Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 9, 10, and 11 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian young adult fiction novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: cardiologist, contrition, famine, gamely, humility, malice, meek, missal, nostalgia, penance, postulant, rabid, ransack, retch, scowl, and sparse. 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 chapters 6, 7, and 8 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian young adult fiction novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: accost, anarchy, cholera, cynical, dormant, implausible, infirm, onerous, righteous, saunter, seminary, smugly, sulky, and wane. 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 chapters 16, 17, 18, and 19 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian young adult fiction novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: errand, foolhardy, galvanize, glint, immaculate, immunity, merciful, parched, regiment, rigorously, scurry, trudge, vague, and wander. 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and sharpen their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “What the Moon Brings,” a piece featuring many compelling elements for high school students: a bizarre dreamscape, an anxious narrator, and the discovery of an underwater city. The briefness of the narrative makes it a helpful time-filler for awkward gaps in teaching schedules. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the authors’ punctuation, word choices, and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices including personification, foreshadowing, epiphany, sibilance, and more Explore the symbolism of a black condor as it is portrayed in the narrative Choose an applicable theme in the context of a given passage Defend ideas and claims with valid reasoning and textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and sharpen their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “Polaris,” a piece featuring numerous compelling elements for high school students: a narrator of questionable sanity, a dreamscape setting, the conflict between imagination and reality, and more. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Discern tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbaton, sibilance, callback, and personification 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and sharpen their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “Memory,” a very brief and dreamy piece about two mythical beings struggling to recall who constructed the ancient ruins in their valley. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices with emphasis on how adjectives enhance the story Determine the function of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, personification, simile, and more Make a rational inference about the author’s views on humanity in context 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

Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Edith Wharton’s short story titled “A Journey.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative 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 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 Determine the functions of given details Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare characters in the story Apply knowledge of literary devices including ambiguity, metaphor, personification, red herring, simile, and oxymoron Consider themes in context 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

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “The Call of Cthulhu” by H.P. Lovecraft. 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: acrid, allude, archaic, befoul, brood, clamber, concede, conspicuous, corroborate, crude, cryptic, din, eccentricity, elicit, enigmatical, evoke, impertinence, imply, incessant, interminably, keenly, loathsome, noisome, perfunctory, placid, portentous, precipitous, redolent, scarcely, shudder, tangible, transient, vain, and weariness. 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and sharpen their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet on H.P. Lovecraft’s narrative “Cool Air,” a horror story featuring numerous compelling elements for high school students: medical experiments, the pursuit of immortality, and more. An answer key and copy of the short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, situational irony, and dramatic irony 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

Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short story “The Heavenly Christmas Tree,” otherwise known as “The Beggar Boy at Christ’s Christmas Tree.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative 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 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 Determine the function of a given excerpt Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, foreshadowing, onomatopoeia, situational 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

Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Willa Cather’s short story “The Burglar’s Christmas.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative 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 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 Determine the function of a given excerpt Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, epiphany, foreshadowing, internal conflict, metaphor, paradox, personification, simile, and situational irony Argue whether the author wants the audience to empathize with the protagonist 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

Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Truman Capote’s holiday-themed short story “A Christmas Memory.” 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 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

Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Anton Chekhov’s short story “At Christmas Time.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative 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 completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Consider nuances in words with similar meanings Reflect on the author’s choice of title and its intended effect Evaluate the author’s means of emotionally influencing readers Make logical inferences about the author’s philosophies on life Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare the lives of Vasilisa and Pyotr with the life of Yefimya Apply knowledge of literary devices including ambiguity, euphemism, metaphor, onomatopoeia, and more 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and sharpen their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet on H.P. Lovecraft’s narrative “The Very Old Folk,” a short story in the horror genre about a dream in which a Roman military official seeks vengeance against enemies. An answer key and copy of the text are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Determine the main purpose of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and sharpen their critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “Ex Oblivione,” a piece about a dying person’s yearning to learn what exists beyond the physical realm. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on situational irony 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering an obscure short story by H.P. Lovecraft titled “Sweet Ermengarde,” also known as “The Heart of a Country Girl.” This piece is a surprising departure from the grotesque and fantastical characteristics typically associated with Lovecraftian fiction. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings Infer 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 dramatic irony and situational irony Identify and articulate sexist tropes in the context of the narrative 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering an obscure short story by H.P. Lovecraft titled “Old Bugs.” This piece is a surprising departure from the grotesque and fantastical characteristics typically associated with Lovecraftian fiction. It also aligns nicely to American History courses since the narrative addresses the topic of Prohibition. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Consider tone in context Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion and dynamic character 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

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Book 1 of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Two crossword puzzles, two word search activities, 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: atrocity, bough, clamor, conspicuous, contempt, dingy, dissemble, feeble, furtively, genially, heretical, incredulous, inscrutable, interminable, murmur, nebulous, obsolete, odious, procure, reproach, strident, subtlety, tedious, treachery, and tremulous. 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 Book 2 of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Two crossword puzzles, two word search activities, 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: apathetic, assent, avaricious, barren, beseech, clamber, continually, denounce, eccentricity, extricate, fleeting, indefatigably, indignation, ineffectual, luminous, melancholy, mournful, mutter, palpable, remonstrance, reverence, solitude, spurious, subdued, and vague. 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 Book 3 of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Two crossword puzzles, two word search activities, 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: abashed, aberrations, allusion, coarse, disquieting, doleful, eminent, exult, intently, keen, omnipotent, persecute, prevaricate, recede, reconciliation, relinquish, shrill, shudder, superfluous, surly, tentative, torpid, 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