Freebie
Build a Strong Thesis Statement Worksheet (Print & Digital)
A free, classroom-ready worksheet that helps students build clear, specific, analytical thesis statements for any text. Includes a printable PDF and a Google Docs digital version.
Indigenous American
Wandering Stars — Prologue Mini Lesson Pack
Reading questions, answer key, and secondary source comparison chart as well as curated sources to research historical context.
Indigenous American
Wandering Stars — Prologue Reading Questions & Historical Context Activity
Reading questions and activity for learning more about the Sand Creek Massacre.
Indigenous American
Indigenous / Native American Experience KWL Chart – Printable & Editable
KWL Chart for units, lessons, and activities centering the Indigenous/Native American experience. Designed for the opening of Marrow Thieves or Reservation Dogs, but adaptable for any Indigenous Works
Indigenous American
Who Can Identify as Native American? – PBS Viewing Questions & Reflection Activity
Viewing questions for PBS Origins Video about who can identify as Native Americans. Help students process and discuss, develop cultural humility.
Edgar Allan Poe
How to Make Edgar Allan Poe Relevant: Scaffolded Creative Writing for Secondary ELA
I love Gothic literature. Something about it. The monsters as metaphor. The rich, dense language that forces me to slow down. The layers of figurative language that overlap imagery, weaving it into extended metaphor, accentuating with sound devices, and all of it coming together to suggest theme. What ELA teacher
Edgar Allan Poe
Poe Gothic Story Writing Workbook
Complete workbook that pairs figurative language and craft [of writing] analysis with parallel creative writing practices to guide students through creating their own gothic short stories. Rigorous and relatable.
Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie Socratic Seminar
Socratic Seminar Questions, Rubric, and Supplementary articles that pair with Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie & Frankenstein: Characterization Comparisons
Comparative Analysis of Victor, his father, and his mentor/teachers in Frankenweenie and Frankenstein. Scaffolded and ready to differentiate.
Coraline
Coraline, Eccentric Adults, and the Line Between Weird and Unsafe
Coraline shows kids learning bravery amid odd adults. Use these passages and guiding questions to explore safety, risk, and coming of age.
Coraline
Poe, Coraline, and Autumn Atmosphere
Close reading for figurative language, symbolism, foreshadowing, mood, and tone in chapter 1 of Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Free resource for Halloween high school ELA teaching.
Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie — Caricature & Body Representation Activities
Analyze Burton’s gothic style through caricature and body representation in Frankenweenie. Includes student chart, answer key, and creative extension.