Standard 1: Reading Prose and Poetry

This is lesson 3 in the text unit series for Shh! We're Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. This lesson allows students to interpret unknown words and figurative language including simile, metaphor, idioms, hyperbole, and personification within the text. Students will infer attitudes or perspectives reflected by state representatives toward the meeting, ideas expressed in speeches given by the state representatives, and challenges faced during the Grand Convention all while developing their understanding of figurative language.

This unit will help students understand why and how the Constitution was created, including: the thirteen states and important historical figures present during the creation, the challenges and conflicts that state representatives faced during writing the Constitution, motifs and themes during the “Grand Convention,” and the relationship between state and national constitutions. Lessons will allow students to identify citizens’ civic duties outlined by the Constitution, the relationship between the federal and state Constitutions, and important historical symbols. Each part of the unit will include an in-depth dive into vocabulary and how it applies to the meaning of the text.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

To understand the overarching themes of freedom and resiliency in the United States of American, students will identify and analyze the figurative language in the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry” which turned into our National Anthem. After close reading and group consensus conversation, and possible extension exploration & research, a written or digital presentation which demonstrates students understanding of the “Star-Spangled Banner’s” significance as a symbol of the United States will be the resulting work product of this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson provides students with the opportunity to read and recognize how the “Star-Spangled Banner” anthem, originally named, “Defense of Fort McHenry,” represents the United States. By analyzing how the poetic elements of rhyme and imagery contribute to the meaning of each of the verses of the Star-Spangled Banner, students will recognize the importance of this American symbol.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson will ask students to read an excerpt from Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. In the targeted passage the students will determine how the description of the setting helps the reader better understand the novel's plot. Students will have opportunities to respond to and discuss, open-ended questions about the characters and the setting.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will read an excertpt from Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis to analyze story elements and examine characters' actions and motivations.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students create narratives inspired by comic strips. The narratives include all elements of the comic strip including the beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, and ending. Students provide feedback to one another using a rubric to improve their writing. They will also discuss how the setting, characters, characterization, and conflict contribute to the plot of the narrative.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is lesson 2 in a series of 3 lessons where students create comic strips using superhero characters. Students plan their comic strips and analyze the importance of setting, characterization, and conflict to the development of the prompt. Students work together to revise their plans and create comic strips that include multimedia elements.

Type: Lesson Plan

During this lesson, students will learn about analyzing literary elements to see how they contribute to the plot and explaining themes of a text through Pourquoi tales. Students will identify these elements and use them to explain the development of themes in Pourquoi tales. Students will use their understanding of these elements to write their own narrative tale.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fifth grade students will be challenged to become super sleuths, or investigators, to describe plot development in depth, with a focus on characters in terms of stated and implied character traits. They will use "investigative strategies" to explore characterization and the setting, events, and conflict of the story to explain how each contributes to its plot. They will do this exploration first as a group and then independently.

Type: Lesson Plan

After reading the novel Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, students will analyze the perspective of Esperanza while looking at important characterization features and other parts of the plot development. Students will create a narrative writing piece from the perspective of Esperanza based on the characterization features discussed.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will listen to several versions of the same song. They will read a poem, and make an illustration to identify how the author develops a character's perspective and how that perspective influences the story. Students will write a narrative using dialogue and description to develop a character’s perspective throughout their story.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will read and analyze the literary elements of the Aesop fable “The Four Oxen and the Lion” and discuss how they contribute to the plot. Students will then explain the development of the theme(s) of the fable based on their analysis of the literary elements. Students will discuss their findings in whole-and small-group settings. The lesson will culminate in an argumentative essay in which students answer the question: "Why didn't the oxen work together and how could they have changed their behavior to do so?"

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will identify examples of metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, and imagery in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Students will analyze how figurative language contributes to meaning in the text and explain how the different figurative language devices work together to depict Paul Revere as a historical hero.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will compare and contrast literary elements of two literary texts "The Enchanted Sticks" and "The Story of Wang Li." They will use the literary elements of each text to determine the development of each theme. Students will then research stories that have similar themes to the ones they’ve discussed in the lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will read the short story "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros to collect text evidence about the character’s perspective on her birthday and age. After collecting text evidence, students will develop their own claim about the character’s perspective in the story through discussion and writing.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson focuses on reading Chapters 1 and 2 of the book Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Students will analyze how the literary elements contribute to the story’s plot and describe how Esperanza’s perspective is developed throughout the story’s beginning. Students will summarize the important parts of the beginning of the story to show their understanding of the plot.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this activity, students will identify similarities and differences between characters. As an extension activity, students will compare the perspectives of two characters. Graphic organizers are provided for character analysis and comparisons.

Type: Student Center Activity

In this activity, students will describe characters using a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

In this activity, students will identify similarities and differences between characters' traits (as determined by actions, thoughts, and feelings).

Type: Student Center Activity

In this activity, students will retell or summarize a story.

Type: Student Center Activity

In this activity, students will retell or summarize a story.

Type: Student Center Activity

In this activity, students will identify similarities and differences between stories and record them on a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

In this activity, students will identify and sort story elements (character, setting, problem, solution, theme, plot). They will then compare and contrast the elements of different stories.

Type: Student Center Activity

In this activity, students will identify story elements (character, setting, events, problem, solution) and record them in a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

This is a fifth grade unit on the novel The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The unit explores fantasy fiction, setting, effects of character decisions, plot, conflict, and theme. The student packet that accompanies the unit includes graphic organizers and worksheets to assist with reinforcing the unit concepts.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

This is a fifth grade novel unit on Dogs Don't Tell Jokes by Louis Sachar. A variety of concepts are explored throughout the unit, including genre, characters, relationships, prediction, textual evidence, plot conflict, and theme. The student packet provides graphic organizers and worksheets that can assist with implementing the unit concepts.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

This is a fifth grade unit on the historical fiction novel Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan. Several concepts regarding the novel are explored, including genre, setting, real-world connections, and effects of a character's past. The student packet and accompanying materials provide ample opportunities for practice.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

This is a fifth grade novel unit on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The unit incorporates instruction relating to the novel's setting, characters, plot, and theme - as well as the basic elements of fantasy fiction. The student packet that accompanies the unit provides some additional structure for the lesson content.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

This is a fifth grade unit on the novel Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. Graphic organizers, charts, comprehension and vocabulary worksheets, and authentic collaborative activities are used to enhance interaction with the novel. Several concepts are pursued, including theme, conflict, relationships, plot, and characters.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence