Resources
Every resource has been carefully vetted; however, teachers are encouraged to review each one before introducing it to the classroom. Teachers should use their good judgement as to whether or not the resource aligns with the Adventist worldview and the expectations of the community.
English Resources
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“Sin and Judgment in Puritan America” is a comprehensive unit about sin and separation (from God and fellow man), law and justice, the good news of the gospel which offers forgiveness and salvation from guilt and broken relationships.
This unit has been planned for an eleventh grade American Literature class. The unit may run thirty-eight days — if the teacher chooses to utilize all activities.
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Poetry condenses the human experience into a few deep, meaningful words. Poetry and music are entwined. Many Biblical writers used this from of expression. Explore depths of feelings learning and studying poetry at its best.
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Writers of the Purple Sage is a literature unit with a creative writing component focusing on some of the writers of the American Southwest. Selections are drawn from Native American poetry as well as explorers and chroniclers of southwest exploration. On-location photographs and videos illustrate the unit and can serve as inspiration for some of the writing assignments. A sample interdisciplinary field trip to the Grand Canyon is included as well.
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She’s all the literary and popular rage these days. Walk into any Barnes and Noble, Borders, or public library and you’ll find tables full of Jane Austen and Austen-related works. There will also be Jane Austen notebooks, Jane Austen quote books, Jane Austen-inspired CDs, and even Jane Austen dolls and action figures. So why a unit on Jane Austen? Because she’s everywhere out there, and almost nowhere in the anthologies we teach high school English literature from. Because she has much to say that is relevant to teenagers and the life choices they must make today. Because it is a truth universally acknowledged that students in possession of a good education, must not be in want of Austen information.
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Have you ever struggled to explain The Writing Process to your students? Have you ever wished you had something more interesting and attention-getting than a textbook to present the steps for writing a good essay, but didn’t have the money to invest in colorful posters or costly videos? Have you ever said to yourself, if I just had time, I’d make my own presentation?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, then this multi-faceted unit is for you. Created by an English teacher in self-defense and for self-preservation, this series of power point presentations, with companion notes and assignments, tackles the nuts and bolts of The Writing Process in general as well as a number of specific types of essays. Teachers will find a systematic approach to the basic task of essay writing that inspires success in most students. Students will find an approachable and manageable process for writing almost any kind of writing assignment that will come their way in the future.
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This is a cross-curricular integrated unit designed to be taught to juniors at the beginning of the school year (primarily because of the major field trip that takes place 2/3 of the way through the unit). Covering a time span of about 100 years and encompassing the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War and the Great Disappointment, this unit brings together common elements from American history, American literature and Denominational history for a fast-paced and interesting 4-week unit. If you try this unit, the authors would love to hear from you about your experience.
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Hamlet is arguably William Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy, offering teachers the opportunity to teach lessons on relationships, leadership, respect among any number of others. The material in this unit, if used in its entirety, could take as long as 9 weeks, but is designed so one could pick and choose from the various activities to fit whatever time frame is desired. All activities are student-tested and have been developed through their input. Some examples of recent student work are included.
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This unit takes a look at some of the writing that has come from New England’s women writers. Two PowerPoint presentations give a detailed overview of more than a dozen of the key writers of the region, but the bulk of the unit focuses on four of the writers no longer—or only briefly—found in the anthologies plus one that has never been listed in the table of contents, but who is foundational to the Seventh-day Adventist church: Ellen White. The unit can be taught any way you wish—as a whole, or in parts inserted into the fabric of the anthology wherever they fit best. The main goal is to bring this literature back on the radar of our young people.
