Curated OER
The Phoenicians
Introduce the ancient culture of the Phoenicians to your class. They'll find out that the Phoenicians were sailors, adopted hieroglyphics from Egypt, traded goods, and had colonies. Comprehension questions are included to build strong...
Curated OER
Let's Learn About Firefighters!
Students explore, analyze and study about fire fighters and fire safety. They listen to a book, list what they already know about firefighters and fire safety rules and compare/contrast types of firefighters. Each student then writes a...
Curated OER
Activity Plan 5-6: Let's Create Stories!
Young scholars examine wordless books and other pictures in order to learn how the teacher "reads a picture" to tell a story about it. In this early writing lesson, students then create their own picture for story telling by painting....
Starfall
Make a Word _et
In this Language Arts activity, students read and form four words ending in -et. Students also write a sentence using one of the words.
Curated OER
I'm Special Books
Students become aware of the concept that each of us is special. They develop an appreciation for the special things that each can do now, and begin to develop early literacy skills. Each student creates a book about themselves and...
Curated OER
Brown Paper Bag Family Memories
Students explore and study how families do a variety of activities together. They recall and describe a family memory, collect an object that represents a family memory as well as draw and write about a family memory. They become aware...
National Center for Families Learning
Ncfl: Wonderopolis: Who Invented Cuneiform?
Have you ever wondered about the ancient script called Cuneiform? Watch a short video, read grade-level text, and take an interactive quiz about this early form of writing.
University of Chicago
Museum Education: Kids' Corner
An interactive examination of artifacts from Mesopotamia. Find out about early writing, the code of Hammurabi, and cylinder seals.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Art History: Cuneiform and the Invention of Writing
Article discussing early forms of writing in the Ancient Near East. Includes links to additional information.
BBC
Bbc: Ancient History in Depth: Mesopotamia
A look at many aspects of the Mesopotamian culture. Click through the slide show to see the image and additional information and resources. A good overview of the contributions of an early civilization. Archived.
Other
Design a Study: How to Teach Handwriting
Very specific advice on teaching the skill of handwriting to young children. Making correct letters, making letters the same size, and the slant of the letters are all stressed.
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Looking at Writing: Second Grade
In this section, you'll find writing assessment resources, writing strategies, and additional tip sheets for teachers and parents on how to help second graders build strong writing skills. You'll also find videos on teaching writing....
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Looking at Writing: Kindergarten
In this section, you'll find writing assessment resources, writing strategies, and additional tip sheets for teachers and parents on how to help kindergarteners build strong writing skills. You'll also find video on teaching writing....
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Looking at Writing
An interactive tool to help teachers and parents learn more about writing. Here, writing samples from real kids provide examples and next-step guidance for students from pre-K to third grade.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Cuneiform
Cuneiform is one of the oldest forms of writing known. Read about the emergence of written language and what we can learn about the Ancient World by deciphering cuneiform.
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Looking at Writing: Pre K
In this section, you'll find writing assessment resources, writing strategies, and additional tip sheets for teachers and parents on how to help preschoolers build strong writing skills. You'll also find a video modeling classroom...
Other
Rubric: Six Trait Assessment for Beginning Writers
Teachers will find this rubric useful in the classroom as a means of assessing student writing skills. It has a printer friendly version.
Curated OER
Museum Education: Kids' Corner
An interactive examination of artifacts from Mesopotamia. Find out about early writing, the code of Hammurabi, and cylinder seals.