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 reading comprehension, support the development of critical thinking skills, and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle,” a narrative addressing the values of hard work and devotion. A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, the public domain short story, and answer keys are included. The brevity of the narrative helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the supporting activities uphold rigor in the classroom. 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.
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
Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a given word
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Discern the intended effect of narrative techniques in context
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of several literary devices including alliteration, assonance, hyperbole, euphemism, oxymoron, hypophora, personification, paradox, and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fairy tale fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of critical thinking skills, and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle for teaching Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “Grandmother,” which centers on themes of appreciating one’s elders and the fleeting nature of physical life. A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, the public domain short story, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Describe the tone of the complete text
Discern the intended effects of figurative language and other narrative techniques
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, sibilance, irony, symbolism, imagery, metaphor, and more
Explore themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Complement a unit on Gothic fiction and embrace the harvest season with this low-prep, standards-based research project addressing 33 topics directly and indirectly related to Halloween: ancient celebrations, holidays, and practices (Samhain, Lemuria, guising, souling, and more); more recent traditions (Guy Fawkes Night, the history of trick-or-treating, and the history of pumpkin carving); myths, legends, and superstitions (Jack O’Lantern, the Beast of Bray Road, Mothman, and more); medical conditions (“werewolf syndrome,” “walking corpse syndrome,” and “vampire disease”); historical figures (Vlad the Impaler, John Hathorne, Sarah Good, and more); and Halloween-inspired authors (Ray Bradbury, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, H.P. Lovecraft, and more). Supporting materials—including a detailed scoring rubric—are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Ultimately, students will perform the following tasks:
Collect and classify reliable sources on an assigned topic
Develop successful methods of recording information
Evaluate the credibility of nonfiction texts, taking into consideration readability, date, relevance, expertise, and bias
Apply conventions of MLA formatting
Correctly site resources to avoid plagiarism
Organize information in a cohesive manner, using a note-taking system that includes summary, paraphrasing, and quoted material
Analyze, synthesize, and integrate information, generating a thoughtfully comprehensive report, free of generalities and redundancies
Present information in a formal, coherent manner
Evaluate general reading comprehension, support critical thinking, and promote homework accountability with this bundle of formative assessments covering Ray Bradbury’s short story “The Emissary,” a piece of special appeal to high school students interested in Halloween, supernatural fiction, and the meaningful bond between humans and their pets. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, and answer keys are 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.
By engaging with these materials, students will perform the following tasks:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of the author’s language in context
Consider the effects of the author’s narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Verify interpretations of language, using reference materials as needed
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on foreshadowing, personification, onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, callback, and more
Conduct brief research on Halloween’s history to answer a question pertaining to the season’s relevance to the plot
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension, support critical thinking, and promote homework accountability with this bundle of formative assessments covering Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Graves and Goblins,” a piece of special appeal to high school students interested in Halloween, supernatural fiction, and the relationship between the living and the dead. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are 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.
By engaging with these materials, students will perform the following tasks:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consider the effects of the author’s language and narrative techniques
Define complex words as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language, using reference materials as needed
Discern tone in context
Classify the narrative as an example of a particular genre
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on metaphor, euphemism, personification, and more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of assessments covering chapters 11 through 13 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, and answer keys. These activities eliminate the need for take-home assessment planning without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Discern the greater significance of given details
Make logical inferences about the author’s thinking in context
Consider historical context when answering questions about plot
Discern the intended effects of given details
Determine the function of a given character or chapter
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism, pun, ambiguity, foreshadowing, rhetorical question, dramatic irony, and verbal irony,
Explore themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of assessments covering chapters 9 and 10 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, and answer keys. These activities eliminate the need for take-home assessment planning without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Discern the greater significance of given details
Make logical inferences about the author’s thinking in context
Consider historical context when answering questions about plot
Discern the intended effects of given details
Determine the function of a given detail
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphany, dramatic irony, situational irony, and more
Explore themes in context
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of assessments covering chapters 14 and 15 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, and answer keys. These activities eliminate the need for take-home assessment planning without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Discern the greater significance and intended effects of given details
Make logical inferences about the author’s thinking in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Consider the symbolism associated with Mazer Rackham
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on situational irony
Explore themes in context
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of assessments covering chapters 1 and 2 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. These activities eliminate the need for take-home assessment planning without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Answer keys are provided.
These resources may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these activities 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 do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the greater significance of a given detail
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast characters (Ender and Peter)
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on simile, metaphor, and invective
Determine the intended effect of the author’s stylistic choices
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of assessments covering chapters 3 and 4 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. These activities eliminate the need for take-home assessment planning without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
These resources may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these activities 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 do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define challenging words and phrases as they are used in the text
Explore nuances in words with similar meanings
Discern the greater significance of given details
Determine the intended effect of the author’s stylistic choices
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on slang, personification, metaphor, and simile
Explore themes in context
Facilitate active participation in small-group discussions of science fiction literature with this set of literature circle materials for teaching Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. The following are included: a handout detailing student roles, documentation logs to hold students accountable for their tasks, and a standards-based rubric for scoring student performances. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these literature circle materials, students will do the following:
Articulate key details from the story
Generate open-ended questions related to the novel in order to carry out meaningful discussions with peers
Respond thoughtfully to open-ended questions and others’ contributions to the discussion
Document ways in which the novel is consistent with aspects of modern society
Locate specific passages and/or quotations that relate to major themes and concepts such as those relating to technology, space travel, the military, and the value of independent thinking
Artistically convey important information from the assigned reading
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of assessments covering chapters 5 and 6 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. These activities eliminate the need for take-home assessment planning without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
These resources may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these activities 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 do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore the symbolism associated with a given object or character
Discern the greater significance of given details
Discern the intended effects of given details
Determine the function of a given chapter
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism, allusion, paradox, and more
Explore themes in context
With this printable test covering the entirety of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, English teachers will be able to evaluate students’ comprehension of key characters, plot developments, and literary craft. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. A breakdown of content follows.
Part 1. Knowledge of Plot. Students will demonstrate comprehension of the following:
Christopher Sly’s disruptive behavior
An activity in which Christopher Sly participates
Baptista’s terms for his daughters’ marriages
Lucentio’s persona, “Cambio”
The quality in women about which Petruchio cares most
Hortensio’s persona, “Litio”
Petruchio’s intentions for Katharina
Baptista’s preferences to be his son-in-law
Petruchio’s tardiness to the wedding
Petruchio’s appearance on his wedding day
Bianca’s assessment of her sister’s relationship
An accident involving a horse
Petruchio’s strictness
Hortensio’s feelings toward Petruchio
Petruchio’s eccentric behavior
Hortensio’s marriage
A test of the wives’ loyalty
Katharina’s closing speech
Part 2. True/False. Students will identify whether a statement is true or false. Questions focus on:
“Cambio’s” area of expertise
The nature of the relationship between Bianca and Katharina
The first character to reveal his true identity to Bianca
Hortensio’s dwindling affection toward Bianca
Katharina’s reaction to her husband’s strange behavior
Baptista’s negotiating the terms of his daughters’ marriages
Baptista and Vincentio’s forgiveness of their children
The false Vincentio’s reaction to meeting the real Vincentio
Part 3. Quotations in Context. Students will match an excerpt with its appropriate context.
Act 1, scene 1: Hark, Tranio! thou may’st hear Minerva speak.
Act 1, scene 1: No profit grows where is no pleasure ta’en: / In brief, sir, study what you most affect.
Act 2, scene 1: Her silence flouts me, and I’ll be revenged.
Act 2, scene 1: O slow-wing’d turtle! shall a buzzard take thee?
Act 3, scene 2: Go, girl; I cannot blame thee now to weep; / For such an injury would vex a very saint, / Much more a shrew of thy impatient humour.
Act 3, scene 2: That, being mad herself, she’s madly mated.
Act 4, scene 2: …here I firmly vow / Never to woo her no more, but do forswear her, / As one unworthy all the former favours / That I have fondly flatter’d her withal.
Act 5, scene 1: Fear not, Baptista; we will content you, go to: but / I will in, to be revenged for this villany
Act 5, scene 2: A woman moved is like a fountain troubled, / Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty…
Part 4. Application of Literary Devices. Students will be given a detail or excerpt from the drama and must determine which literary device is best reflected. Literary devices addressed include:
Sibilance
Allusion
Hyperbole
Anaphora
Oxymoron
Aposiopesis
Idiom
Metaphor
Consonance
Simile
Onomatopoeia
For many reluctant readers, science fiction helps to maximize student engagement. “Robot Dreams” by Isaac Asimov is a cautionary short story involving humanity’s commitment to developing artificial intelligence. This bundle of assessments helps English teachers evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of close reading skills, and promote homework accountability—while eliminating take-home assessment planning responsibilities. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Define complex words as they are used in the text
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, pun, and personification
Analyze sentence structures with emphasis on the use of an appositive phrase
Analyze the author’s stylistic choice to capitalize common noun phrases
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials
Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Looking for high school horror story activities for the Halloween season? Looking for a text to pair with “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe or a similar narrative? Use this close reading worksheet on H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Hound” to help students go beyond general reading comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading analysis 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
Compare the opening paragraph of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat” with the opening paragraphs of “The Hound”
Describe tone in context
Determine the functions of various passages
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including alliteration, euphemism, foreshadowing, imagery, personification, situational irony, and more
Conduct research as needed to answer questions about plot
Find similarities among the following groups: Symbolists, pre-Raphaelites, and Decadents
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 reading comprehension, promote homework accountability, and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this bundle of resources covering chapters 14 and 15 of The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin (“Ino’s Veil” and “Nausicaa”). Included are the following: a plot-based, multiple choice quiz covering chapters 14 and 15; a set of close reading analysis questions pertaining to a significant passage from chapter 15; and answer keys. 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:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Identify the purpose of a particular paragraph
Discern the best explanation of the dominant conflict in the context of the passage
Identify character motivations
Discern the best description of Alcinous’s character
Identify the tone of Arete’s dialogue
Discern the intent of Arete’s dialogue
Analyze the symbolism of snakes in the context of Nausicaa’s dream
Apply knowledge of literary devices including assonance
Evaluate reading comprehension, promote homework accountability, and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this bundle of resources covering chapters 12 and 13 of The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin (“Cattle of the Sun” and “Calypso”). Included are the following: a plot-based, multiple choice quiz covering chapters 12 and 13; an alternate short answer quiz option; a set of close reading analysis questions pertaining to a significant passage from chapter 13; and answer keys. 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:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Compare characters
Apply knowledge of literary devices including assonance and understatement
Evaluate reading comprehension, promote homework accountability, and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this bundle of resources covering chapters 4 through 6 of The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin (“The Cyclops’ Cave,” “Keeper of the Winds,” and “Cannibal Beach”). Included are the following: a plot-based, multiple choice quiz; an alternate short answer quiz option; a set of close reading analysis questions; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with this resource, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words as they are used in a given passage
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, dramatic irony, and simile
Apply knowledge of sound devices including sibilance
Locate relevant textual details in support of the claim that Ulysses was the only crew member with the ability to think critically in the face of danger
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact with one another
Select the most appropriate synonym for a word as it is used in the novel
Isolate a true statement about plot from a set of false statements
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate reading comprehension, promote homework accountability, and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this bundle of resources covering chapter 16 of The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin (“The Return”). Included are the following: a plot-based, multiple choice quiz; a set of close reading analysis questions pertaining to a significant passage; and answer keys. 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:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the statement that best reflects Eumaeus’s feelings toward the beggar
Define complex words in context
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Discern what Eumaeus’s comments about the suitors imply about them
Compare two complex characters (Athene and Ulysses)
Analyze the author’s craft
Discern the author’s intent
Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphany
Explore themes that are reinforced in the given passage
Evaluate reading comprehension, promote homework accountability, and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this bundle of resources covering the prologue through chapter 3 of The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin. 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:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine the author’s phrasing in order to make logical inferences about character motivations
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact with one another
Discern the nature of character relationships
Select the best synonym for a given word as it is used in the text
Apply knowledge of foreshadowing