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 high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 6 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. 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. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as onomatopoeia
Define complex words and phrases in context
Analyze nuances in word meanings
Compare and contrast characters
Isolate a true statement about plot from a set of falsehoods
Discern the function of the chapter
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Identify several examples of complication in the context of the chapter
Analyze the role language plays in the world of Animal Farm
Articulate the intended effect of scapegoating Snowball
Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 7 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. This worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Make logical inferences about characters’ intentions, motivations, and beliefs
Apply knowledge of sonic devices including assonance, sibilance, onomatopoeia, and cacophony
Explain how Napoleon is a dynamic character
Identify an example of foreshadowing in the chapter
Conduct brief research on Joseph Stalin’s regime
Identify historical parallels between Stalin’s leadership and Napoleon’s
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 9 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. 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. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Make logical inferences about characters’ intentions and motivations
Analyze character relationships
Analyze a particular detail to infer the author’s intent
Articulate the irony associated with the word republic
Explore the motif of hypocrisy
Articulate how the pigs demonstrate contradictory thinking and actions
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence
Promote homework accountability, measure and extend reading comprehension, support the development of close reading skills, and encourage deeper analysis of fiction with this bundle of teaching resources covering the entirety of Animal Farm by George Orwell. With this product, high school English Language Arts teachers may save valuable time outside the classroom without sacrificing rigor inside the classroom. Ten resources are provided, one for each chapter in the novel. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats.
Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (book 1, chapters 6 through 10). An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the featured chapters, which are in the public domain. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing the close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Explore character development and motivations
Analyze what character actions reveal about their mindset
Analyze how characters interact
Explain the irony of a given detail
Explore how themes are reinforced
Discern the function of a given excerpt
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, metaphor, simile, sibilance, hubris, and more
Identify an example of juxtaposition and articulate its effect
Identify an example of foreshadowing
Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (book 1, chapters 11 through 17). An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the featured chapters, which are in the public domain. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing the close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Explore character development and motivations
Explore the symbolism of given objects or circumstances
Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
Explain the irony of a given detail
Apply knowledge of literary devices including onomatopoeia
Discern the function of a given character in the context of a particular chapter
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Compare and contrast characters
Explore the influence of mass media on the public
Consider historical context in relation to the author’s intentions
Discern the function of a given chapter
Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, and text comprehension with a brief, engaging fairy tale titled “The Singing Bone” 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 cause of great terror in the kingdom
The king’s promise to anyone who solves the kingdom’s problem
General character descriptions
The king’s instructions to a pair of brothers
A gift given to one of the brothers
A shepherd’s discovery
The fate of both brothers
Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this bundle of resources for teaching “The Singing Bone” by the Brothers Grimm. Included are the following: a self-grading, plot based quiz; a worksheet composed of high-order questions; a copy of the public domain short story (estimated Lexile Measure of 1100-1200); and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing the close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Define complex words and phrases in context, with emphasis on archaic usage
Analyze nuances in word meanings
Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a word
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text with emphasis on lesser known concepts: metonymy, epizeuxis, polysyndeton, and anastrophe
Apply knowledge of more basic literary devices to the text: consonance, assonance, alliteration, personification, and situational irony
Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, and text comprehension with a brief, engaging fairy tale titled “The Hare and the Hedgehog” by the Brothers Grimm. A plot-based quiz is provided to measure reading comprehension, along with an answer key and copy of the public domain narrative (estimated Lexile Measure of 1000-1100). Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Point of view
Setting
Character actions and descriptions
The hedgehog’s insecurity
The wager between the hare and the hedgehog
The wife’s role in the hedgehog’s plan
The fate of the hare
Theme
Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this bundle of resources for teaching “The Hare and the Hedgehog” by the Brothers Grimm. Included are the following: a self-grading, plot based quiz; a worksheet composed of high-order questions; a copy of the public domain short story (estimated Lexile Measure of 1000-1100); and answer keys. Students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the target audience of the narrative
Apply knowledge of alliteration, assonance, sibilance, simile, and dramatic irony to the text
Discern the meaning of complex phrases in context
Discern the tone of a particular excerpt
Discern the most accurate characterization of the hedgehog
Articulate the consequence of the hare’s stubbornness
Compare and contrast the hare and the hedgehog
Cite textual evidence to support claims and ideas
Write with clarity and precision
Conclude a unit on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells with this printable summative assessment. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this test includes 46 multiple choice questions. In addition to objective questions on character, plot, literary devices, and quote/passage analysis, an essay section is featured, requiring high school students to explore how the author incorporated verisimilitude into the plot. An answer key and standards-based essay scoring rubric are provided. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate an ability to:
Correctly identify characters based on given details and descriptions
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, dramatic irony, imagery, personification, and more
Analyze passages to determine which ones support a given claim or idea
Write a brief essay in which students convey ideas with relevant textual evidence and adhere to the standard conventions of written English
For many high school readers, science fiction, supernatural fiction, and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “From Beyond” by H.P. Lovecraft is a compelling short story that features elements consistent with those genres: advanced technology, parallel realities, alien life, and more. This multiple choice quiz on “From Beyond” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. 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 assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Crawford Tillinghast’s beliefs
The purpose of an advanced machine
The narrator’s connection to Tillinghast
The narrator’s advice for Tillinghast
The physical transformation of Tillinghast
The location of Tillinghast’s lab
The effects of the machine on the narrator
The narrator’s emotional reaction to his supernatural experiences
Tillinghast’s advice for staying safe
The collective fate of Tillinghast’s servants
Peculiar creatures surrounding the characters
The fate of the machine
Tillinghast’s apparent cause of death
The police officers’ assumptions about the narrator
Fairy tales are not just for elementary students; even high school readers can use (and enjoy) fairy tales as a tool for measuring general reading comprehension. This multiple choice quiz covers “The Fox and the Horse” by the Brothers Grimm. With an estimated Lexile Measure range of 1100-1200, the short story is especially suitable for middle and high school students. The briefness of the narrative also makes it an appropriate time-filler for awkward gaps in teaching schedules. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
How age has affected the protagonist
The seemingly insurmountable challenge the protagonist faces
The protagonist’s emotional state
The role of the fox in terms of assisting the horse
The execution of a plan to resolve the protagonist’s conflict
The resolution
With this bundle of ten plot-based quizzes covering the entirety of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. Answer keys are provided, as well as a copy of the public domain novel, which is divided into ten parts. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Evaluate reading comprehension, promote homework accountability, and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this bundle of resources for teaching Lord of the Flies by William Golding (chapter 11). A multiple choice, plot-based quiz is included along with a set of rigorous, high-order questions. Answer keys are also provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this resource, students will:
Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters interact and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices (personification)
Discern the greater significance of a given detail
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language
Make logical inferences about character behavior
Analyze character intentions and motivations
Define complex words and phrases in context
Identify textual evidence in support of a claim
Evaluate reading comprehension, promote homework accountability, and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this bundle of resources for teaching Lord of the Flies by William Golding (chapter 10). A multiple choice, plot-based quiz is included along with a set of rigorous, high-order questions. Answer keys are also provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for 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 resource, students will:
Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters interact and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices (metaphor, simile, personification, imagery, situational irony, and syncope)
Make logical inferences about Ralph’s psychological state in the context of a passage
Explore character motivations
Discern the greater significance of a given detail
Explain how a given phrase is a euphemism and why the author chose to employ this device
Articulate the purpose of Wilfred’s brutal punishment in terms of plot development
Identify textual evidence in support of a claim
Write with clarity and precision
Measure comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school and college with this set of rigorous questions on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “Ex Oblivione.” The variety of reading question types also facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. With an estimated Lexile Measure of 1400-1500, this text and its corresponding active reading exercise are appropriate additions to a high school short story unit, especially at the 11th and 12th grade levels. A detailed 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 completing this activity, students will demonstrate the following:
An ability to define complex vocabulary in context
An ability to navigate specialized reference materials to clarify a word’s precise meaning(s)
An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations
An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character mindsets
An ability to analyze the text for literary devices such as situational irony
An ability to analyze cause-and-effect relationships
An ability to analyze the author’s craft to discern and articulate tone in context
An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim
An ability to articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly
An ability to write with clarity, logic, and precision
For many high school readers, supernatural fiction and fantasy are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “Polaris” by H.P. Lovecraft features plot elements consistent with the aforementioned genres: a narrator of questionable sanity, a dreamscape setting, the conflict between imagination and reality, and more. This rigorous worksheet covering “Polaris” (estimated Lexile Measure of 1200-1300) helps English teachers extend student learning beyond reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Provide an objective description of the story’s setting
Discern how the narrator feels about Polaris and cite textual evidence in support of the claim
Analyze the author’s craft to discern which literary devices are applied, with emphasis on hyperbaton, sibilance, callback, and personification
Analyze a portion of the text to determine tone in context
Identify several variables that put the protagonist and his people at a severe disadvantage against their brutish enemies
Describe the narrator’s physical condition and infer how it may have influenced his opinion of Alos
Understand the narrator’s modes of thinking, particularly as it relates to his failures
Elaborate upon what is revealed in the poem, paying special attention to the Pole Star’s influence on the narrator
Explain the effect that callback and personification have upon the reader
Define complex vocabulary and phrasing in context
Navigate specialized reference materials successfully
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
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 2, 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:
Discern the tone of a given passage
Identify the meaning of a particular line
Identify an example of metaphor and explain its intended meaning
Analyze Hamlet’s dialogue to discern and articulate how he portrays Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as less than human
Cite textual evidence in support of the claim that Hamlet shows disrespect toward the king
Analyze the author’s craft to discern what effect is created by presenting several consecutive brief scenes
Isolate a factual statement about plot development from falsehoods
Measure comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school and college with this set of rigorous questions on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Very Old Folk.” The variety of reading question types also facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. With an estimated Lexile Measure of 1400-1500, this text and its corresponding active reading exercise are appropriate additions to a high school short story unit, especially at the 11th and 12th grade levels. A detailed 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 completing this activity, students will demonstrate the following:
An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations
An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character mindsets
An ability to analyze complex vocabulary and phrasing in context
An ability to navigate specialized reference materials successfully
An ability to analyze a passage to discern its primary purpose
An ability to analyze the text for literary devices such as situational irony
An ability to analyze cause-and-effect relationships
An ability to analyze textual details to infer and articulate the author’s intent
An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim
An ability to articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly
An ability to write with clarity, logic, and precision