An inspirational video for educators

Grade 6-8 9-12 Brief Description Students view photographs of migrant families during the Great Depression, try to interpret the photos to answer questions about the subject's life, and then write a cinquain poem based on their interpretations. Objectives Students willGain understanding of the personal struggles faced during the Great Depression Learn to interpret information from a visual medium (photograph) and express that knowledge in written form (poem).

Literature is alive with iconic characters known around the world for their incredible exploits and heroic actions. James Bond and Sherlock Holmes are such characters. Less well known are the life stories of some of the authors of famous fiction. Many of these authors had real-life adventures that rivaled those of the fictional characters they created. Use the following discussion guide to explore with students how biographical information can influence fiction. Grade Level: 9-12 Student learning objectives: Students will be able to see how real-life experiences help an author to shape a fictional character he or she is creating. These experiences often form the basis for many of the plots involving these characters.

Subject(s) Literature Language Arts Technology Grade Adaptable for all grade levels Brief Description In this lesson, which encourages students to think about the sounds of poems and to enjoy reading them, students use lip-syncing software to produce an animated talking head. Objectives Students will develop their enjoyment and appreciation of the sound of poetry.

Be sure to see our Language & Literature Subject Center for more great lesson ideas and articles. Expand students' cultural horizons by shaping a fun dialogue-writing exercise around Guy Fawkes Night, a November 5 historical observance that's popular in England.

Write a character sketch about somebody you know well. Objectives Students will use a graphic organizer to help them discuss a model character sketch and organize/write one of their own. write an interesting sketch that includes the proper elements of a character sketch.