationalization of Cesario’s apparently inconsistent behavior
Andrew and Toby’s injuries
The context of Toby’s remarks: “An asshead and a coxcomb and a knave, a thin-faced knave, a gull!”
Andrew’s frustration with Viola
Olivia’s feelings toward Malvolio
A lie told by Fabian
Maria’s marriage
The tone of the closing song
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze chapter 28 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is provided. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, these instructional materials save teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom.
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 will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
Copyright restrictions prohibit the inclusion of the complete chapter, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel.
By engaging in this exercise, students will:
Explain the significance of a given detail
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations
Analyze a Dr. Reynolds’s remarks to discern tone in context
Analyze the author’s craft to discern the intended effect
Apply knowledge of literary devices (hyperbole) to the text
Analyze Dr. Reynolds’s comments to Scout to discern and articulate his intent
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Hamlet. With a focus on Act 4, scene 4, this resource saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents.
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 will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
More specifically, questions pertain to the following:
Analyzing character statements and behaviors to draw logical inferences about character development and motivations
Analyzing complex vocabulary and phrasing in context to determine meaning and intended effect
Analyzing an excerpt to discern tone in context
Analyzing textual details to discern and articulate their significance to the plot
Citing textual evidence in support of a claim
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
Support the development of high school and college close reading skills with this assessment on the modernist short story “Bliss” by Katherine Mansfield. A variety of question types facilitates the process of analyzing character motivations, applying knowledge of literary devices, citing relevant and compelling textual evidence to support claims, and more. The resource is delivered in both Word Doc and PDF formats. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included.
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
Analyze how complex characters think, interact, and behave
Analyze the dynamic transformation of character(s)
Explore character motivations and intentions
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony, foreshadowing, repetition, and assonance
Define complex words or phrases in context
Analyze nuances in word meanings
Analyze the author’s craft to discern what is revealed about a character’s psychological state
Analyze the author’s craft to articulate why she may have chosen the last name of Young for the protagonist
Analyze why the author may have chosen to title this piece “Bliss”
Cite textual evidence in support of inferences and claims
Write with clarity and precision
Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on the short story “After Twenty Years” by O. Henry. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly
Articulate the significance of a given detail
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Discern the function of a given paragraph
Apply knowledge of foreshadowing
Explore character motivations
Demonstrate knowledge of characterization
Analyze the effect point of view has on the reader
Cite textual evidence in support of inferences and claims
Write with clarity and precision
Reinforce the standard conventions of academic writing and perform a quick check of students’ knowledge with this grammar worksheet on the three types of verbals: gerunds, participles, and infinitives. Delivered in printable Word Document format, as well as in PDF format, this resource conveniently offers the option to edit. An answer key is provided.
Help high school students develop a greater understanding of how the Brothers Grimm used descriptive language, characterization, exaggeration, and various literary devices to establish a mood in “Cinderella” that is consistent with the conventions of fairy tale writing. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions. Through such discussions, students may evaluate peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims, clarifying or challenging ideas as needed. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included.
Help high school students develop a greater understanding of how Ray Bradbury used descriptive language, characterization, setting, and various literary devices to establish an eerie mood in “The Fog Horn” that is consistent with the supernatural fiction and science fiction genres. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions. Through such discussions, students may evaluate peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims, clarifying or challenging ideas as needed. An answer key is included.
Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, and text comprehension with a brief, engaging fairy tale titled “Cinderella” by the Brothers Grimm. A plot-based quiz is provided to measure reading comprehension, along with an answer key. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The origin of Cinderella’s name
The step-sisters’ request of their step-father
Cinderella’s request of her father
The conditions under which the step-mother claims Cinderella may attend the ball
The reason the step-mother does not follow through on her promise
The person whose grave Cinderella visits
The pigeons’ offering of help
What happens when Cinderella attends the ball
How Cinderella lost her slipper
How the step-sisters attempt to deceive the prince
The consequence of the step-sisters’ actions
Promote active engagement with fiction and evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz on the fairy tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” by the Brothers Grimm. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. All materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The cause of the queen’s distress
Characteristics of the looking-glass
The evil characterization of the queen
The dwarfs’ profession
The nature of Snow White’s first interaction with the dwarfs
The queen’s plans after discovering Snow White remains alive
The reason the dwarfs cannot bury Snow White
The prince’s reaction to the sight of Snow White
The incident that precedes Snow White’s revival
The death of the queen
Promote homework accountability and measure general reading comprehension with this quiz on Act 2 of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Reynaldo’s spying on Laertes
The cause of Ophelia’s fright
Polonius’ recommendation to Ophelia
Ophelia’s rejection of Hamlet
The arrival of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
The roles of Voltemand and Cornelius
Claudius’ effect on Fortinbras
Hamlet’s comparison of Denmark to a prison
The interaction among Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern
The effect of the actors on Hamlet
Hamlet’s self-criticism
Hamlet’s fear
Promote homework accountability and measure general reading comprehension with this quiz on Act 3 of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Polonius’ gift to Ophelia
Claudius’ psychological state
Hamlet’s suicidal thoughts
Hamlet’s degrading criticisms and comments about Ophelia
Hamlet’s confession to Ophelia
A primary cause of Ophelia’s sorrow
The interaction between Hamlet and Horatio
The function of the play from Hamlet’s perspective
Gertrude and Claudius’ reaction to the play
Claudius’ decision with regard to the seemingly insane Hamlet
Claudius’ internal conflicts
Polonius’ sneakiness
The appearance of the ghost
Gertrude’s acknowledgement regarding her current husband
Promote homework accountability and measure general reading comprehension with this quiz on Act 4 of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The information Gertrude gives Claudius about Hamlet
Hamlet’s refusal to identify the location of Polonius’ corpse
Hamlet’s interaction with Guildenstern and Rosencrantz
Hamlet’s reputation among the people of Denmark
Claudius’ assessment of Hamlet’s psychological state
Claudius’ plan to have Hamlet murdered
The actions of the Norwegian army
Fortinbras’ influence on Hamlet’s mindset
Ophelia’s peculiar behavior
The characterization of Laertes
Horatio’s letter from Hamlet
The tool Laertes will use to kill Hamlet
The manner of Ophelia’s death
Promote homework accountability and measure general reading comprehension with this quiz on Act 5 of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The nature of the gravediggers’ conversation
Hamlet’s reaction to the gravediggers’ behaviors
Hamlet’s similarities to the gravediggers
The nature of Hamlet’s conversation with the gravediggers
A former jester named Yorick
The church’s perspective on people who commit suicide
Laertes’ emotional response to Ophelia’s burial
Hamlet’s discovery of the plot to have him killed
Hamlet’s feelings toward Laertes
Hamlet’s duel with Laertes
Hamlet’s assessment of his physical strength in comparison to Laertes
The nature of Gertrude’s death
Hamlet’s belief regarding who should be the new King of Denmark
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Hamlet. With a focus on Act 4, scene 3, this resource saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents.
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 will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
More specifically, students will be able to:
Identify what Claudius compares Hamlet to
Consider plot developments from Claudius’s point of view
Identify why it is important for Claudius to give the illusion of careful consideration when banishing Hamlet
Identify textual evidence that supports Claudius’s judgment that Hamlet is going insane
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of words and phrases using reference materials such as a dictionary or thesaurus
Identify Hamlet’s justification for calling Claudius his mother
Make a logical inference about Hamlet’s thinking based on dialogue
Discern the tone of a given passage
Consider plot developments from Hamlet’s point of view
Identify Hamlet’s intent based on his interactions with Claudius in this scene
Identify and explain an example of dramatic irony in this scene
Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile
Write with clarity and precision
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions about Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Focusing on Act 1, scene 2, this resource is delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. An answer key is included. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Determine the function of a particular excerpt
Conduct brief research on classical mythology — more specifically the tale of Arion and the dolphin — and draw parallels between the mythological figure and Sebastian
Consider the text’s allusion to Elysium to infer greater meaning
Discern the tone of a character’s dialogue
Come to class/depart class better prepared to discuss literary material
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions about Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Focusing on Act 1, scene 3, this resource is delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. An answer key is included. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Discern tone in context
Identify the greater significance of a given detail
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole and simile
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Identify a function of the scene