This bundled close reading resource promotes thoughtful, critical analysis of several classic Grimms’ fairy tales, helping students focus on significant details to develop improved reading proficiency and contribute more meaningfully to class discussion. Each close reading assessment includes an answer key with detailed explanations for correct options. You will receive two versions of each individual item: a Word Document version and a PDF version. These resources may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. Make reading more purposeful with these close reading activities to support students in their efforts to demonstrate the following: An ability to define complex vocabulary in context An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character relationships An ability to analyze the text for literary devices such as foreshadowing, situational irony, dramatic irony, theme, symbolism, dynamic character, and more An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim An ability to analyze context clues to discern and articulate the significance of a given detail An ability to articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly An ability to write with clarity and precision

Gothic fiction, fantasy, and horror are genres that appeal to many high school readers, and H.P. Lovecraft checks all the boxes. Promote active literary engagement with this bundle of reading comprehension quizzes and close reading analysis activities covering a variety of Lovecraft’s short stories: “The Outsider,” “The Beast in the Cave,” “The Tomb,” “The Cats of Ulthar,” “The Hound,” and “The Moon Bog.” Answer keys and copies of public domain narratives are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of activities for teaching “The Tomb” by H.P. Lovecraft, a short story with elements of Gothic fantasy that evokes the works of Edgar Allan Poe. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Determine the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Discern the functions of given excerpts Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Draw parallels between the narrator and the mythical figure Theseus Consider the role of an unreliable narrator in the context of the plot Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, symbolism, situational irony, and onomatopoeia Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Old Rinkrank.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the short story, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Evaluate the protagonist’s positive attributes and how they benefit her as the plot develops Compare and contrast two characters (Old Rinkrank and the king) Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on situational irony Consider themes in context Defend claims and ideas with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary material

Help high school students navigate William Shakespeare’s language with these vocabulary games and activities to facilitate comprehension of Macbeth. Alternatively, stash these materials in an emergency sub folder to keep students meaningfully engaged in the book during unexpected teacher absences. Included are 5 vocabulary application activities, 5 crossword puzzles, 5 word search games, and answer keys. Materials delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. A total of 121 words are addressed: abide, abjure, affliction, anon, appease, arbitrate, avaricious, avaunt, avouch, aweary, bait, bane, barren, beldam, benison, bent, bestow, blaspheme, boast, bodement, bough, brainsickly, broil, buffet, chastise, cherubin, clamor, commend, compunctious, concord, consort, deftly, desolate, dispatch, doff, dun, entreat, ere, fain, false, fantastical, firstling, fitful, foison, fry, gild, glare, gout, groom, harbinger, haste, hew, hie, holily, homely, hurly-burly, husbandry, implore, impress, incarnadine, industrious, infirm, intrenchant, kern, largess, liege, lily-livered, loon, malice, marrowless, metaphysical, mettle, mortal, mortified, multitudinous, muse, naught, obscure, pain, palpable, parricide, perchance, perilous, pernicious, pine, pious, posset, prithee, prowess, purgative, quarrel, quoth, rabble, rapt, raze, rebuke, reign, relish, repose, rue, saucy, scarcely, shadow, sirrah, sleight, spongy, stanchless, stealthy, stern, suborn, summon, swift, tarry, thither, thriftless, timely, toil, treachery, unrough, verity, and woeful. By engaging with these activities, students will: Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences