9th Grade ELA
Into the Spider-Verse Film Analysis: Visual Literacy & Foreshadowing (pt. 3)
Explore the visual storytelling and character dynamics in 'Into the Spider-Verse' through our detailed film analysis series
9th Grade ELA
Make it to Summer Break with the Into the Spiderverse ELA Survival Pack
I’ve taught both freshmen and seniors, and when May hits, their energy couldn’t be more different. Seniors? Erratic but energized. They're leaning into the unstructured chaos of their final filmmaking projects, juggling AP tests, spring sports, and soaking in every last moment of high school. Freshmen?
Analysis
Opening Sequence Film Analysis Practice Activity with It Follows
Conduct a shot by shot breakdown of the first 4 minutes of It Follows to explore suspense, POV, and more.
9th Grade ELA
Film Analysis Assignment Sheet & Rubric for Coraline
A Thematic + Visual Analysis Project for Middle & High School Students
Advanced English Class
Re-Integration & Reparation: Final Reflections on When the Emperor Was Divine
Final guided analysis for When the Emperor Was Divine. Reflect on Chapters 4 & 5, explore themes of reparation, identity, and the novel’s haunting ending.
Advanced English Class
Chapter 4: What Does It Mean to Be American? in When the Emperor Was Divine
Explore identity and assimilation in Chapter 4 of When the Emperor Was Divine with a freewrite and close reading activity on what it means to be “American.”
Us Opening Sequence Viewing Questions
Viewing Questions for the first 15 minutes of Us. Explore character, notice suspense creation, and practice with symbols and allusion.
Advanced English Class
Chapter 3: Memory, Identity & the Camp Experience in When the Emperor Was Divine
Close reading questions for Chapter 3 of When the Emperor Was Divine. Analyze memory, identity, and motif development through independent literary practice.
Advanced English Class
Divining Deeper Meaning: Themes & Motifs in Chapter 3 of When the Emperor Was Divine
Literary analysis toolkit for Chapter 3 of When the Emperor Was Divine: explore symbols, motifs, and themes through guided close reading and reflection.
When the Emperor Was Divine
Close Reading and Symbolism Practice for Chapter 1 of When the Emperor Was Divine
Lit & Lens Society practice for When the Emperor Was Divine Chapter 1: analyze character, mood, and symbolism through close reading and guided questions.
When the Emperor Was Divine
When the Emperor Was Divine Chapter 1 Close Reading Questions
Chapter 1 reading questions for When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka—perfect for IB English, literary analysis, and close reading.
Coraline
Basic Film Vocabulary: Distance, Angle, and Depth of Field
When I first started teaching Film Studies to high school seniors, I initially fretted over students taking the class because they didn't think it was "a real English class". (It was -- students received 4 credits, as they would any other gen-ed English class, and I