Myths, Legends, Fables and Fairytales PowerPoint. Teach folktales and traditional tales: myths, legends,tall tales, fables, and fairytales. The slides discuss differences between myths and legends, tall tales, fables, and fairy tales. Examples of some famous tales and famous authors are mentioned. Myths are explanations for how ancient people understood their worlds, like Thor and Zeus. Legends were stories passed along that had a basis in truth, but were not real, like King Arthur and Robin Hood. Fables were told to teach lessons, most famously by Aesop. And folk tales and fairy tales were both passed down as stories for the children. Fairy tales we now enjoy were collected from oral tradition and written down in the 1800's. For instance, Hans Christian Andersen is remembered especially for his tales of The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Ugly Duckling, while the Brothers Grimm are known for Cinderella, Snow White, and The Frog Prince. Everything is presented against a beautiful castle background and sound effects have been added for interest.

Fables. Introduce fables with fun original fable on PowerPoint! Use this to introduce a unit on fables, or to supplement a unit on fables. The fable is about an alligator who talks too much, and never listens. Animated clips bring the story to life. After the fable, the last slide has the characteristics of fables, and students can try to identify characteristics they saw. They are then challenged to write their own fable. - HappyEdugator

Analyzing Context Clues PowerPoint. Strategies help students figure out unknown words in text. Build vocabulary and reading comprehension by teaching common context clues. This PowerPoint has explains five different context clues: definition, synonym, antonym, example, and inference. Practice activity at the end with answers. 15 slides. Good for test prep! - HappyEdugator

Introduction to Research PowerPoint Presentation. Introduce students to writing a research project. Starts with an activating strategy where students have to guess and check. The next slides relate to where students can find information about their topic. Interactive activities such as a 2 Minute Brainstorm. General information on how to choose a topic and not plagiarize. This is a PowerPoint used to introduce writing a research paper only. Details of writing one are not included. Summarizing strategy is a 3-2-1. Three things to know about research, 2 purposes of research, 1 possible topic to research. Last slide accelerates the idea of plagiarism and crediting your sources. 16 slides. - HappyEdugator

Literature Terms and Strategies Authors Use to Engage the Reader PowerPoint. Elements of fiction. Literary terms and elements of fictional literature that can be used as an introduction or review of literary devices and commonly used literature terms on state tests. Slides are in alphabetical order with colorful pictures to keep your students engaged. Terms included: allegory, alliteration, allusion, analogy, characterization, conflict, diction, foreshadowing, figurative language, hyperbole, imagery, irony, metaphor, metonymy, motif, mood, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, paradox, pastiche, personification, point of view, satire, setting, simile, stream of consciousness, symbolism, theme, tone, vernacular. 34 slides. - HappyEdugator

Idioms Interactive PowerPoint. Match the idioms to their meaning. Definition of an idiom, examples, and 20 idioms with four possible meanings. Students can decide on the correct answer, then check. This PowerPoint can be used at a computer station or interactively with the whole class. Students have to be exposed to idioms in order to achieve greater comprehension. Supports common core standards! Fun! - HappyEdugator Common Core Standard L4.5: Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs Common Core Standard L 5.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. Common Core Standards L 5.5 Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs. - HappyEdugator

Idioms Matching with Color Coding. Print and go. Printable activity - students match idioms to their meanings by coloring the matching boxes the same color with either colored pencils or crayons. A fun activity that helps students develop their understanding of idioms as figurative language. You get four different worksheets and answer keys. Common Core Standard L4.5: Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs Common Core Standard L 5.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. Common Core Standards L 5.5 Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs. - HappyEdugator

Rikki Tikki TaviPlot Diagram Activity. A hands-on activity for the story Rikki Tikki Tavi. After learning that the plot is the sequence of events, and having been introduced to a plot diagram with the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, have your students work in small groups to cut and paste this list of events from the story onto their own plot diagram and label what part of the story they belong to. Blank plot diagram included, or have them create their own on a large piece of colored construction paper using the blank diagram as a guide. The story is not included...but is available free online.

Tall Tales Story Pattern. How to write tall tales! This is a simple story pattern that can be used to help students write their own tall tale. They can fill in the blanks to create a story sketch, which they can then elaborate and expand on to create their own personal tall tale. Good to use as a follow up to a unit on tall tales, or after reading a tall tale such as Paul Bunyan or Pecos Bill. Helps students avoid writer's block by scaffolding and gives them the confidence to comlete their own story. Writing practice is essential to the CCSS (common core state standards ) in Language Arts. - HappyEdugator

Theme Graphic Organizer for Any Novel or Short Story. Helps students understand how to identify theme in a novel or a short story by looking at dialogue, conflict, and endings. Includes examples of each from literature, and uses a mnemonic device to remember what theme is. (THEME = THE MEssage) Supports Common Core Standard for reading Literature #2, Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text Includes a blank copy for students. - HappyEdugator

Fall Leaves Digital Paper - Fall Colors and Black and White. 24 different styles. 12 X 12, 300 dpi. JPEG file format. High quality digital papers for your creations. Personal or commercial use. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Digital Paper - Background Textures 3. High quality digital papers for your creations. 12 different styles of textured backgrounds.12 X 12, 300 dpi. JPEG file format. Personal or commercial use. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Digital Paper - Background Crystals. High quality digital papers for your creations. 12 different styles of textured backgrounds.12 X 12, 300 dpi. JPEG file format. Personal or commercial use. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Digital Paper - Background Textures 5. High quality digital papers for your creations. 12 different styles of textured backgrounds.12 X 12, 300 dpi. JPEG file format. Personal or commercial use. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Chevron Digital Paper - Fall Colors. 23 different styles. 12 X 12, 300 dpi. High quality digital papers for your creations. Personal or commercial use. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

RTI or Response to Intervention Documentation forms. Includes pyramid of intervention team recommendation form, tier 2 and tier 3 strategies response form, tier 2 and tier 3 documentation of intervention strategies, reading, math and written expression referral forms. These are RTI forms teachers or intervention specialists fill out to document interventions. - HappyEdugator

Thanksgiving Play - A Joyful Harvest. A short Thanksgiving play or skit that is quick and easy to perform, and fun! Set on the first Thanksgiving. Four characters - a pilgrim boy and girl, and a native American boy and girl. A fun way to act out the preparations for the first Thanksgiving. Backdrop is forest on one side and grass on the other. The Pilgrim and Indian children talk about the upcoming harvest feast with excitement, play a game of pins, and end up naming the holiday. Based on actual history of Thanksgiving. Fun Thanksgiving activity! Print and go...can be done without props or backdrop as a reader's theater.

Prefixes and Suffixes Flashcard PowerPoint. Greek and Latin roots of prefixes and suffixes. Animated and interactive flashcards. Use as interactive flashcards or as an interactive quiz to study the following prefixes and suffixes: PREFIXES un-, dis-, non- re- super- sub- fore- post- uni- anti- mal- bene- semi- micro- SUFFIXES -ship -hood -ness -er, -ist, -ian -ish -al -able -ism -ology Directions included. Enjoy. - HappyEdugator

Short Story Writing Project Rubric. Have your students write a short story. They can use PowerPoint slides to get creative, using this rubric as a guide for including the literary elements, and making it easy for you to grade. This rubric specifies the requirements needed, and addresses the writing process, introduction, organization, problem or conflict, characters, setting, resolution/solution, and spelling and punctuation. UPDATED OCTOBER 2014 - HappyEdugator

Cask of Amontillado - Short Story Unit and Teaching Activities. Teaching resources to go with the short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Includes a short bio of Edgar Allan Poe, Pre-Reading Questions, Overview of the story, Vocabulary to Watch for with graphics, 10 Question Multiple Choice Quiz with key, Essay Questions, Discussion Questions, Character Analysis T Chart, Irony Handout, and a list of web resources with links to a great YouTube video and Online slideshow. - HappyEdugator