Black History in English Language Arts

by Katie Auer | Jan 24, 2022 | Distance Learning, Informational Text, Literature, Seasonal & Holiday, Writing Ideas | 1 comment

Black History in English Language Arts

Black history is our history. It’s not some separate history to marvel. It’s not a gimmick to gawk at in February. Still, while it’s somewhat disappointing that it takes Black History Month to draw attention to Black History, it’s also a blessing to have this opportunity in English language arts.

Getting students reading, writing, and analyzing rhetoric by or about Black authors will likely spark something inside of them that will simmer, and – hopefully at the right times – enflame inside of them, throughout their entire lives. When your heart is touched by powerful rhetoric, it stays with you forever. You can’t ever forget the truth when it’s described so passionately. And, when you apply the lessons to your own life, it becomes wisdom.

So, here are 10 ideas for teaching Black History in ELA – your chance to get students reading, writing, analyzing, and most important – feeling – about our history, Black History.

1. Journal Writing About Famous Quotes in Black History: As a bellringer or a 10-minute “quick write” session, have students respond to the Black History quote of the day you give them. How about do this all throughout February since there are so many good quotes? For example, “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations” (Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut) or “The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression” (W.E.B. DuBois), or “The time is always right to do what it right” (Martin Luther King, Jr.), or here’s 117 more Black History quotes you can use!

2. Divi Up & Jigsaw the Plethora of Topics: When you go looking for what to teach in Black History, it’s a bit like trying to get a drink from a fire hydrant blasting out water. There are so many influential figures, movements, & accomplishments. So, how about have each student select a different figure or topic to write a research report or presentation about? Another option is jigsaw groups. This is where you assign small groups topics such as “Black athletes” and then the members of the group each research and report back on something specific, such as Jackie Robinson, Michael Jordan, and Serena Williams. Then, the groups present to the class (hopefully in an interesting way. See this post for 10 Great Ways to Research & Present Information. ) Here are some of the many ideas:

Notable Historical Figures & Institutions: Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, John Lewis, Sojourner Truth, Mary McLeod Bethune (Bethune-Cookman College), the Underground Railroad, the Mason-Dixon Line, Howard University, the Green Book, and more
Figures in Science & Technology: Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Daniel Hale Williams, George Washington Carver, Bessie Coleman, Katherine Johnson, Percy Julian, Mae Jemison, Warren Washington, Benjamin Banneker, and more
Performers, Musicians, & Actors: Louis Armstrong, Marian Anderson, Teddy Wilson, Hattie McDaniel, Sidney Poitier, Octavia Butler, Denzel Washington, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Muddy Waters, Oprah Winfrey, and more
Athletes: Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Althea Gibson, Wilma Rudolph, Hank Aaron, Bill Russell, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michael Jordan, Serena & Venus Williams, LeBron James, Simone Biles, Arthur Ashe, Kobe Bryant, and more
Military & Government Figures: Buffalo Soldiers, Tuskegee Airmen, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Barack Obama, Thurgood Marshall, FDR’s “Black Cabinet,” and more
Civil Rights Topics & Leaders: Brown v. Board of Education, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Lunch Counter Sit-ins, Selma to Montgomery Marches, Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, Black Lives Matter Movement, Rosa Parks, The March on Washington, Assassination of MLK, Ruby Bridges, Claudette Colvin, Jim Crow Laws, “separate but equal,” Jesse Jackson, NACW, NAACP, nonviolent protest, and more
Writers: Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, and more

banner ad upper elementary ela resources

3. Make Modern-Day Civil Rights Posters, Buttons, or Inspirational Quote Posters: Have students look at images of civil rights posters, such as these Freedom Movement posters. Or, simply Google “civil rights posters” and you’ll see a ton of great ones, old and new, come up. Then, have students Google “civil rights buttons” or visit this collection of political buttons, which are visual symbols showing that the wearers are fighting for some cause. Next, have students make modern-day civil rights posters or buttons, each containing one simple slogan about what we should strive for or specifically do to advance civil rights in some way. BUT BE CAREFUL. You should require that the posters be peaceful in nature, non-offensive, non-aggressive…set whatever boundaries you like to keep this activity peaceful.

Steve.fami.ly, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Or maybe just have them do this less passion-provoking art instead: have each student write an inspirational quote on a posterboard, and decorate it to hang in the room. Or, have students make a poster promoting Black History Month. If you don’t want to display the artwork on the walls, you can have students do a “gallery walk” in which students walk around the class to view each other’s creations. Here are links to 120 Black History quotes or a list of 25 Quotations by MLK for the Classroom.

poster with quotes by martin luther king, jr. about hate is wrong

Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva Photostream via Flickr

MLK at NCLC Poster "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Image Credit: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Or, I like this magnetic poster from Displate.com. This is the right idea!

equal rights magnetic poster by displate.com

4. Analyze MLK Primary Sources: What better way to honor Black History than to direct students straight to the sources – the primary sources – the documents written by those who actually experienced the history firsthand, by those who took the time to memorialize their powerful messages in rhetoric that lives on today.

Here are some of the many primary sources written by, about, or in collaboration with Martin Luther King, Jr.: The March on Washington pamphlet, the I Have a Dream speech (which was delivered 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and alluded to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address), the Letter From Birmingham Jail, Six Principles of Nonviolence (have students write a short explanatory essay explaining what they are and what they mean), MLK’s correspondence with the White House/JFK cabinet in letters and telegrams, teaching about Martin Luther King, Jr., and Memphis Sanitation Workers, Who Speaks for the Negro? collection, I’ve Been to the Mountaintop speech, Senator Robert Kennedy’s Statement on the Assassination of MLK, MLK’s acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964, and the Smithsonian collection.

ALSO CHECK OUT THE BLOG POST “MLK in ELA” for EVEN MORE reading, writing, and language ideas!

FREE Letter From the Birmingham Jail LESSON: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter From The Birmingham Jail is a must-read. But, what I have for your ELA classroom is a must-have. Grab the FREE PRINTABLE IDENTiFYING THEMES IN NOTABLE MLK QUOTES FROM THE LETTER. It provides students with one page of monumental quotes from the letter, guiding students to identify theme in each of them. This is a standards-based activity, specifically aligned to Standard RI.9 in high school, which is to analyze seminal U.S. documents of literary and historical significance.

YOU CAN PIN THE IMAGE BELOW IF YOU LIKE:

Since teaching ELA for 10 years, I’ve been a contracted learning resource and assessment writer while running my store “Loving Language Arts.” I know how to align to standards like the back of my hand, yet I always aim to make resources high-interest to motivate reluctant readers and writers.

Share Buttons

Facebook

Twitter

High School Bundle Reading Passages and Practice Tests Workbook - Informational Text Edition

MLK Letter From Birmingham Jail text and task product promotion

NOTE: By the way, my High-Interest Text Passages and Practice Tests Workbooks and my High-Interest Text Passages and ELA Tasks Workbooks contain these speeches and more in easy-print and digital 1-page formats that are MAJOR TIME SAVERS.

5. Learn About “The Green Book”: Have students read this fascinating history about the “Negro Motorist Green Book,” an underground publication sometimes found in gas stations that helped Black citizens travel safely through the Jim Crow-era southern U.S. by directing them to safe places to eat and sleep.

6. Research the Black Lives Matter Movement: One thing I think about all the time is that if people just took the time to understand each other more and where they’re coming from, they’d be less likely to judge them so harshly or condemn their behavior. So, have students take the time to learn about BLM, starting at blacklivesmatter.com. Assign students articles to summarize and share, write a research report, compare and contrast this movement with another, etc.

banner ad new products for middle school ela

7. Read Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem “The Hill We Climb” (2021) and the Inaugural Poems That Inspired Her: Amanda Gorman, the youngest (and current) Poet Laureate for the Biden Administration delivered a powerful rendition of her poem “The Hill We Climb,” that resonated not just with black Americans, but all Americans, about the current political climate as a piece in the overall journey for freedom we are all on togther. Check out the free transcript with ELA ideas to use in your classroom today.

Oh, and have your students compare and contrast, or analyze, these five previous inauguration poems that, according to Amanda Gorman, inspired her:

Robert Frost, who recited “The Gift Outright” at John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inauguration. Frost recited the poem from memory after he was unable to read the text of the poem, “Dedication,” because of the sun’s glare on the snow-covered ground.
Maya Angelou, who read “On the Pulse of Morning” (text; video) at Bill Clinton’s 1993 inauguration
Miller Williams, who read “Of History and Hope” (text; video) at Bill Clinton’s 1997 inauguration
Elizabeth Alexander, who read “Praise Song for the Day” (text; video) at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration
Richard Blanco, who read “One Today” (text; video) at Barack Obama’s 2013 inauguration

the hill we climb by amanda gorman 2021 inauguralpoem and activities square cover

8. Combat Racism: Consider having students write persuasive essays and speeches (with reasoning based on evidence, facts, & testimony) that combat racism. Or, I also like the looks of these 6 Lesson Plans We Love for Creating Inclusive Communities and Combatting Racism.

banner ad new products for high school ela

9. Teach Slave Narratives: Slave narratives are some of the most passionate, eloquent, honest, descriptive pieces of writing you will ever read. I believe it’s a must to have students read at least one. Here are some to consider: Narratives by James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw (1772), Olaudah Equiano (1789), Nat Turner (1831), Frederick Douglass (1845), William Wells Brown (1847), Henry Bibb (1849), Sojourner Truth (1850), William and Ellen Craft (1860), Harriet Jacobs (1861), Jacob Green (1864), and more. Additionally, here is a collection of slave narratives at the Library of Congress (containing more than 2,300 firsthand accounts and over 500 photographs).

Also, GRAB THE FREEBIES below!

free ela passage and test "narrative of william w. brown"

Frederick Douglass Slave Narrative Passage and Task Freebie

10. Teach Students About Brown V. Board of Education and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall: The Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case changed the course of history for the better. It turned out that the “separate but equal” education Black students were getting prior to the case was not so equal. It took declaring segregation as unconstitutional in this landmark case to make everyone see that. There is a plethora of resources on this topic, but here are some: PBS’s “Brown vs. Board of Education | A More or Less Perfect Union” with video, Learning for Justice’s “Brown v. Board: An American Legacy,” and the U.S. Court’s “Justice Thurgood Marshall Profile – Brown v. Board of Education Re-enactment.”

Or grab the freebie I just added a wee bit late in the month, but better late than never I always say.

Brown v Board of Education Passage & Task Black History Freebie

OK, now at this point I admit I went a little overboard with the Black History Month Freebies. I kept finding all these gems that I wanted to share with you, and here it is the end of February and I am just now stopping, lol. Here are a couple more.

ELA Passage & Test: Word Choice and Rhetoric in Deval Patrick's Inaugural Address

Language & Connotation in Deval Patrick's Inaugural Address Passage and Test

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

Free High School Practice Test

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

we sail for america by samuel mcclure ela practice test

Try a Freebie!

be ready to help passage and ela practice test free

Try a Freebie!

why onions make you cry passage and practice test

Try a Freebie!

The 6th Grade Practice Tests Test Prep Workbook “is a high quality, beautifully-aligned resource. It is no-frills, to the point, yet high-interest for students. It is helping us prepare for standardized testing in a hybrid, synchronous, difficult year.”

ReBeckha L.

Sixth Grade Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers

Follow Me On Pinterest

How about save this pin to your “Black History Month” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Fall in ELA: 20 Ideas for Reading & Writing in Autumn

by Katie Auer | Sep 7, 2021 | Informational Text, Language & Writing, Literature, Seasonal & Holiday, Writing Ideas

Fall in ELA: 20 Ideas for Reading & Writing in Autumn

Once your students return to school in the fall, it’s time to grab their attention and get them excited about reading and writing again! Fall in ELA is perfect for reading and writing because there is just so much to read and write about – the changing weather, fall colors, pumpkins & other harvest, treats, scary stories, spooky creatures, cautionary tales, corn mazes, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and more! I came up with 20 great ideas for you which can be used in grades 4-12. I have noted which ones are geared more toward younger or older students, when applicable.

10 back to school writing ideas blog main

1) Fall Haiku: According to poets.org, “A traditional Japanese haiku is a three-line poem with seventeen syllables, written in a 5/7/5 syllable count. Often focusing on images from nature, haiku emphasizes simplicity, intensity, and directness of expression.” Haiku poetry is PERFECT for the fall. First, have a brainstorming session with your students, making a list of possible topics together, to get them thinking what they’ll focus on (the haiku should focus intensely on one thing, usually having to do with nature). Then, give them some quick instructions (and perhaps samples) of how to write them: they consist of 3 lines with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, and 5 syllables in the third line, using concrete imagery (vivid sensory descriptions that make readers get clear images in their heads). You may even want to have students make artistic posters out of their poems to display, like the ones shown here:

Share Buttons

Facebook

Twitter

2. Fall Similes and/or Metaphors: Have students write symbolically about the fall. Similes use “like or as.” Metaphors simply say that something is something else that it is not. In upper elementary, it’s easier for kids to write similes. In high school, students should be challenged to write metaphors. First, brainstorm with students everything they can think of that has to do with the fall season. Then, have them write 5 similes and/or metaphors. For example, “The air changed as if someone turned on the air conditioning,” “The pumpkin is like an orange balloon,” “The candy is as sour as 100 lemons,” “The haunted house is my nightmare,” etc.

pumpkin jack o'lantern gif for blog post

3. For Grades 4-6: It Came From Planet Simile:

Have students draw this creature, the creature from planet Simile.

planet simile drawing activity

4. For Grades 7-12: Frightening Flash Fiction: One of the most famous flash fiction stories is by Ernest Hemingway.

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Only six words, it still manages to tell a scary story. If one line isn’t enough, you can double or triple it, though. These are so short that you can have students read them aloud!

Image by myscrapnook.com

5. Pumpkins Literacy Activities (FREE DOWNLOAD): Grab their attention with INTERESTING & FREE informational texts about pumpkins, historical literacy passages, vocabulary connections, a poem, fascinating facts incorporated into critical thinking activities, writing explanatory text about how to make a jack-o-lantern, writing a short persuasive text about why and how people can eat more pumpkin in their diets, and more challenging yet fun ELA activities. Perfect for the fall season in ELA, including Halloween and Thanksgiving.

pumpkins literacy reading and writing activities for ela

6. Write a How-to Explanatory/Informative Text: Have your students write a short “how-to” informative, explanatory essay to relate an organized sequence of events, beginning with a short introduction, then the steps (using transition words in between), and a short conclusion. Here are some ideas: make a specific costume, carve a pumpkin, host a Thanksgiving, cook a turkey, make candy apples, bob for apples, decorate for Halloween, make a treat, trick-or-treat, etc.

7. Extreme Candy Summaries: Have your students read about how scientists make three types of “extreme candy” in this article. Have your students choose one process to summarize (or two, or three). Have them write one paragraph in their own words, explaining how scientists make that extreme candy.

Image by Fun Classroom Creations

8. Character Eulogy: Tell students to write a eulogy for a fictional character. A eulogy is a speech praising someone who recently passed away. This activity is strange, but it is character analysis, so why not? Have students follow these steps: 1) Choose a character (protagonist or antagonist) 2) Write opening remarks such as “I am the character’s brother…or I was his sworn enemy” 3) Spotlight character traits…”He was brave and daring,” “She was timid yet kind…” Here is a humongous list of character traits to peruse. 4) Give words of comfort and a final farewell.

9. Thanksgiving Gratitude Theme Reading & Writing Activities (FREE DOWNLOAD): Grab their attention and get them feeling grateful with this Free Thanksgiving Gratitude Theme Reading, Writing, and Language! A great selection of Aesop’s Fables with themes (morals) related to being grateful and giving thanks. Students explore character, motivation, theme, and new vocabulary. A writing warm-up is included with a selection of writing topics in which students must self-reflect on gratefulness. A language portion requires students to make corrections to sentences. Plus analogies to practice new vocabulary! It’s Thanksgiving in ELA! Comes with the fables and an answer key.

10. Analyze Fall Poetry: Have students select a Fall Poem to analyze. Analysis can be as simple as identifying 1) the mood or feeling tone 2) the poet speaker (whether that’s a pumpkin, a mysterious “I” narrator, the author, etc.) 3) theme 4) setting, etc. For upper elementary students, I recommend having them select one of these Harvest/Pumpkins Poems & Songs. For older students/high schoolers, I recommend having them select from one of these Fall poems (such as “Fall, leaves, Fall” by Emily Bronte).

Image by digiwebstudio.com

11. Add a Scary Stanza to a Classic Poem: Have students select a scary classic Halloween poem, such as:

“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
“Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti
“All Hallows” by Louise Glück
“All Hallows’ Eve” by Dorothea Tanning
“Song of the Witches” from Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Then, have them add an additional stanza that would fit into the poem using the same voice, rhyme scheme, meter, language, imagery, etc. as if it were part of the poem. “The Raven” is an especially good choice.

12. Explain How to Make a Corn Maze: Have students write an explanatory, informative text that explains how the Treinan family makes their corn mazes. Have students read all about how the Treinan Farm family makes their corn mazes in three phases. Have them also watch this great short video that explains it. Then, have students write three paragraphs to explain each phase of the corn maze-making process in their own words.

13. Research & Present Why/How Leaves Change Color in the Fall: Have students research about how and why leaves change colors in the fall, such as at this website using an article from weather.com. Then, have them make a graphic organizer listing causes and effects. Here are three causes they can use: 1) temperature changes and the amount of daylight changes 2) chemical changes occur 3) the mixing of varying amounts of the chlorophyll residue and other pigments. Using the article, students can list causes and effects.

14. Make a Potion Recipe: For upper elementary students, you can have them write a recipe card with fake ingredients such as “1/4 cup kindness” or “1 cup dog fur”…and choose what the potion is meant for, such as “Kindness Potion” to make people nicer. For older kids, perhaps have them write a paragraph about an imaginary potion, what it would be used for, and how it would be made, plus any cautions, etc.

Reading Informational Text Passages Workbooks Promotional Page

15. Write a Halloween Story: For upper elementary students, I recommend having them select one of these story prompts from “13 Halloween Writing Ideas.” For older students such as high schoolers, you can have them write a “Gorey Story.” Edward Gorey is a writer/illustrator known for his strange, gloomy art. Have students select an image and then write a story based on it. Here is an example of Gorey image “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” :

Edward Gorey Image "The Gashlycrumb Tinies"

16. Story Weaving: This is all about spooky campfire-story-style group story telling. It can be done orally by having each student add one line to the story aloud. Or, it can be done in a written format called “story pass writing” in which you have groups of students (5 or 6, such as a row of students) create stories. Tell everyone to write a beginning (such as “Once upon a time on Halloween night…), give them 2-3 minutes, then tell them to pass it to the next person. The next person writes the next part of the story. And, so on. You use a timer to give them about 2 minutes per round. Just before the final round, remind students to write an ending that wraps everything up. Students can read the stories aloud for fun.

Image by myscrapnook.com

17. Why There are Seasons (FREE DOWNLOAD): Usually when people are getting sick of the summer heat and longing for the air to cool off, they start thinking about why there are seasons anyway. That’s why I made this literacy in science informational text and ELA activities so that students can read and write all about it. Check it out! It’s free!

why there are seasons literacy in science ela activities

18. Meet My Creepy Friend: Students can create and introduce a “creepy friend” or a “creepy monster” or a “creepy pet critter,” etc. To describe the creepy friend, monster, pet, etc., students find creepy character traits to incorporate into their descriptions. They can find some on my humongous list of character trait words, and/or find creepier ones elsewhere. They can also read this article that explains “How to Write About a Creepy Character Realistically.” Have students describe their creepy friends, perhaps add an illustration, and then “introduce” them to the class.

Image by myscrapnook.com

19. Research and Read Cautionary Tales From the Days of Yore: In just about every culture throughout history, there are cautionary tales that have been passed down from one generation to the next. They are terrifying! A cautionary tale is folklore that warns of danger. There are three essential parts: 1) A taboo or prohibition is stated: some act, location, or thing. 2) A tale is told in which someone disregarded the warning and performed the forbidden act, went to the forbidden place, used the forbidden thing, etc. 3) Finally, the violator experiences an unpleasant fate, frequently related in expansive, grisly detail. You could have students, depending on their age of course, research these. A good place to start is at this website. You could also have students write cautionary tales, again depending on their age and sensitivity levels.

Image by digiwebstudio.com

20. Logic Puzzles: So far, I have made a FREE Halloween logic puzzle asking “Which costume did each friend wear to the Halloween party? Students must use critical thinking deductions to discover the one and only solution. It actually turned out to be more challenging than I thought it would be, so that being said, I am thinking it’s best for middle schoolers, and certainly high schoolers (who need brain breaks too!). Sometime soon, I plan on making a Thanksgiving logic puzzle too, so pin this page and check back soon.

Do you or someone you know teach math? Are you looking for math that’s relevant to real life? If so, check these out:

$TGiving fract, dec, perc square cover$

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

Free High School Practice Test

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

Try a Freebie!

ReBeckha L.

Sixth Grade Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers

Follow Me On Pinterest

How about save this pin to your “Seasonal Resources” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

“The Hill We Climb” Poem in English Language Arts

by Katie Auer | Jan 21, 2021 | Language & Writing, Literature, Social Studies Literacy

“The Hill We Climb” Poem in English Language Arts

I am not touching politics here or now with a ten-foot pole, but I will say that the Biden Administration employing a poet laureate, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, creates opportunities in your ELA classroom to explore the power of poetry and verse to move people’s hearts and not just their minds. It even has the power to give us a unique perspective on history and history in the making, allowing us to see everything from a slightly different (and calmer) angle. I’m sure you’ll think of a ton of ways you can use it. Please let me know how you use it in the comments! I am curious.

The Hill We Climb: written and delivered on Inauguration Day 2021 (January 20, 2021) by Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. It’s a text you can use in your classroom today, tomorrow, and forever. (Also available as a free printable – click here.)

The Hill We Climb

When day comes we ask ourselves,

where can we find light in this never-ending shade?

The loss we carry,

a sea we must wade

We’ve braved the belly of the beast

We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace

And the norms and notions

of what just is

Isn’t always just-ice

And yet the dawn is ours

before we knew it

Somehow we do it

Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed

a nation that isn’t broken

but simply unfinished

We the successors of a country and a time

Where a skinny Black girl

descended from slaves and raised by a single mother

can dream of becoming president

only to find herself reciting for one

And yes we are far from polished

far from pristine

but that doesn’t mean we are

striving to form a union that is perfect

We are striving to forge a union with purpose

To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and

conditions of man

And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us

but what stands before us

We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,

we must first put our differences aside

We lay down our arms

so we can reach out our arms

to one another

We seek harm to none and harmony for all

Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:

That even as we grieved, we grew

That even as we hurt, we hoped

That even as we tired, we tried

That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious

Not because we will never again know defeat

but because we will never again sow division

Scripture tells us to envision

that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree

And no one shall make them afraid

If we’re to live up to our own time

Then victory won’t lie in the blade

But in all the bridges we’ve made

That is the promise to glade

The hill we climb

If only we dare

It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit,

it’s the past we step into

and how we repair it

We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation

rather than share it

Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy

And this effort very nearly succeeded

But while democracy can be periodically delayed

it can never be permanently defeated

In this truth

in this faith we trust

For while we have our eyes on the future

history has its eyes on us

This is the era of just redemption

We feared at its inception

We did not feel prepared to be the heirs

of such a terrifying hour

but within it we found the power

to author a new chapter

To offer hope and laughter to ourselves

So while once we asked,

how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?

Now we assert

How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?

We will not march back to what was

but move to what shall be

A country that is bruised but whole,

benevolent but bold,

fierce and free

We will not be turned around

or interrupted by intimidation

because we know our inaction and inertia

will be the inheritance of the next generation

Our blunders become their burdens

But one thing is certain:

If we merge mercy with might,

and might with right,

then love becomes our legacy

and change our children’s birthright

So let us leave behind a country

better than the one we were left with

Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,

we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one

We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west,

we will rise from the windswept northeast

where our forefathers first realized revolution

We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states,

we will rise from the sunbaked south

We will rebuild, reconcile and recover

and every known nook of our nation and

every corner called our country,

our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,

battered and beautiful

When day comes we step out of the shade,

aflame and unafraid

The new dawn blooms as we free it

For there is always light,

if only we’re brave enough to see it

If only we’re brave enough to be it

Ideas for how to use in ELA:

1) Break the poem up into about 4-5 sections. Have students write a summary of each section in plain English basically interpreting what she is saying literally beyond the figurative language and literary devices. You could even have students do jigsaw groups – break the class into 4-5 groups and assign each group a section. Each group works together to interpret it. At the end, have a representative from each group say their summary (in order would be best).

2) Identify literary devices being used such as simile, metaphor, concrete imagery, allusion, hyperbole, repetition (very popular in political speeches), use of ethos/pathos/logos, etc.

3) Have students explain what a quote means and what it means to them, such as “For while we have our eyes on the future history has its eyes on us.” (Get the printable FREE HERE.)

4) Write down every instance of repetition she uses and evaluate whether it’s more powerful as a result (plus compare to other political speeches such as Obama).

5) Compare and contrast this poem to other political poems, such as the inaugural poems listed below that Amanda Gorman says inspired her to write her poem the way she did.

6) Have students analyze what it was about the inaugural poems below that Amanda Gorman says inspired her. In what ways did the poems inspire her — rhetorically, philosophically, politically, symbolically, (…uh, I could keep going lol)?

These are the inaugural poems Amanda Gorman says inspired her:

Robert Frost, who recited “The Gift Outright” at John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inauguration. Frost recited the poem from memory after he was unable to read the text of the poem, “Dedication,” because of the sun’s glare on the snow-covered ground.
Maya Angelou, who read “On the Pulse of Morning” (text; video) at Bill Clinton’s 1993 inauguration.
Miller Williams, who read “Of History and Hope” (text; video) at Bill Clinton’s 1997 inauguration.
Elizabeth Alexander, who read “Praise Song for the Day” (text; video) at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.
Richard Blanco, who read “One Today” (text; video) at Barack Obama’s 2013 inauguration.

Link to multimedia version of Amanda Gorman Delivering Her Poem on Inauguration Day 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ055ilIiN4

Also Available as a FREE Printable. CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS NOW

I HOPE YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS ENJOY READING THIS POEM AND DOING SOME FUN ELA ACTIVITIES TO GO WITH IT. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT IDEAS YOU COME UP WITH FOR USING IT, SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS!

AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT:

← My Rule #4 for Teaching Middle School Interesting Facts About Chinese New Year →

Black History in ELA blog post for reading and writing about black history feature image

ALSO CHECK OUT MY POST "BLACK HISTORY IN ELA" FOR EVEN MORE FREEBIES & IDEAS!

AND ANOTHER FREEBIE (COMBINE TEST PREP AND BLACK HISTORY IN ONE STEP)!

Share Buttons

Facebook

Twitter

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

Free High School Practice Test

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

Try a Freebie!

ReBeckha L.

Sixth Grade Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers

Follow Me On Pinterest

How about save this pin to your “Poetry” or “Literacy in Social Studies/History” Pinterest Board so that you can come back to this post again?

3 Funny Christmas Holiday Rhymes in ELA

by Katie Auer | Dec 18, 2020 | Language & Writing, Literature, Seasonal & Holiday

3 Funny Christmas Holiday Rhymes in ELA

All across the nation, just before winter break, teachers are scrambling to find last-minute activities that lightheartedly combine ELA skills and holiday anticipation. Here’s an idea: have students read, listen to, or watch these three humorous holiday rhymes (2 songs and 1 poem). I’ve provided the lyrics, links to their multimedia versions, and ideas for how to incorporate these into the ELA setting just in time for winter break. (And have yourself a relaxing winter break — you deserve it!)

blog main header blog post 3 funny holiday rhymes

1) Snowball: This is a silly poem by Shel Silverstein.

SNOWBALL

I made myself a snowball
As perfect as could be.
I thought I’d keep it as a pet
And let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
And a pillow for its head.
Then, last night it ran away
But first — it wet the bed.

Ideas for how to use in ELA: 1) This poem is a very basic example of dramatic irony (when the audience knows something the character doesn’t). Have students research this literary device and write about how it’s used here. 2) Have students write a poem using the same structure: 4 verses, 8 lines, ABCB rhyme, about a winter theme, etc.

2) You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch: To accompany his 1966 animated TV movie that’s based on his original short story, Dr. Seuss (along with Albert Hague) wrote the song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” He asked Thurl Ravenscroft, with his lovely deep voice, to sing it. The song is full of similes and metaphors (saying something is something it is not.) and hyperbole (exaggerations) See how many you can find!

YOU’RE A MEAN ONE, MR. GRINCH

You really are a heel
You’re as cuddly as a cactus
You’re as charming as an eel
Mr. Grinch
You’re a bad banana
With a greasy black peel

You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch
Your heart’s an empty hole
Your brain is full of spiders
You’ve got garlic in your soul
Mr. Grinch
I wouldn’t touch you
With a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole

You’re a vile one, Mr. Grinch
You have termites in your smile
You have all the tender sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile
Mr. Grinch

Given the choice between the two of you
I’d take the seasick crocodile

You’re a foul one, Mr. Grinch
You’re a nasty, wasty skunk
Your heart is full of unwashed socks
Your soul is full of gunk
Mr. Grinch

The three words that best describe you
Are as follows and I quote, “Stink, stank, stunk”

You’re a rotter, Mr. Grinch
You’re the king of sinful sots
Your heart’s a dead tomato splotch
With moldy purple spots
Mr. Grinch

Your soul is an appalling dump heap
Overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable
Rubbish imaginable
Mangled up in tangled up knots

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch
With a nauseous super-naus
You’re a crooked jerky jockey
And you drive a crooked horse
Mr. Grinch

You’re a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich
With arsenic sauce!

Ideas for how to use in ELA: 1) Have students list as many metaphors, similes, and hyperbole as they can find. I have a free, one page-printable that includes the lyrics and information about the Dr. Seuss story.

Links to Multimedia Versions: 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35WgpMq6e3o 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6bqbPdGOZk

3) Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer: Randy Brooks of Dallas, Texas wrote this song in 1977. At the time, he was in a band, and he wrote funny songs to make the crowd laugh.

GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER

Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there’s no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
She’d been drinking too much eggnog
And we begged her not to go
But she forgot her medication
And she staggered out the door into the snow
When we found her Christmas morning
At the scene of the attack
She had hoof-prints on her forehead
And incriminating Claus marks on her back

Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there’s no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe

Now we’re all so proud of grandpa
He’s been taking this so well
See him in there watching football
Drinking beer and playing cards with cousin Mel
It’s not Christmas without Grandma
All the family’s dressed in black
And we just can’t help but wonder
Should we open up her gifts
Or send them back (send them back)

Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there’s no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe

Now the goose is on the table
And the pudding made of fig
And the blue and silver candles
That would just have matched the hair on grandma’s wig
I’ve warned all my friends and neighbors
Better watch out for yourselves
They should never give a license
To a man who drives a sleigh
And plays with elves

Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there’s no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe

Singin’ grandpa
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there’s no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
Merry Christmas

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Randy Brooks

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Ideas for how to use in ELA: 1) Have students list write one more section with about 10 lines using an ABCB rhyme scheme. 2) Have students write a paragraph explaining which parts of the song they think are especially humorous and/or clever. Have them cite the text.

Links to multimedia versions: 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok5WsPYcj5Y 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQaXSIpBZNc 3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgEHA9HS66w

Share Buttons

Facebook

Twitter

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

Free High School Practice Test

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

Try a Freebie!

ReBeckha L.

Sixth Grade Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers

Follow Me On Pinterest

How about save this pin to your “Holidays and Seasonal Resources in ELA” or “Christmas in ELA” or “Poetry” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

blog post 3 funny holiday rhymes, songs, and poem lyrics to use in ELA winter

Humongous List of 500 Character Trait Words

by Katie Auer | Aug 31, 2020 | Distance Learning, Language & Writing, Literature

Humongous List of 500 Character Trait Words

We all have character traits formed by a combination of behavior, attitude, upbringing, genetics, mood, practice, trauma, praise, social skills, education, and more. We don’t display them at all times. They can be inconsistent and change. They can be both positive and negative. Character trait words are helpful for readers to analyze protagonists and antagonists. They are also helpful for writers who are creating characters. Additionally, they guide us in self-reflection.

When I was making this list, I was originally aiming for 100 words. Then, I realized there were at least 300. As I kept going, I quickly got to 400. I finally stopped at 500, but I didn’t have to. I could list these for days! But I have other things to do. Anyway, I think 500 is more than enough. I hope you find them to be helpful.

1. abrasive

2. absentminded

3. active

4. adaptable

5. admirable

6. adventurous

7. affectionate

8. afraid

9. aggressive

10. agile

11. agreeable

12. aimless

13. alert

14. alive with energy

15. aloof

16. ambitious

17. amenable

18. amiable

19. amicable

20. angry

21. animated

22. anxious

23. apathetic

24. argumentative

25. aristocratic

26. arrogant

27. artificial

28. aspiring

29. astonished

30. athletic

31. attentive

32. attractive

33. authoritarian

34. awkward

35. babyish

36. balanced

37. beautiful

38. belligerent

39. bewildered

40. biddable

41. blunt

42. boastful

43. boisterous

44. bold

45. boorish

46. bored

47. boring

48. bossy

49. brave

50. bright

51. brilliant

52. broadminded

53. busy

54. calculating

55. callous

56. calm

57. capable

58. careful

59. cautious

60. charismatic

61. charming

62. cheerful

63. childish

64. church-going

65. clearheaded

66. clever

67. Close-minded

68. clown-like

69. clownish

70. clumsy

71. coarse

72. cocky

73. cold-hearted

74. commanding

75. committed

76. communicative

77. compassionate

78. competitive

79. compulsive

80. conceited

81. concerned

82. condemning

83. confident

84. confrontational

85. confused

86. congenial

87. conscientious

88. conservative

89. considerate

90. controllable

91. controlled

92. courageous

93. courteous

94. cowardly

95. cranky

96. creative

97. critical

98. cross

99. cruel

100. cunning

101. curious

102. dangerous

103. daring

104. dashing

105. deceitful

106. decisive

107. defensive

108. demonstrative

109. dependable

110. dependent

111. desperate

112. destructive

113. detached

114. detail-oriented

115. determined

116. devoted

117. difficult

118. dignified

119. diligent

120. diplomatic

121. discerning

122. disciplined

123. discouraged

124. discreet

125. discriminating

126. dishonest

127. disloyal

128. disobedient

129. displays endurance

130. displays perseverance

131. displays stamina

132. disrepectful

133. distinctive

134. distrustful

135. docile

136. dominant

137. dominating

138. doubtful

139. down-to-earth

140. driven

141. dull

142. durable

143. eager

144. eager-to-please

145. eager-to-serve

146. easy-to-train

147. easygoing

148. effective

149. efficient

150. elegant

151. eloquent

152. embarrassed

153. encouraging

154. endearing

155. enduring

156. energetic

157. engaging

158. enthusiastic

159. envious

160. environmentally conscientious

161. equable (in temperament)

162. erratic

163. even-tempered

164. excitable

165. exciting

166. exotic

167. experienced

168. extravagent

169. extreme

170. facetious

171. fair

172. faithful

173. family-friendly

174. fanatical

175. fearful

176. fearless

177. feminine

178. fidgety

179. fierce

180. flexible

181. flighty

182. focused

183. foolish

184. forbearing

185. fragile

186. free

187. friendly

188. frustrated

189. fun-loving

190. funny

191. gallant

192. game

193. gay

194. generous

195. gentle

196. gentle-mannered

197. glamorous

198. gloomy

199. good-humored

200. good-natured

201. graceful

202. grateful

203. greedy

204. gregarious

205. grouchy

206. gutsy

207. happy

208. hard-driving

209. hardworking

210. hardy

211. hateful

212. helpful

213. heroic

214. hesitant

215. high spirit

216. highly trainable

217. honest

218. honorable

219. hopeful

220. hopeless

221. hostile

222. humble

223. humorous

224. hyperactive

225. idealistic

226. ignorant

227. ill-natured

228. imaginative

229. immature

230. impartial

231. impolite

232. imposing

233. impulsive

234. inactive

235. incisive

236. indecisive

237. independent

238. independent thinker

239. indomitable perseverance

240. innovative

241. inquiring

242. inquisitive

243. insightful

244. insistent

245. insulting

246. intelligent

247. intense

248. intolerant

249. introverted

250. intuitive

251. irrational

252. irritable

253. jealous

254. jovial

255. joyful

256. judgmental

257. keen attitude

258. keen inclination to work

259. kind

260. kindly

261. lazy

262. level-headed

263. liberal

264. lighthearted

265. likeable

266. lively

267. logical

268. lonely

269. loveable

270. loving

271. loyal

272. lucky

273. magnanimous

274. majestic

275. masculine

276. mature

277. mean

278. menacing

279. merry

280. meticulous

281. mild

282. moody

283. multi-talented

284. mysterious

285. naive

286. narcissistic

287. neat

288. negative

289. nervous

290. noble

291. noisy

292. non-aggressive

293. non-confrontational

294. non-judgmental

295. noticeable

296. obedient

297. objective

298. obnoxious

299. observant

300. obstinate

301. open

302. open-minded

303. opinionated

304. optimistic

305. organized

306. original

307. outdoor-loving

308. outgoing

309. overbearing

310. overexuberant

311. passionate

312. patient

313. patronizing

314. peaceful

315. pensive

316. perceptive

317. perseverant

318. persistent

319. personable

320. pessimistic

321. picky

322. pioneering

323. placid

324. plain

325. playful

326. pleasant

327. poised

328. polished

329. polite

330. popular

331. positive

332. powerful

333. precise

334. prim

335. principled

336. procrastinating

337. professional

338. profound

339. protective

340. proud

341. provocative

342. prudent

343. punctual

344. puritanical

345. purposeful

346. quality

347. quarrelsome

348. quick

349. quick-witted

350. quiet

Make Language More Fun to Learn:

351. quixotic

352. rambunctious

353. rangy

354. rash

355. rational

356. ready

357. ready-for-action

358. refined

359. relaxed

360. reliable

361. relieved

362. religious

363. resentful

364. reserved

365. resistant

366. resolute

367. resourceful

368. respectful

369. responsible

370. responsive

371. restless

372. robust

373. rollicking personality

374. romantic

375. rough

376. rowdy

377. rude

378. rugged

379. sarcastic

380. satisfied

381. scared

382. scholarly

383. scrupulous

384. secretive

385. self-assured

386. self-confident

387. self-indulgent

388. self-reliant

389. self-willed

390. selfish

391. sensible

392. sensitive

393. serious

394. sharp

395. showy

396. shy

397. silly

398. sincere

399. skillful

400. slow

401. sluggish

402. sly

403. smart

404. sneaky

405. snobbish

406. snobby

407. sociable

408. solemn

409. somber

410. sound

411. speedy

412. spirited

413. sporty

414. stable

415. steadfast

416. steady

417. stern

418. stingy

419. stoic

420. stoical

421. stouthearted

422. straightforward

423. strange

424. strict

425. strong

426. strong-minded

427. strong-willed

428. stubborn

429. stylish

430. suave

431. submissive

432. subtle

433. suspicious

434. sweet

435. sweet natured

436. sympathetic

437. tactful

438. talented

439. talkative

440. tasteful

441. temperamental

442. tenacious

443. tender

444. terrified

445. territorial

446. thankful

447. thorough

448. thoughtful

449. thoughtless

450. threatening

WebQuest Practice Tests are Great Too!

Students read several authentic texts with the same theme
For example, the students read two texts all about the history of schools
Incorporated visuals with photographs too!
Try this one free!

451. thrifty

452. timid

453. tireless

454. tolerant

455. touchy

456. tough

457. tractable

458. trainable

459. trusting

460. trustworthy

461. unapproachable

462. unassuming

463. uncontrolled

464. unfriendly

465. unhappy

466. unkind

467. unrealistic

468. unreliable

469. unruly

470. unscrupulous

471. unselfish

472. unstable

473. unyielding

474. upset

475. upstanding

476. useful

477. valiant

478. vengeful

479. versatile

480. vicious

481. vigilant

482. vigorous

483. vindictive

484. vivacious

485. vulgar

486. warm

487. warm-hearted

488. watchful

489. water-loving

490. weak

491. well-balanced

492. well-rounded

493. wickedly smart

494. willing attitude

495. willing-to-obey

496. willing worker

497. wise

498. withdrawn

499. witty

500. worried

Share Buttons

Facebook

Twitter

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

Free High School Practice Test

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

Try a Freebie!

ReBeckha L.

Sixth Grade Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers

Follow Me On Pinterest

How about save this pin to your “Characterization” or “Writing” or “Literary Analysis” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Analyzing Characterization 6 Ways in 6 Stories With 6 Characters

by Katie Auer | Aug 31, 2020 | Distance Learning, Graphic Organizers (Reading), Literature

Analyzing Characterization 6 Ways in 6 Stories With 6 Characters

In literature, there are flat characters and there are round characters. No, I’m not talking about Flat Stanley and Humpty Dumpty (lol). I’m talking about the generic characters whose depths of personality we will never know (the FLAT ones) and the robust characters whose depths of personality we do get to know (the ROUND ones). The flat ones are pretty dull, but on the other hand, they are often necessary just to keep the plot moving along. The round ones are way better! What they say, think, feel, and do keep the reader interested. And, in the best stories, characters change. In this post, I give you 6 ways to analyze characters, or characterization, in 6 different stories. These characterization activities get students to analyze what makes characters round: what they say, think, feel, and do.

1. What He Said (or She Said):

For this activity, make sure the story you choose has plenty of dialogue or is written from the first-person point-of-view, so that students can find examples. This works for most stories, but the ones that are told by a third-person narrator with very little thoughts or dialogue from the character’s point of view can make this activity feel like pulling teeth. Ouch!
You can either have the student find three quotes (what they say out loud) and/or thoughts (what they say in their heads), or you can provide them for the student.
Then, you have students figure out what these quotes and/or thoughts say about the characters. Essentially, the quotes and thoughts are the text evidence and the statements about them are inferences.
Here is an example I made to study the characterization of Jay Berry from the novel The Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls. It’s a great story with a first-person narrator. You can get the novel, watch the movie, or do the free and quick option which is to have students read this excerpt from Chapter One.
You can get the free template in both easy-print and distance learning digital format, and in both a “HE said” and a “SHE said” version in my free Analyzing Characterization 6 Ways Pack.

What He Said: Jay Berry from The Summer of the Monkeys

2. Prove It!

For this activity, make sure the story you choose is conducive to making inferences about a character whether from dialogue, actions, or description.
You can either have the student find the inferences, or you can provide them. Conversely, you could provide the evidence and have them make the inferences. Or, they can do it all on their own.
Here is an example I made to study the characterization of Jo March from Chapter 5 of the novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Here is a link to the excerpt I used. Or, you can access the whole book for free online. It’s a great story with a third-person narrator and plenty of dialogue.
You can get the free template in both easy-print and distance learning digital format in my free pack.

Prove It: Jo March from Little Women

example of prove it jo march little women

3. What a Character!:

For this activity, students select character traits to describe a character. So, in the spirit of this activity, I made a humongous list of character trait words. At first, I was just going to make a list of 100. But then when I got to 100, I felt like there were still so many I hadn’t written yet. When I got to 200, I felt the same way. So, then I decided to just go for several hundred. I finally decided to stop at 500, but I tell you, I could easily have kept going because there are so many words to describe people! The thing about character traits is we don’t display them simultaneously, or even consistently, and they change. They are affected by our attitude, behavior, genetics, upbringing, trauma, praise, education, events, and more.
For this activity, students only need to select 5 words, which out of 500, seems like a piece of cake. Then, in the spirit of always asking them to provide text evidence, they need to provide evidence, either by providing quotes or retelling what was in the text, that proves the character does in fact display those traits.
I have provided two examples here. One is for Sadako from the short novella, available free online, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. She is a multi-faceted adolescent students can relate to. By the way, I have another blog post all about teaching the novella complete with pre-reading, comprehension questions, and a fun post-reading activity. Check it out!
The other example is Margot from the short story by Ray Bradbury All Summer in a Day. The main character is an awkward girl who struggles with being bullied, so sadly some students can also relate to her. By the way, I made a short free lesson for that story as well, which has been very popular, especially because the story is full of figurative language.
Get this template and 5 more in my free Analyzing Characterization Pack.

What a Character!: Sadako from Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Reading literature is assessed on standardized tests. But did you know that at least 50% of the tests assess reading informational text? I created high-Interest one-page informational texts that get students to practice ALL 10 READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARDS. Students keep reporting how much they LOVE the texts!!! TRY BOTH VOLUMES:

cover workbook informational texts and tasks volume 2

workbook cover informational texts and tasks volume 1

Sample what a character Sadako character traits and evidence chart

4. Character Attribute Web

Fill out the LOOKS section with phrases — no need for complete sentences here! Consider: distinguishing features, clothing/style, stylish or plain, neatness level, how much he/she pays attention to appearance, whether or not he/she spends a lot of money on appearance, etc.
Fill out the ACTS section with phrases. Consider: behaviors often displayed, moodiness level that is shown, whether introverted or extroverted most of the time, flirtatious, shy, humorous, loving toward certain people, etc.
Fill out the FEELS section with phrases. Consider: happy, angry, sad, scared, joyful, optimistic, distressed, judgmental, easily upset, jealous, hopeful about something, etc.
Fill out the SAYS section with quotations (whole or parts) straight from the text: choose things the character says that truly represent how the character thinks, feels, and acts in general.
I have provided a sample of Anne Frank from The Diary of Anne Frank, which is not in the public domain, but is available in a free excerpt online which provides plenty to work with.
You can get the free template in my Analyzing Characterization Pack free!

Character Attribute Web: Anne Frank from The Diary of Anne Frank

example anne frank character attribute web

Share Buttons

Facebook

Twitter

5. 5-Senses Poem

Either student selects a character or teacher selects character for student. Student will write a five-line poem for each of the five senses as experienced by the character.Brainstorm individually or as a class to come up with ideas. For example, after reading The Diary of Anne Frank, 8th grade students in a class came up with these ideas:

- see: soldiers, cat, clocktower, children suffering, airplanes in sky, birds, smoke, Mummy
- hear: quarrels, bombs, gunshots, radio, screams, whispers, silence, quiet voices, burglars
- smell: strawberries, dust, rats, beans, gun-smoke, cigarette smoke
- touch: Peter’s hand, hair, cat, shoes, diary, pencil, window
- taste: strawberries, beans, vegetables, potatoes, coffee
In a related blog post, you can see more samples of the poem and the ideas for stationery you can use. Also, you can get the free template in both easy-print and distance learning digital format in my free Analyzing Characterization Pack.

6. Get Inside the Mind of a Character:

Student selects a literary character or teacher selects characters for students. By the way, I have a blog post all about this activity that shows several examples. But I will show you a couple here.
Students take about five minutes to brainstorm any ideas they have about what is likely going on inside their characters’ minds such as: recurring thoughts, fears, joyful thoughts, strong memories, recent feelings, recurring images, dreams, convictions they live by, things they say a lot, how their minds work, etc. Students can make lists or quickly jot down ideas on a scratch piece of paper.
Using the template of a head, which I provide in my free Analyzing Characterization Pack, students turn their ideas into images, quotations, and miscellaneous “thoughts” going on in their characters’ minds. The final product should be visually appealing and neat. In my example below, I focused on about 13 total “thoughts” going on in the mind of Anne Frank. I have also provided another example made by a seventh grade student of Pi Patel from The Life of Pi, which is a great book!

You know what else students LOVE? These high-interest informational texts and tasks. I went out of my way to make the articles super interesting to upper elementary and middle schoolers by writing about things that interest them. And, guess what? It worked. I keep hearing from teachers how kids get so into these passages. They actually want to answer the questions. They even want to discuss the articles as a group.

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

Free High School Practice Test

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

Try a Freebie!

ReBeckha L.

Sixth Grade Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers

Follow Me On Pinterest

How about save this pin to your “Reading Literature” or “Graphic Organizers” or “Characterization” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

pin analyzing characterization 6 ways with 6 graphic organizers

« Older Entries

Share Buttons

Facebook

Twitter

Black History in English Language Arts

Steve.fami.ly, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva Photostream via Flickr

Image Credit: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Share Buttons

Subscribe

We'd love it if you subscribe to our mailing list! You'll receive a FREE informational text once a month (your students will love)!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Subscribe

We'd love it if you subscribe to our mailing list! You'll receive a FREE informational text once a month (your students will love)!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

NOTE: By the way, my High-Interest Text Passages and Practice Tests Workbooks and my High-Interest Text Passages and ELA Tasks Workbooks contain these speeches and more in easy-print and digital 1-page formats that are MAJOR TIME SAVERS.

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

How about save this pin to your “Black History Month” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Related posts:

Fall in ELA: 20 Ideas for Reading & Writing in Autumn

Share Buttons

Subscribe

We'd love it if you subscribe to our mailing list! You'll receive a FREE informational text once a month (your students will love)!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Subscribe

We'd love it if you subscribe to our mailing list! You'll receive a FREE informational text once a month (your students will love)!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Image by myscrapnook.com

Image by Fun Classroom Creations

Image by digiwebstudio.com

Image by myscrapnook.com

Image by myscrapnook.com

Image by digiwebstudio.com

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

How about save this pin to your “Seasonal Resources” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Related posts:

“The Hill We Climb” Poem in English Language Arts

These are the inaugural poems Amanda Gorman says inspired her:

Link to multimedia version of Amanda Gorman Delivering Her Poem on Inauguration Day 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ055ilIiN4

Also Available as a FREE Printable. CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS NOW

I HOPE YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS ENJOY READING THIS POEM AND DOING SOME FUN ELA ACTIVITIES TO GO WITH IT. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT IDEAS YOU COME UP WITH FOR USING IT, SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS!

Share Buttons

Subscribe

We'd love it if you subscribe to our mailing list! You'll receive a FREE informational text once a month (your students will love)!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Subscribe

We'd love it if you subscribe to our mailing list! You'll receive a FREE informational text once a month (your students will love)!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

How about save this pin to your “Poetry” or “Literacy in Social Studies/History” Pinterest Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Related posts:

3 Funny Christmas Holiday Rhymes in ELA

Share Buttons

Subscribe

We'd love it if you subscribe to our mailing list! You'll receive a FREE informational text once a month (your students will love)!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Subscribe

We'd love it if you subscribe to our mailing list! You'll receive a FREE informational text once a month (your students will love)!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

How about save this pin to your “Holidays and Seasonal Resources in ELA” or “Christmas in ELA” or “Poetry” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Related posts:

Humongous List of 500 Character Trait Words

Share Buttons

Subscribe

We'd love it if you subscribe to our mailing list! You'll receive a FREE informational text once a month (your students will love)!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Subscribe

We'd love it if you subscribe to our mailing list! You'll receive a FREE informational text once a month (your students will love)!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

How about save this pin to your “Characterization” or “Writing” or “Literary Analysis” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Related posts:

Analyzing Characterization 6 Ways in 6 Stories With 6 Characters

1. What He Said (or She Said):

What He Said: Jay Berry from The Summer of the Monkeys

2. Prove It!

Prove It: Jo March from Little Women

What a Character!: Sadako from Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes