Literature Lesson Plans

PreSchool

Telling A Story
When learning about how stories have a start, middle, and finish, a student will dictate a story with these elements using a picture. This activity not only helps to develop a foundation for understanding story grammar and development, but it also stretches and uses the child's imagination.

Elementary School

Cooperation Through Puppet Shows
Children will learn a story they want to turn into a puppet show, make their own puppets, and prepare and perform the show, working in small groups.
The Hidden Treasure
Students will read the short story, The Hidden Treasure and answer the questions about the story. They should answer the questions without looking at the story so they can develop reading comprehension. This lesson would be good for 3rd to 4th grade students.
Timmy's Christmas Presents
Students will read the short story, Timmy's Christmas Presents and answer the questions about the story. They should answer the questions without looking at the story so they can develop reading comprehension. This lesson will be good for 3rd to 4th grade students. You can also use this short story in December for Christmas.

Middle School

Comparison and Contrast - Two Short Stories
For this lesson, students will write a comparison and contrast paper about two short stories they read by Edgar Allan Poe. This can also be done in class and as a homework assignment.
Essay on Themes
In this lesson, you will write an essay on a theme of The Call of the Wild by Jack London.
Figurative Language - Part Two
In this lesson, students will write a paragraph for each term they wrote definitions for in Part One.
Figurative Language - Part One
Students will look up Figurative Language terms and write the definitions of each term and sentences.
Giving an Oral Book Report
In this lesson, students are to give a book report on their favorite book. They will also submit a written book report. This lesson will take more than one class period. It depends on how many students you have
Guess the Author - Using Pseudonyms
In this lesson, students will write a descriptive paragraph about themselves without revealing their physical description. They will sign their papers with a pseudonym so that nobody will know their identity except for themselves. This will take more than one class period to complete.
King Arthur - How He Became King
This lesson is about King Arthur. It covers the section, "The Winning of Kinghood," in the book, "The Story of King Arthur and His Knights" by Howard Pyle.
Understanding Flashback
Students will write a short story using flashback to see if they understand how to use the term.
Understanding the Elements of Fiction
This is a lesson plan on the elements of fiction. Students will have a study sheet and a worksheet to do independently.
Writing a Biography - Mark Twain
Students will write a biography of Mark Twain. This lesson is for middle school age students, but fifth graders could do this, too.
Writing A Fable
In this lesson, students are to write a fable.
Writing A Summary - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Students will select a topic from a list I have included in this lesson. The topics include short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This lesson will take more than one hour because the students will have to read the short story and then write a summary about it.
Writing a Tall Tale
In this lesson, students will read a tall tale. Then, they will write a tall tale of their choice. This lesson will take more than one class period to do. You can have the students read the Tall Tale at home and write their paper in class.

High School

A New Word Everyday
The students will read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. As they read the book, they will write down every word they don't know and look the words up in a dictionary and write out a definition. They will use 3 x 5 ruled cards.
Acronyms - Characters in Hawthorne's Stories
Students will learn about Acronyms and will fill out the worksheet that I have included in this lesson plan. This lesson is on characters in The Minister's Black Veil and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Students will find information on specific characters listed in the worksheet and find words that begin with the letters of the characters.
Acronyms - Characters in The Hobbit
Students will learn about Acronyms and will fill out the worksheet that I have included in this lesson plan. This lesson is on characters in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Students will find information on specific characters listed in the worksheet and find words that begin with the letters of the characters.
Acroynyms - The Hound of the Baskervilles
Students will learn about Acronyms and will fill out the worksheet that I have included in this lesson plan. This lesson is on characters in The Hound of the Baskervilles. Students will find information on specific characters listed in the worksheet and find words that begin with the letters of the characters.
American Literature Authors and Their Works
This lesson is on American Literature Authors and their works. It is a worksheet where students have to match the authors to the short story, poem, or book they wrote.
Characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne's Stories
In this lesson, the students will read Young Goodman Brown and The Minister's Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne and write an essay comparing the main characters in the two stories.
Classic Short Stories - Locked Room Settings
In this lesson plan, I have a summary over "The Problem of Cell 13" by Jacques Futrelle. This story is a Classic Mystery.
Classic Short Stories by Kate Chopin
In this lesson, you will teach two stories by Kate Chopin. They are "Desiree's Baby" and "The Story of an Hour." These stories can be found in the anthology titled "The Awakening and Selected Short Fiction" by Kate Chopin. I have written a comparison of the two stories.
Comparing Themes and Plots
In this lesson, the students will read Young Goodman Brown and The Minister's Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne and write an essay comparing the themes and the plots in the two stories.
Comparing Two Fantasies by J.R.R. Tolkien
The students will compare The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and another fantasy they have read by Tolkien. They can focus on the plot, characters, settings, or another element of fiction when they compare the two books.
Comparison and Contrast - D. H. Lawrence
Students will read two short stories, The Rocking Horse Winner and The Horse Dealer's Daughter by D. H. Lawrence. They will write a comparison and contrast paper on some element of fiction.
Conflicts Among People
This lesson is about three short stories: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," "The Flesh and the Spirit," and "Somnambulism." Conflicts among people are the central issue in these stories.
Descriptive Writing - The Hobbit
The students will read the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and take notes on the different characters such as hobbits, dwarfs, trolls, wizards, and goblins. They will write a descriptive paper on the different characters about their character traits and their habitats.
Edgar Allan Poe and Anna Katherine Green
This lesson plan is about Detective Fiction. Edgar Allan Poe is considered the Father of Detective Fiction. Anna Katharine Green is considered the Mother of Detective Fiction. I have written two summaries of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe and "The Second Bullet" by Anna Katharine Green.
English Literature Authors and Their Works
This lesson is on English Literature Authors. It is a worksheet where students have to match the authors to the short story or book they wrote.
Essay on People and Their Experiences
In this lesson, the students will read Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin, The Magic Barrel by Bernard Malamud, and Cathedral by Raymond Carver. Then, they will compare the three stories and write about how the characters learned from their experiences.
Exploring Allegory - John Bunyan
Students will read Pilgrim's Progress and give specific examples in the text as to why this is an allegory.
Exploring Satire - Jonathan Swift
Students will read Part One of Gulliver's Travels and write an essay about satire and give specific examples in the text.
Fact and Opinion Project
In this lesson, the students will read the newspaper and write down specific information that is fact and information that is an opinion. They need to write information that will help them draw an art project to illustrate the facts and opinions they located in the newspaper.
Fantasy Stories
The students will write a fantasy of their own where they can use their own characters that they have read in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. They can use hobbits, dwarfs, elves, trolls, goblins, or any other fantasy character. They will also need to describe their characters' home environment. Their own stories need to have a different plot, setting, and theme. This assignment will help the students to understand the fantasy genre.
Fill in the Blanks - The Hound of the Baskervilles
In this lesson, the students will read The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and then they will have questions to answer on the worksheet that I have included in the lesson.
Imitating An Author's Style
Students will read a short story of their choice and write an original short story that resembles the style of the short story they read.
Increasing Vocabulary Skills
The students will read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. As they read the book, they will write down every word they don't know and look the words up in a dictionary and write out a definition. They will also use each word in a sentence.
Learning about Characters
In this lesson, students will read the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Then, they will write an essay on one of the characters in the book.
Literary Analysis - 451 Fahrenheit
In this lesson, the students will write a literary analysis of the book, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. You will need to explain to the students about writing a literary analysis before they begin their essays.
Literary Analysis - The Hobbit
In this lesson, the students will write a literary analysis of the book, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. You will need to explain to the students about writing a literary analysis before they begin their essays.
Literary Analysis - The Hound of the Baskervilles
In this lesson, the students will write a literary analysis of the book, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. You will need to explain to the students about writing a literary analysis before they begin their essays.
Literary Analysis - Young Goodman Brown
In this lesson, the students will write a literary analysis of the short story, Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne You will need to explain to the students about writing a literary analysis before they begin their essays.
Literature Soundtracks
The student will choose ten songs to create a soundtrack for a novel read in class or as outside reading. In the liner notes, instead of lyrics the students writes a rationale of why or how the song relates to the novel in terms of setting, conflict, character, or mood. The student will design the CD jacket insert, and the pitch the CD to the production company (the class).
Narrative Writing - The Hobbit
In this lesson, the students will read The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and choose one character they would like to use in a scene they will write. The students will write a scene with one of the characters telling a section of the book from his point of view.
Persuasive Drawing
In this lesson, the students will read The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and write down specific facts as to why they liked that particular book. They need to write facts that will help them write a persuasive art project to illustrate their point of view.
Persuasive Writing - The Hobbit
In this lesson, the students will read The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and choose two characters they would like to use in a scene they will write. The students will write a scene with one of the characters attempting to persuade the other character to do something.
Planting Clues in Short Stories
In this lesson plan, students will learn about planting clues. This is over the short story, "The Purloined Letter" by Edgar Allan Poe.
Sequencing - The Hound of the Baskervilles
In this lesson, the students will order the events that happened in the book, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. You will need to explain to the students about how to order events in a book.
Settings in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The students need to read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and then they will have an art project for this lesson. They will draw a picture of the different habitats that are mentioned in the book on cardstock. They will also write out their descriptions on notebook paper and include them in a plastic notebook.
Shakespeare Scavenger Hunt
The students will use the internet to learn basic biographical facts about Shakespeare in the form of an internet scavenger hunt. This acitivity is a great introduction to a Shakespearean unit of study.
Technical Writing - The Hobbit
In this lesson, the students will read The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and make a list of the steps the the Hobbit took to reclaim his gold ring because he found out how important the ring was, and he wanted it back.
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
In this lesson, students will choose one of the elements: character, theme, or setting and write an essay. They can read the story and take notes in class and write the essay for homework if you want them to.
The Minister's Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne
This lesson plan covers the short story, "The Minister's Black Veil" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I have included a summary of the short story and questions for readers to answer before they read the short story.
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
This lesson is on The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. Students will read the book and write an essay on the characters: Robert Cohn, Jake Barnes, and Brett Ashley. They are to write how the characters learned to cope with their struggles of their identity.
True or False - The Hobbit
In this lesson, the students will read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and they will have questions to answer on the worksheet.
True or False - The Hound of the Baskervilles
In this lesson, the students will read The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and then they will have questions to answer on the worksheet that I have included in the lesson.
Which Events Didn't Occur - The Hobbit
In this lesson, the students will read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and then they will have a worksheet where they will locate the event or events that didn't occur in the book, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Which Events Didn't Occur - The Hound of the Baskervilles
n this lesson, the students will locate the event or events that didn't occur in the book, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Word Scramble - The Hound of the Baskervilles
In this lesson, the students will have a worksheet where they will have to unscramble the words. The words are in the book, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. After they have unscrambled the words.
Word Scramble on The Hobbit
In this lesson, the students will have a worksheet where they will have to unscramble the words. The words are in the book, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. After they have unscrambled the words, they will write out a description of the word and who or how it was used in the book.
Worksheet - The Hobbits
In this lesson, the students will have a worksheet where they will have to complete in class. You can use this as a test. The questions are over the book, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Writing a Movie Review
In this lesson, you will have students watch a classic movie in class. Depending on the length of the movie, this could take more than one class period. Then, you will have them write a summary/review of the movie.
Writing in Different Viewpoints
Students will choose a classic short story and read it. Then, they will write the story from a different viewpoint.
Writing Summaries
The students will read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and take notes while they read. They will start with the first four chapters of the book and then stop so they can write a summary of what happened in the first four chapters. After that, they will continue with the next four chapters and write another summary. They will continue until they have completed the book.
Young Goodman Brown - Themes
In this lesson, the students will read Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne and write an essay about the theme the author wanted to reveal to readers.