Teacher Created Resources
With the growing competition for student attention, the English teacher’s job gets tougher each year—video games, YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram are all distractions. Yet the basic skills of reading and writing lay the foundation for learning all other professions and English teachers are counted on to teach these basics no matter the challenge.
Teacher created resources are essential to the teacher toolbox for English language arts, as only experienced teachers know how to achieve the required skills in their students.
Science fiction and fantasy are high-interest learning resources, making it easier to gain student participation in getting through the lessons—learning language arts through literature. We have been working with experienced educators to create teacher resources that not only improve student vocabulary and comprehension skills but will also help foster a lifelong love of reading.
Short Stories for High School
Writers of the Future is a writing contest started by New York Times bestselling author L. Ron Hubbard to help new authors and artists. As he stated in the introduction of L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 1:
“In these modern times, there are many communication lines for works of art. Because a few works of art can be shown so easily to so many, there may even be fewer artists. The competition is very keen and even dagger-sharp.
“It is with this in mind that I initiated a means for new and budding writers to have a chance for their creative efforts to be seen and acknowledged.”
—L. Ron Hubbard
Each year, the winning stories are published in an anthology along with writing advice from the blue-ribbon panel of professional authors who select the short stories.
Grade Level: 8 • Lexile 840 • GRL Z+
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 35 lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Discussion prompts
- Topical issues: bullying, teens with disabilities, and hard decisions
- Genre: science fiction and fantasy
This teacher resource was created by Nancy Gurliaccio, who has been an English teacher for over 15 years.
Story description: The 35th collection of winners of the Writers and Illustrators of the Future competition features expertly crafted short stories and art, spanning the gamut from hardcore sci-fi to epic fantasy. Stories so fresh and new, they‘re 5-10 years ahead of the curve—the future is literally here and now.
Posters and bookmarks available from [email protected]
Download the lesson plan here
Avaiable in trade paperback here
Science Fiction in Language Arts
Dr. David Powers, educator and best-selling author, did a study of the science fiction classic Battlefield Earth as an educational resource for science fiction in language arts, “Battlefield Earth has earned its place as a potential required reading book for many reasons. Science fiction is well-represented in the genres chosen because both readers and educators enjoy the lessons that can be taught from it.”
Educator Fred R. Eichelman, EdD created a compressive lesson plan outline for the novel stating, “The novel Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 by L. Ron Hubbard is one book that will meet the requirements for what could be considered a complete learning experience for the student and a complete teaching experience for the teacher.”
Grade Level: 7 • Lexile 780 • AR 5.8 / 62 points • AR Quiz • GRL Z+
Battlefield Earth lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Discussion prompts
- Topical issues: perceptions, government foundation, economics, the value of learning, and overcoming adversity
- Genre: science fiction
Additional resources available:
- Book trailer available here
- Character booklet available here
- Character posters and bookmarks available from [email protected]
“A key plot point hinges on when—or whether—Johnny will be able to figure out how to build a particular circuit. As much as my boys enjoy tinkering with circuits, there’s just something so much more exciting about a hero in a book using it to save the day (and especially when he’s using it in a way that we can relate to in our current culture of technology). Want to get your kids excited about STEM? Battlefield Earth would give you the talking points to bring up with your kids … but you won’t need to. They’ll already be talking about it.” —Sandra Girouard, homeschool teacher
Download the lesson plan here
Available in trade paperback and audiobook here
Short Stories for Middle School
Realistic fiction short stories make another great addition to the teacher toolbox for English language arts (ELA). These teacher-created resources include the lesson plan and vocabulary words for select short stories for middle school (ELA standards included). The topics include drug abuse, identity issues, courage, and integrity in addition to improving vocabulary and reading skills.
There is an unabridged audiobook available that can be used as a learning aid for each title. They are full cast productions with sound effects—bringing the story to life—perfect for engaging reluctant readers.
New York Times bestselling author L. Ron Hubbard studied 21 races and cultures and traveled the world. This raw material was used to create the realistic characters and settings of the Stories from the Golden Age, a series of 80 realistic fiction books that span all genres.
These lesson plans teach language arts through literature. They were created and tested by Nancy Gurliaccio (who has been teaching English for 15 years).
Grade Level: 9 • Lexile 950 • AR 6 • AR Quiz • GRL Z+
The Crossroads lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Topical issues: The Depression, barter system, and economy
- Genre: science fiction (satire)
Story description: A disgruntled farmer on his way into town to sell his vegetables, comes to a crossroads—a break in the space/time continuum. Through unusual barters with aliens, rebels, and soldiers, he creates havoc in different worlds.
Download the lesson plan here
Available in trade paperback and audiobook here
Article about The Crossroads and the role of political satire.
Grade Level: 6 • Lexile 790 • AR 5.6 • AR Quiz • SRC 3 • GRL Z
The Carnival of Death lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Topical issues: drug abuse is dangerous, carnival, courage, heroism, appearances are deceptive, and detective
- Genre: mystery
Story description: Detective Clark, working deep undercover to break up a carnival drug ring, stumbles into a bizarre series of decapitations, putting his own head at risk.
Download the lesson plan here
Available in trade paperback and audiobook here
Grade Level: 6 • Lexile 690 • AR 5.3 • AR Quiz • GRL Z
Dead Men Kill lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Topical issues: zombies, detective, courage, appearances are deceptive, and teamwork
- Genre: mystery
Story description: Detective Lane has seen the darkest side of human behavior but he’s never seen a murder spree like this: the killers have emerged from six feet under—zombies. Following a trail of drugs, blackmail, and twisted clues he will have to think outside the box … or end up inside one—buried alive.
Download the lesson plan here
Available in trade paperback and audiobook here
Grade Level: 6 • Lexile 900 • AR 6.4 • AR Quiz • SRC 6.2 • GRL Z
If I Were You lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Topical issues: bullying, pretending to be someone you are not, the idea of identity, morality, and integrity
- Genre: fantasy
Story description: A circus midget with giant dreams about becoming the ringmaster turns to ancient black magic to switch identities. Things go spiraling out of control in the big top when Little Tom finds himself face to face with the big cats.
Download the lesson plan here
Available in trade paperback and audiobook here
Grade Level: 7 • Lexile 750 • GRL Z+
The Toughest Ranger lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Topical issues: bullying, Arizona Rangers, courage, morality, pretending to be someone you are not, the idea of identity, and the American frontier
- Genre: western
Story description: Petey McGuire has been kicked around and bullied for so long, he’d run from his own shadow. But something on the American frontier is about to turn him into The Toughest Ranger—hunger.
Download the lesson plan here
Available in trade paperback and audiobook here
Grade Level: 8 • Lexile 830 • GRL Z+
Tomb of the Ten Thousand Dead lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Topical issues: betrayal, Indiana Jones archeological adventure, Alexander the Great, treasure, courage, integrity, and greed
- Genre: historical fiction
Story description: A search for the lost treasure of Alexander the Great in an ancient tomb leads to greed, betrayal, murder, and the obliteration of an entire expedition—the pilot being the only one to escape alive and able to tell the story.
Download the lesson plan here
Available in trade paperback and audiobook here
Grade Level: 7 • Lexile 900 • GRL Z+
The Iron Duke lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Topical issues: politics, ethics, honor, ambition, beauty, love, loyalty, liberty, responsibility, and the idea of identity
- Genre: action and adventure
Story description: Blacky Lee’s successful impersonation of the Archduke of Aldoria, traps him in a dangerous political situation with personal consequences he had not bargained for.
Download the lesson plan here
Available in trade paperback and audiobook here
Grade Level: 7 • Lexile 740 • GRL Z
Six-Gun Caballero lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Topical issues: law and justice, survival, prejudice, overcoming adversity, ethics, honor, and the Gadsden Purchase
- Genre: western
Story description: With Gadsden Purchase just completed, a prejudiced band of renegades attempts to steal this newly acquired territory for themselves. Mexican landowner (now in the U.S.) Michael Obañon is crafty, extremely confident, and very cool under fire—all the traits needed to give this band of renegades a strong dose of law and justice.
Download the lesson plan here
Available in trade paperback and audiobook here
Grade Level: 7 • Lexile 710 • GRL Z+
Spy Killer lesson plan includes:
- Vocabulary words
- Lesson plan outline
- Comprehension
- Topical issues: survival, courage, honor, betrayal, love, cruelty, overcoming adversity, and murder mystery
- Genre: historical fiction
Story description: Framed for murder, American sailor Kurt Reid escapes the ship to the exotic and mysterious city of Shanghai just before the Second Sino (Chinese)-Japanese War of the 1930s—only to get caught in a deadly web of blackmail, intrigue, and betrayal.
Download the lesson plan here
Available in trade paperback and audiobook here
Learning Resources Three Year Study
A three-year study was conducted with 600 students using the Stories from the Golden Age books and audiobooks at middle, junior high, and high school levels. Results show a positive improvement in the student’s interest in reading.
“And the great thing about the books that L. Ron Hubbard wrote is that they talk about values and doing the right thing. In today’s society, you’re not quite sure what a kid is going to pick up and read. If they pick up one of these books, you know that it’s going to be wholesome and it’s going to have the right kind of ending that you want it to have. And I think that’s really, really important.
“L. Ron Hubbard was a great writer. There’s no doubt about that.” —Lt. Gen. Pete Osman, USMC (Ret.), CEO Toys for Tots Literacy Program
We will continue to work with educators to bring you teacher created resources that are not only effective in achieving the required English language arts standards but fun for both teachers and their students.
In the meantime, we hope you have success using the above resources. Feel free to contact us with your feedback and recommendations. For updates, new resources, and cool offers click here.
Other articles and resources you may be interested in:
Book clubs: book suggestions and discussion questions
How the Legacy of the Arizona Rangers Lives On
How to Find The Best Audiobooks to Listen to
L. Ron Hubbard A Biographical Chronology
L. Ron Hubbard Explorer of Far-Flung Realms
L. Ron Hubbard Living the Stories
Tiffany Whitehead https://www.flickr.com/photos/49483751@N02/
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