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 middle and high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering a Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Three Languages.” Themes addressed include the importance of respecting one’s talents and the power of communication. 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 as needed
Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given passage
Discern tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on foreshadowing, invective, situational irony, and more
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 editable quiz covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “Hop Frog.” The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The talents of Hop-Frog
The talents of Trippetta
The king’s fondness for practical jokes
The similarities between Hop-Frog and Trippetta
The abusive conduct of the king
Hop-Frog’s motivation for revenge against the king
Details about the masquerade
Hop-Frog’s plans for revenge
The means by which the king dies
Hop-Frog’s declaration
The resolution
Promote active engagement with Gothic fiction, support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school, and evaluate general reading comprehension with this bundle of resources for teaching a collection of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories: “The Oval Portrait,” “The Black Cat,” “Hop-Frog,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and “The Masque of the Red Death.” Answer keys for every resource are provided, as are all public domain short stories. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “Hop-Frog.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a literary craft analysis activity, a vocabulary application exercise, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, students will do the following:
Read for literal comprehension
Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
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, foreshadowing, situational irony, and symbolism
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 develop close reading analysis skills with this set of text-dependent questions on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “Hop Frog.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Explore nuances in words with similar meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s language
Consider the greater significance of given details
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony, dramatic irony, and symbolism
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the Gothic short story “Hop Frog” by Edgar Allan Poe. 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: barbarous, bestow, clamber, corpulent, deficiency, detrimental, dismayed, feebly, fetid, folly, gait, illimitable, implore, indignation, inimitable, pacify, procure, shrill, sulky, and swoon.
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 school students explore literary craft with this activity covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “Hop-Frog.” With this worksheet, students will isolate and reflect upon textual details that are consistent with the conventions of Dark Romanticism, horror, and supernatural fiction. An answer key is provided, as well as a copy of the narrative, which makes for an excellent addition to a short story unit for grades 9 through 12. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this literary craft analysis activity, students will:
Isolate examples of compelling sensory description
Isolate characterization details that elicit emotional responses from readers
Isolate details that evoke the spirit of Halloween
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on dramatic irony, foreshadowing, situational irony, and symbolism
Convey information through speech and writing in a coherent manner
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado.” 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
Examine grammatically correct structure
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Discern tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing and verbal irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students explore literary craft with this activity covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado.” With this worksheet, students will isolate and reflect upon textual details that are consistent with the conventions of Dark Romanticism, horror, and supernatural fiction. An answer key is provided, as well as a copy of the narrative, which makes for an excellent addition to a short story unit for grades 9 through 12. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this literary craft analysis activity, students will:
Isolate examples of compelling sensory description
Isolate characterization details that elicit emotional responses from readers
Isolate details that evoke the spirit of Halloween
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on dramatic irony, foreshadowing, hyperbole, situational irony, and symbolism
Convey information through speech and writing in a coherent manner
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Evaluate general reading comprehension and maximize students’ interest in fiction with this plot-based quiz covering Edgar Allan Poe’s horror story “The Cask of Amontillado.” The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active 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:
An accurate descriptor for the narrator’s state of mind
Understanding what it means to “punish with impunity”
Fortunato’s fondness for wine
What Amontillado is
Montresor’s premeditated scheme to lure Fortunato
The cause of Fortunato’s coughing fits
Montresor’s efforts to appear friendly despite his intent
What can be found inside the catacombs
The significance of a hand gesture
The apprehension of Fortunato
Fortunato’s disturbing fate
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe. The following are included: a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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 and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a literary craft analysis activity, a vocabulary application exercise, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Examine grammatically correct structure
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Discern tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing and verbal 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 explore literary craft with this activity covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Tell-Tale Heart.” With this worksheet, students will isolate and reflect upon textual details that are consistent with the conventions of Dark Romanticism, horror, and supernatural fiction. An answer key is provided, as well as a copy of the narrative, which makes for an excellent addition to a short story unit for grades 9 through 12. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this literary craft analysis activity, students will:
Isolate examples of compelling sensory description
Isolate characterization details that elicit emotional responses from readers
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on dramatic irony, foreshadowing, hyperbole metaphor, personification, simile, and symbolism
Convey information through speech and writing in a coherent manner
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Evaluate general reading comprehension and maximize students’ interest in suspenseful fiction with this plot-based quiz covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Tell-Tale Heart.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key and copy of the text are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The alleged effects of the narrator’s fever the previous year
The narrator’s motivations
The narrator’s defense against claims of his being insane
The duration of time it took for the narrator to kill the old man
The reason the old man springs up in bed, awake
The manner of the old man’s death
The location of the old man’s remains
The reason police are alerted to the scene of the crime
The narrator’s initial reaction to the police’s arrival
The narrator’s explanation for the old man’s disappearance
The psychotic breakdown of the narrator
How the police came to learn of the old man’s murder
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Tell-Tale Heart.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a literary craft analysis activity, a vocabulary application exercise, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will:
Read for literal comprehension
Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Discern the function of a given excerpt
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast characters
Analyze a detail for symbolism and make logical inferences about the narrator’s subconscious motivations based on this analysis
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, hyperbole, metaphor, personification, situational irony, symbolism, and more
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
“The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe is a short story of special appeal to high school students interested in horror stories and Halloween. With this bundle of assessment materials, English teachers will save valuable time without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. 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
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
Consider the role punctuation plays in terms of developing suspense and advancing plot with an emphasis on em dashes
Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions of Dark Romanticism
Determine the effects of the author’s language and narrative techniques
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on allusion, metaphor, onomatopoeia, paradox, personification, sibilance, situational irony, and more
Articulate how the author establishes and maintains a surreal tone throughout the story
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Gothic fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
“The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe is a short story of special appeal to high school students interested in horror stories and Halloween. Use this plot-based quiz on “The Pit and the Pendulum” to evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with Gothic fiction. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Point of view
Setting
Disturbing imagery
Accusations against the protagonist
Diabolical punishments
The role of the rats in terms of plot development
How the protagonist attracts the rats
An abrupt sound
The resolution
“The Premature Burial” by Edgar Allan Poe is a short story of special appeal to high school students interested in human psychology, horror stories, and Halloween. With this bundle of assessment materials, English teachers will save valuable time without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. 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
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words
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 the greater significance of given details
Discern the intended effects of the author’s diction, punctuation, and narrative techniques
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including eye dialect, onomatopoeia, allusion, pun, dramatic irony, situational irony, and more
Draw parallels between the narrative and a featured nonfiction passage
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Gothic fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the Gothic short story “The Premature Burial” by Edgar Allan Poe. 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: abeyance, amiability, anomalous, apathetic, catalepsy, diffuse, feeble, gibbering, impunity, indubitably, insufferable, interment, lethargic, melancholy, obstinacy, palpable, petulantly, procure, solemn, spasmodic, vague, and yowl.
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
For many high school readers, psychological fiction and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Premature Burial” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a stream-of-consciousness technique, the intensification of an irrational fear, tales of being buried alive, and more. This multiple choice quiz covering “The Premature Burial” 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:
The exposition
The identities of those mentioned who suffered premature burials
The intentions of Julien Bossuet
The narrator’s beliefs concerning premature burials
The narrator’s medical condition
Precautions taken by the narrator to avoid death by premature burial
Where the narrator seeks shelter during a storm
How a premature burial scare affects the narrator’s life moving forward
The narrator’s evaluation of human imagination