Classroom Lessons and Activities
Review Puzzles and Games
After completing this reading list either as a class or within the library setting, students can have fun AND review the heroines while completing these puzzles or games.
Word Find Crossword Puzzle
Word Find Crossword Puzzle
Novel Connections Lesson Plan
The Hunger Games trilogy, and some of the other books on this list, are set in a post apocalyptic world where the government exerts great control over its citizens. After teaching a unit on The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, a teacher can assign an additional novel that addresses these same themes and issues. In the lesson plan that you will find here, students are asked to display research, reading, and analysis skills to complete this individual task.
Lesson Plan Rubric
Lesson Plan Rubric
Independent Read Reduction
This assignment can be adapted to all high school levels. This assignment can be applied to any of the novels and movies on the "Heroines" list, and be a guided or independent assignment. If completing this for an independent reading assignment (a book that students are reading on their own), it is important to assign the students/allow them to choose novels that they can read successfully on their own. The "rule of thumb" for independent reads is that students choose books one to two grade levels or lexile levels below their guided reading level. For Advanced Placement students, the teacher many want to assign the "classics" of this genre. Students will need to have background knowledge in the Elements of Literature before completing this assignment.
Reduction Assignment
Reduction Assignment
Hero's Journey Dossier
When reading about and learning about hero's and heroine's there is a formula that students can look at that will fit the character make-up of all heroes and heroines. All of these characters will some how display the following tenets:
Have the students create a dossier of a character of his/ her choice, proving this character a hero because of her fulfillment of the first eight tenants.
Dossier Assignment Background Information on Hero's
- Unusual circumstances of birth; sometimes in danger or born into royalty
- Leaves family or land and lives with others
- An event, sometimes traumatic, leads to adventure or quest
- Hero has a special weapon only he can wield
- Hero always has supernatural help
- The Hero must prove himself many times while on adventure
- The Journey and the Unhealing Wound
- Hero experiences atonement with the father
- When the hero dies, he is rewarded spiritually
Have the students create a dossier of a character of his/ her choice, proving this character a hero because of her fulfillment of the first eight tenants.
Dossier Assignment Background Information on Hero's
Essay Topics
As with all literature, there are number of essays that can be assigned which focus on one of these characters at a time or many of them simultaneously. These can be written as single or multi-paragraph essays. The evidence, requirements and expectations can be tailored to any high school, or in some cases, middle school level. Here are some essay topics to choose from:
What symbol(s) represent the strength of your heroine?
How does your character fit the definition of a hero?
What are the lessons that a reader/viewer learns from a particular heroine?
Choose two heroines. Compare and contrast these two female characters.
What are the greatest weaknesses of one of the heroines?
What are the greatest strengths of one of the heroines?
How does your heroine utilize her strengths for the common good?
What symbol(s) represent the strength of your heroine?
How does your character fit the definition of a hero?
What are the lessons that a reader/viewer learns from a particular heroine?
Choose two heroines. Compare and contrast these two female characters.
What are the greatest weaknesses of one of the heroines?
What are the greatest strengths of one of the heroines?
How does your heroine utilize her strengths for the common good?
Literature Circles
Literature circles are a great way to tailor your classroom towards students likes as well as their differing reading levels. Choose all or some of the books on "Heroines in Fantasy Literature" list, and allow students to choose their top three choices. Place them in groups working to assign each student one of his/her top three picks. The resource below is thorough, providing an excellent road map for literature circles.
Lit Circles
Lit Circles
Creative Writing
Have your students author a new work all their own, or write fan fiction inspired by their favorite heroine. See resources for great fan fiction website and information
Ideas for New Stories
Create your own heroine and make her the center of a story
Think about the perfect mate for your favorite heroine and write a story about him/her
Create a new superpower, give it to someone and write a new story
Create your own fantastical world, populate it with new characters and write a story
Tell the other side of the story. Think about a new villian and write from his/her point of view
Ideas for New Stories
Create your own heroine and make her the center of a story
Think about the perfect mate for your favorite heroine and write a story about him/her
Create a new superpower, give it to someone and write a new story
Create your own fantastical world, populate it with new characters and write a story
Tell the other side of the story. Think about a new villian and write from his/her point of view
Programming
Host a Movie Night
Focusing on one heroine at a time, host a movie night at your library. Produce announcement in many different forms (email, website, paper, newsletter, etc.) to encourage students to attend. Create a fun atmosphere by holding a costume contest, providing food and drink that is inspired by the heroine, and play music that will get students into the spirit of the character (i.e. a movie soundtrack from the film version.
Host an Academy Awards Night
After the final movie night or one the night of the final movie, have students vote for their favorite heroine. You can do this via paper ballot, a blot, a poll on your website, survey monkey, etc. Roll out the red carpet for the award presentation and have students dress for a night at the Oscars.
Hold a Contest
Create a contest in which students can win prizes for reading/watching and blogging about these amazing heroines. Kick-off the contest with a breakfast for the participants, check in with them midway with another breakfast, and throw a final party where you hand out awards. Students will love to engage in discussion about their favorite and maybe no-so-favorite characters, books, movies, and games. Click below to see an example of contest similar to this on a different topic.
High School Reading Contest
High School Reading Contest
Host a Video Game Tournament
Many of these heroines have their own or appear in video games (Princess Leia, Hermione Granger, Lara Croft, Buffy Summers. Have a round robin or bracket style tournament competing as teams or individuals. Prizes can be heroine-inspired!
Resources
Online
Fan Fiction:
Fuel Your Writing
Harry Potter Fan Fiction: The Story Continues
The Girl on Fire.com: Hunger Games Fan Fiction
Mundie Source: The Official Cassandra Clare Fansite
How to Write Fan Fiction: 8 Steps (wikihow)
Literature and Writing:
Hero's Journey
Literary Devices
A+ Research and Writing
Literature Circles
Reviews:
Fantasy Literature Reviews
Articles:
"The Unreal Deal" by Anita Silvey
"Finding Her Place in Her World" (Masters' Thesis) by Meredith S. Sutphin
Teen Reading: 2007-2008 Trends and Resources by Elizabeth Kennedy
A Look at Heroines in Epic Fantasy by Will Kalif
Heroine Chic: Hermione Granger vs. Bella Swan
Fuel Your Writing
Harry Potter Fan Fiction: The Story Continues
The Girl on Fire.com: Hunger Games Fan Fiction
Mundie Source: The Official Cassandra Clare Fansite
How to Write Fan Fiction: 8 Steps (wikihow)
Literature and Writing:
Hero's Journey
Literary Devices
A+ Research and Writing
Literature Circles
Reviews:
Fantasy Literature Reviews
Articles:
"The Unreal Deal" by Anita Silvey
"Finding Her Place in Her World" (Masters' Thesis) by Meredith S. Sutphin
Teen Reading: 2007-2008 Trends and Resources by Elizabeth Kennedy
A Look at Heroines in Epic Fantasy by Will Kalif
Heroine Chic: Hermione Granger vs. Bella Swan