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.
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the third iteration of Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the science fiction novel. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Grant and Malcolm’s curiosity over how scientists obtained dinosaur DNA
An unusual characteristic of Grant’s hotel room
Sattler’s concerning observations
The hostility between Malcolm and Hammond
The grandkids’ background
Dr. Wu’s scientific methods
Conflict between Dr. Wu and Hammond
The attitude of the control room while the first tour is conducted
Tim’s observations while on the tour
The background of Muldoon
Grant’s stunning discovery
A serious glitch in the computer system
And more
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering a meaningful excerpt from chapter 1 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Isolate an example of figurative language
Select textual evidence in support of a claim
Decide what the primary function of the excerpt is
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering a meaningful excerpt from chapter 14 of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials as needed to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of the given excerpt
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Choose relevant textual evidence in support of a claim
Write about complex literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “The Wolf and the Man” by the Brothers Grimm. The brevity of the narrative, coupled with the learning objectives of the activity, helps teachers fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Isolate an example of figurative language
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats” by the Brothers Grimm. The brevity of the narrative, coupled with the learning objectives of the activity, helps teachers fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Consider the tone of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including aphorism, invective, onomatopoeia, situational irony, and more
Isolate an example of figurative language
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “The Three Brothers” by the Brothers Grimm. The brevity of the narrative, coupled with the learning objectives of the activity, helps teachers fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Isolate an example of figurative language
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Beautiful and Cruel.” An 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.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials including a dictionary or thesaurus
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Make logical predictions based on context clues
Compare and contrast two characters (Nenny and Esperanza)
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification
Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Hips.” The variety of question types also helps students prepare for standardized testing scenarios: main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. An answer key is included. 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.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters develop and interact
Analyze figurative language to discern and articulate the intended effect
Articulate the internal conflict presented in a given excerpt
Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism and hyperbole
Identify the best textual evidence in support of a claim or idea
Discern the main function of the vignette
Explore the author’s craft
Write with clarity and precision
Support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Sally.” The variety of question types also helps students prepare for standardized testing scenarios: main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. (Alternatively, an online version made for Google Drive is available.)
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.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters develop and interact
Analyze a detail for symbolic value
Articulate what a figurative expression is intended to reveal about Sally’s character
Explore the author’s craft to discern and explain what role imagery plays in developing Sally’s character
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices and narrative techniques
Analyze the effect of directly addressing Sally on the reader
Discern the main function of the vignette
Write with clarity and precision
Support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Bums in the Attic.” The variety of question types also helps students prepare for standardized testing scenarios: main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. An answer key is included. 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.
Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters develop and interact
Explore character motivations
Apply knowledge of dramatic irony to the vignette
Apply knowledge of hyperbole to the vignette
Analyze the author’s craft to discern an accurate interpretation of text
Identify the best textual evidence in support of a claim
Discern the main function of the vignette
Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “The Wonderful Musician” by the Brothers Grimm. The brevity of the narrative, coupled with the learning objectives of the activity, helps teachers fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
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 simile and foreshadowing
Consider themes in context
Articulate the irony associated with the narrative’s title
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and develop critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering a classic Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Singing, Springing Lark.” An answer key and copy of the short story are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn or verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast characters
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, foreshadowing, hubris, hyperbole, metaphor, oxymoron, personification, simile, situational irony, symbolism, and more
Consider a relevant theme 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 go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Gary Soto’s short story “The No-Guitar Blues.” A detailed answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
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, metaphor, and simile
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
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 science fiction short story “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
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, metaphor, 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 middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering the short story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques
Discern the function of a particular paragraph
Describe the tone of a particular excerpt
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
List several similarities between Doodle and the scarlet ibis
Conduct brief research to make sense of setting and an allusion
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including oxymoron, idiom, personification, dramatic irony, hubris, and more
Explore the traditional symbolism associated with rain in order to make sense of the phrase “heresy of rain” as it is used in the story
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 go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Morley Callaghan’s “All the Years of Her Life,” a short story focusing on how a young son’s behavior influences the psychological state of his loving mother. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques
Determine the point of view of the narrative
Discern the tone of a particular passage
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast characters
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony and epiphany
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering a classic Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Frog King” (also called “Iron Heinrich” and “Iron Henry”). An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques
Determine the narrative’s inciting incident
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, dramatic irony, and situational irony
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
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering “The Lurking Fear” by H.P. Lovecraft, a short story with elements of horror and supernatural fiction: ghosts, unsolved murders, secret investigations, and bizarre creatures. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
General description of the narrator
Setting
A gruesome inciting incident
Preparations for an emergency escape
Secondary characters and their fates
Natural disasters that transpire
The distinguishing physical characteristic of an antagonist
The narrator’s peculiar observations
Complications facing the narrator
A new demonic attack
A physical description of monstrous beings
The beings’ horrifying behavior
The resolution
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Feed by M.T. Anderson, a dystopian science fiction novel. Covering four brief, meaningful excerpts spanning chapters thirty-eight through fifty-eight, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in both 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 completing these exercises, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Isolate an example of figurative language
Express the greater significance of a given detail
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Articulate the flaw in a character’s logic
Analyze the author’s use of narrative techniques such as repetition
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including pun, metaphor, idiom, aposiopesis, neologism, and more
Explore the connection between capitalism and the private healthcare system in America
Cite textual evidence in support of ideas and claims
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Feed by M.T. Anderson, a dystopian science fiction novel. Covering three brief, meaningful excerpts spanning chapters thirty through thirty-seven, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in both 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 completing these exercises, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Isolate an example of figurative language
Clarify details where the author leaves information open to interpretation
Articulate the greater significance of a given detail
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Discern the primary function of a given excerpt
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including pun, metaphor, epiphany, onomatopoeia, invective, malapropism, alliteration, and more
Evaluate an excerpt to articulate how it is a good example of satire
Cite textual evidence in support of ideas and claims
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision