Frontload assigned readings with these vocabulary games and activities to facilitate comprehension of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Alternatively, stash these materials in an emergency sub folder to keep students meaningfully engaged in the book during unexpected teacher absences. Included are three vocabulary application activities, six crossword puzzles, six word search games, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. A total of 75 challenging words are addressed: abashed, aberrations, allusion, apathetic, assent, atrocity, avaricious, barren, beseech, bough, clamber, clamor, coarse, conspicuous, contempt, continually, denounce, dingy, disquieting, dissemble, doleful, eccentricity, eminent, extricate, exult, feeble, fleeting, furtively, genially, heretical, incredulous, indefatigably, indignation, ineffectual, inscrutable, intently, interminable, keen, luminous, melancholy, mournful, murmur, mutter, nebulous, obsolete, odious, omnipotent, palpable, persecute, prevaricate, procure, recede, reconciliation, relinquish, remonstrance, reproach, reverence, shrill, shudder, solitude, spurious, strident, subdued, subtlety, superfluous, surly, tedious, tentative, torpid, treachery, tremulous, vague, vehemently, weariness, and whimper. 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 skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the tall tale “The Devil and Daniel Webster” by Stephen Vincent Benet. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are 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 engaging with these activities, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences 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 allusion, hyperbole, foreshadowing, metaphor, onomatopoeia, and simile 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

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Cinderella” (Lexile Measure estimate of 1000-1100). A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the short story, emergency substitute lesson plans and supporting materials, and answer keys are 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 engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the tone of a particular passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, juxtaposition, symbolism, dramatic irony, and more Conduct research online in order to answer questions related to culture and history 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

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file as Word Documents and PDFs. 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 these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s narrative techniques such as the increasing frequency of shorter, choppier sentences as the narrative reaches its climax Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including symbolism and simile Support claims and inferences with relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the science fiction short story 'There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury. A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are 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 engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Isolate numerous examples of sensory language Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s narrative techniques Draw parallels to currently existing technologies Consider themes in context Support claims and inferences with relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching O. Henry’s ironic short story “The Last Leaf.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the short story, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in printable 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 these materials, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare and contrast characters Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, metaphor, personification, dramatic irony, and situational irony 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

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching O. Henry’s ironic short story “The Cop and the Anthem” A plot-based quiz, a close reading 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. 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 these materials, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Determine the function of a particular passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, juxtaposition, and situational irony Articulate the significance of a given detail 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, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Truman Capote’s holiday-themed short story “A Christmas Memory.” A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, vocabulary application activity, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are 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 engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Consider historical context in relation to the plot Isolate examples of figurative language used in the text Discern the intended effect of the author’s narrative techniques Describe and examine tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Determine the functions of given details and excerpts Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, epiphany, foreshadowing, hubris, metaphor, onomatopoeia, simile, situational irony, and unreliable narrator Reflect on significant themes 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