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.
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
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 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
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 four brief, meaningful excerpts spanning chapters one through sixteen, 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
Make inferences about American culture given the juxtaposition of two details
Determine the tone of a given excerpt
Discern the function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Analyze how the style of a particular excerpt contributes to characterization
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including personification, slang, onomatopoeia, situational irony, consonance, and more
Identify textual evidence in support of 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
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 twenty through twenty-nine, 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
Determine the tone of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Analyze the author’s craft to explain how repetition contributes to characterization
Relate a given excerpt to the real world, identifying two relevant societal issues, conflicts, or questions
Discern a relevant theme in a given excerpt
Conduct brief research on the topic of cognitive dissonance in order to explain how a character experiences it in the context of a given excerpt
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including simile, assonance, metaphor, and situational irony
Identify textual evidence in support of claims
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
This close reading assessment features 11 text-dependent, high-order questions to promote improved reading comprehension and analysis of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (Act 1, scene 2). An answer key is included, as are Word Document and PDF versions of the assessment.
This resource aligns well to Academic Literacy Project teaching principles and 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.
In addition to helping students gain deeper understanding of the material and greater confidence in their ability to read and comprehend complex texts, this resource was designed to prepare students for ACT-style questioning.
By engaging in this exercise, students will:
Discern and articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Make reasonable inferences about why the quickness of Moth’s responses frustrates Armado
Articulate Armado’s internal conflict in the context of an excerpt
Analyze Moth’s dialogue to discern what is implied about women who wear makeup
Analyze Moth’s asides to discern and articulate what they reveal about his true feelings
Conduct brief research on the topic of Humorism
Analyze Costard’s use of malaprops and explain why Shakespeare had him speak in such a manner
Interpret figurative language with emphasis on metaphor (“love is a devil”)
Make an inference about what Armado finds reassuring about the tale of Samson
Apply knowledge of situational irony by explaining what is unexpected about Cupid’s powers
Articulate the significance of of Armado’s closing soliloquy
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
With this literature circle resource for To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, high school English teachers may facilitate active participation in small-group discussions of complex literature. Included are the following: a handout outlining each role; a documentation log for each role; and a standards-based rubric for efficiently evaluating student work. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging in these literature circle activities, 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 American and/or world history
Locate specific passages and/or quotations that relate to major themes and concepts—especially those relating to economic struggles, coming of age, and the pursuit of justice and fairness
Artistically convey important information from the assigned reading
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Incorporate historical nonfiction into the English Language Arts classroom and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of questions covering “The First Basketball Game.” The essay addresses the origins of basketball, as well as the sport’s gradual evolution. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Make active reading visible by annotating text
Accurately restate what the text says explicitly
Analyze a passage to determine tone
Make sense of unfamiliar phrases and idiomatic expressions
Make and support a claim using relevant and compelling textual evidence
Compare and contrast
Discern author’s purpose
Apply a literary device to the text (situational irony)
Discern meaning from nonfiction text features including graphs and charts
This close reading assessment features 15 text-dependent, high-order questions to promote improved reading comprehension and analysis of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (Act 1, scene 1). An answer key is included, as are Word Document and PDF versions of the assessment.
This resource aligns well to Academic Literacy Project teaching principles and 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.
In addition to helping students gain deeper understanding of the material and greater confidence in their ability to read and comprehend complex texts, this resource was designed to prepare students for ACT-style questioning.
By engaging in this exercise, students will:
Discern and articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Isolate a factual statement about the passage from false statements
Examine cause-and-effect relationships
Analyze Shakespearean language to discern and articulate meanings of words and phrases in context, taking into consideration denotative definitions and connotative associations
Analyze Shakespearean language to discern and articulate tone in context
Gain deeper insight into character modes of thinking by analyzing dialogue
Analyze a portion of text to discern which literary device is applied in context (anaphora and simile)
Demonstrate knowledge of Biron’s criticisms of those who are obsessive in their pursuit of knowledge
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
This close reading assessment features 16 text-dependent, high-order questions to promote improved reading comprehension and analysis of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (Act 2, scene 1).
An answer key is included, as are Word Document and PDF versions of the assessment.
This resource aligns well to Academic Literacy Project teaching principles and 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.
In addition to helping students gain deeper understanding of the material and greater confidence in their ability to read and comprehend complex texts, this resource was designed to prepare students for ACT-style questioning.
By engaging in this exercise, students will:
Discern and articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text including alliteration, simile, hyperbole, and stichomythia
Articulate the intended effect of hyperbole in the context of the passage
Articulate the intended meaning of a given simile
Define complex words and phrases in context, taking into consideration denotative meanings and connotative associations
Identify the Princess’s motivation for choosing Boyet to be a spokesperson
Identify textual evidence that serves to justify Maria’s judgment of Longaville
Analyze Rosaline’s dialogue to discern tone in the context of her conversation with Biron
Determine and articulate the primary purpose of a passage
Explain why Longaville grows impatient with Boyet’s responses
Identify the evidence supporting the claim that Ferdinand is lovesick, according to Boyet
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
This close reading assessment features 14 text-dependent, high-order questions to promote improved reading comprehension and analysis of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (Act 3, scene 1).
An answer key is included, as are Word Document and PDF versions of the assessment. All materials are delivered in a zip file.
This resource aligns well to Academic Literacy Project teaching principles and 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.
In addition to helping students gain deeper understanding of the material and greater confidence in their ability to read and comprehend complex texts, this resource was designed to prepare students for ACT-style questioning.
By engaging in this exercise, students will:
Discern and articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases in context, taking into consideration denotative meanings and connotative associations
Articulate the intended meaning of a given metaphor
Analyze Armado’s dialogue to discern and articulate what it reveals about his mindset
Analyze Moth’s dialogue to discern and articulate his intent
Identify the most synonymous word or phrase to replace a given word in the text
Analyze Moth’s dialogue to discern tone in context
Contrast Costard’s characterization with that of Biron and Armado
Analyze Biron as a dynamic character, identifying textual evidence in support of the claim that he is dynamic
Analyze Biron’s diaogue to discern and articulate what he believes is Cupid’s motivation for plaguing him with feelings of love
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
This close reading assessment features 10 text-dependent, high-order questions to promote improved reading comprehension and analysis of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (Act 4, scene 1).
An answer key is included, as are Word Document and PDF versions of the assessment. All materials are delivered in a zip file.
This resource aligns well to Academic Literacy Project teaching principles and 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.
In addition to helping students gain deeper understanding of the material and greater confidence in their ability to read and comprehend complex texts, this resource was designed to prepare students for ACT-style questioning.
By engaging in this exercise, students will:
Discern and articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases in context, taking into consideration denotative meanings and connotative associations
Articulate the intended meaning of a given metaphor
Articulate how verbal irony is manifested in the text
Analyze how complex characters interact and discern what these interactions reveal about their mindsets
Analyze an excerpt to isolate a true statement in context from false statements
Apply knowledge of epiphora to the text
Identify logical inferences in context
Analyze Armado’s letter and articulate the function of an excerpt
Interpret figurative language
Analyze Rosaline’s dialogue and actions to argue how she defies standard conventions of femininity and what her motivations are
Analyze Shakespeare’s craft to identify which literary devices he employs and what their intended effects are (emphasis is placed on rhyme, innuendo, diacope, metaphor, and irony)
Write with clarity, logic, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the second 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:
The location of an archeological dig
Ellie Sattler’s specialty
Bob Morris’s job
Bob Morris’s beliefs
Grant and Sattler’s surprising acquisitions
Donald Gennaro’s job
The classification of an unearthed dinosaur skeleton
The unusual characteristics of Hammond’s elephant
BioSyn’s intentions
Ian Malcolm’s profession
Ian Malcolm’s theories
The collective reaction to a dinosaur sighting
Promote homework accountability and measure general reading comprehension with this printable assessment covering the seventh iteration and epilogue of Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (chapters 52 through 58). Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this quiz features questions about characters, setting, and plot. It serves well as a post-reading check of understanding or a guided reading worksheet to be completed as students navigate the text. An answer key is provided. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Malcolm’s belief in the persistence of life in some form
Hammond’s curiosities
Grant’s inference based on the automated dinosaur counting system
The fate of the raptors
The significance of frog DNA
Malcolm’s fate
Hammond’s assessment of his employees
Hammond’s reaction to a military assault of the island
Grant’s epiphany concerning the raptors’ behavior
Grant’s meeting with Guitierrez
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the fifth 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:
The purpose of antivenin
Nedry’s body
Conflict between Muldoon and Arnold
The temperament of dinosaurs in the aviary
Grant’s conversations with the children
The variety of threats to the lives Grant and the children
How the lives of Grant and the kids are saved
How the kids are separated from Grant
Grant’s relieving discovery
A raptor attack
An epiphany concerning the power system
Malcolm’s commentary on scientific advancements
And more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the fourth 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:
Ed Regis’s fearful reaction to the Tyrannosaurus
Ian Malcolm’s injury
Grant’s discovery pertaining to the Tyrannosaurus’s eyesight
The fate of Dennis Nedry
Henry Wu’s concern for Hammond
Why Harding and Sattler follow a group of small dinosaurs
Dr. Wu’s discovery about dinosaurs created with frog DNA
Ed Regis’s fate
The reason Muldoon and Gennaro halt their search for Grant and the kids
Harding’s forceful criticism of Hammond
Problems with technology
Grant and the kids’ mode of transportation
How the kids endanger their own lives
And more