Core Knowledge Foundation
Christopher Columbus
Take some time to focus on Christopher Columbus, his three ships, the purpose of his voyage, and the new land he discovered. Pay special attention to the included additional materials, they are the real value in this resource.
Floyd County Schools
Who Is Hibernating?
Young scientists explore the wintertime behavior of common animals with this presentation on hibernation. Offering clear explanations about the who, what, where, when, and why regarding hibernation, this resource is perfect for primary...
Polk Bros Foundation
Show, Then Write What You Learn
After reading a text or covering a new topic, have class members fill out the four boxes on this page with facts. Individuals can use words or drawings to represent the facts.
California Academy of Science
Guess That Spice
From medical treatments to cooking, people have been using herbs and spices for thousands of years. Perform a blind smell test of household herbs and spices to engage students in learning about ancient spice trading. Research the history...
Growing Minds
Growing Minds: Cucumber Exploration
After reading a picture book about planting and harvesting cucumbers, learners get a chance to examine some cucumbers of their own. First, they see photographs of a cucumber on a vine, and learn that it is part of the gourd family. They...
Curated OER
Using a Title to Determine Main Idea (Nonfiction)
Young readers explore a nonfiction text for its main idea. They will listen to the book Animal Sight by Kirsten Hall, and then observe as the teacher models a main idea think-aloud. Later, for independent practice, they listen to the...
Curated OER
Lesson 1: Identifying Information in Nonfiction
If you are in need of a instructional activity on identifying information in a non-fiction text, look no further. The class learns how to use a KWL chart to identify explicit information in the book, Frogs by Gail Gibbons. They fill out...
Curated OER
Lesson 2: Chronological Order
Examining life events is a great way to learn about chronological order. Sequencing and time order are analyzed after reading a book about Rosa Parks. With a chart, the class works together to put the events from Mrs. Parks' life in the...
Curated OER
Significant Contribution
Examine the lives of people who have made a significant contribution to society. The concept of biography is discussed with the class; they identify important actions, and read passages about Sacagawea and Benjamin Franklin. They write...
Scholastic
Thanksgiving Lessons Grades PreK-2
A quintessential resource for teaching an elementary unit on the first Thanksgiving addresses a variety of skills, including informational reading, critical thinking, comparing and contrasting facts, technology tools, and historical...
Curated OER
This Little Pig
First graders study basic information about swine. They write and identify vocabulary words relating to the subject. They write a recipe for "Pigs in a Blanket," using canned crescent rolls and small sausages. They trade recipes and...
Curated OER
Garden Grid
Basically, your class reads about different garden plants from an included handout and seed packets that you provide, and then uses a grid to plan out where to place the plants. They can practice counting with the seeds, grouping,...
Curated OER
Form an Opinion Based on Facts
Explore fact and opinion through higher level thinking and literacy. Kids listen to the beginning of A Picture Book of Helen Keller by David A. Adler and identify facts in the text. They follow along as the teacher models how to form an...
Curated OER
Headings
First graders discover how heading help us make predictions. The class discusses how informational text typically has heading that can aid them in determining what a chapter will be about. They read the heading and make predictions for...
Curated OER
Agriculture in Motion
Youngsters learn about simple machines that could be used on a farm. They learn about agricluture, listen to a farmer speak, compare and contrast different farm machines, and then design their own. Note that although the publisher...
Curated OER
Look, Think, and Read- Sentences Describing Pictures- Dogs
Little ones will look, think, then read to determine what the simple sentences are saying. There are three images of dogs doing different things, learners will look at each image then read each of the three simple sentences located next...
Curated OER
Bread in a Bag
This lesson focuses on making bread, but also spends some time on the origins of wheat. In order to make the bread, each class member receives a kit full of the materials they will need. Included here is a detailed list of instructions...
Curated OER
Mighty Earth Movers
Note that although the publisher lists almost all of the Common Core standards for both math and language arts, you will most likely want to take the general topic and choose which area to focus on. Regarding math, pupils measure worms...
McGraw Hill
Mc Graw Hill Education: Grade 1: Treasures: Practice Book O [Pdf]
Help Grade 1s reinforce their understanding of the reading skills, vocabulary acquisition, phonemic awareness, and sight words with the exercises in this 275-page workbook. This workbook is designed to supplement the stories from Grade 1...
TES Global
Tes: Emotions
[Free Registration/Login Required] This PowerPoint presentation contains art pieces that deal with different emotions. Students will analyze the art pieces and the associated emotions.
Read Works
Read Works: Passages:
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read a fiction text about a little girl named Jen who got a surprise message from her grandma and answer questions about comprehension, main idea, and inferences. Links to a paired text and...
Cengage Learning
National Geographic: Informational Text and Young Children [Pdf]
Research-based informative article on when, why and how to introduce and teach reading skills with informational texts to early-elementary students beginning as early as kindergarten.
Read Works
Read Works: Lesson 2: Using Pictures to Support the Main Idea
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students will peruse the pictures of an informational text to predict the topic of the book.
Other
Corwin Press: Chapter 7: Informational Text Lessons in First Grade
This chapter provides guided informational text lessons for first graders. Differentiation and management tips are provided, along with steps to use while implementing these lessons.