I am not sure how people taught before the internet age. One great resource is Read Write Think. There mission is:

Here at ReadWriteThink, our mission is to provide educators, parents, and afterschool professionals with access to the highest quality practices in reading and language arts instruction by offering the very best in free materials.

And who doesn't like FREE and HIGH QUALITY?!

One unit that I liked in particular was on creating a poetry slam. It jives with my intent to bring students' lives in to the classroom in a meaning and authentic way. Another thing this unit has going is how it is foregrounded with ELL and bilingual children in mind. As always, adapt to suit your needs!


http://www.readwritethink.org/resources/resource-print.html?id=30525