Curated OER
Strong Descriptive Writing: James and the Giant Peach
Support your writers! Clear procedures and appropriate support make this a superb resource for elementary writing instruction. Ready your class to compose original descriptive paragraphs inspired by the episode in Roald Dahl's James and...
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Borrowing Narrative Skills from Mr. Fletcher: Using a "Prompts in Reverse" Technique to Inspire Your Writers
Help your class find their writing voices with this lesson which uses the work of Ralph Fletcher to guide a "Prompt in Reverse" activity. Using the chapter "First Pen" from Fletcher's Marshfield Dreams, learners decipher what they...
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Vivid Verbs
Students explore parts of speech by collaborating in groups. In this verbs lesson, students examine several boring sentences with their class and define verbs which can spice the sentence up. Students collaborate in pairs to enhance...
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Introduction to the Nature Journal
Students create nature journals. In this introduction to the nature journal instructional activity, students discover the uses of nature journals and begin their own. Students are challenged to use vivid, concise terms in their...
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Johnny Appleseed Reading and Writing
First graders explore language arts by reading a classic story in class. In this word choice lesson, 1st graders read the story of Johnny Appleseed and identify the descriptive words and sentences the author used to entice the reader....
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Irish Eyes: Taking a Look at Local Landscape
Direct your class’s attention to the elements that make their community unique. After examining sample travel brochures, groups select something from their community to use as the subject, and then research, create, and publish a...
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Humourous Head Planter Spike: Ceramics Lesson
What a great activity. Kids create humorous ceramic character (heads) spikes to enliven a planter. Modern art is full of expressive and exaggerated forms and your class gets to create them out of clay. This would be a lovely activity to...
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American Flag History
Young historians explore US culture by investigating the US flag. They will use their textbooks, prior knowledge, and sources provided by the teacher to research the history of the American flag. They will design and create a trading...
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Brainstorming Time
Learners brainstorm a list of possible topics for their essay. As a class, they review the characteristics of anecdotal writing and the form they take in newspapers or autobiographies. To end the activity, they decide on their topic...
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Who am I?
Students practice their writing skills by creating a character sketch of themselves. After viewing portraits, they select one personality trait and put their own picture into the painting of their choice. They include a conversation with...
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Nevada, A to Z
Fourth graders explore U.S. Geography by reading a timeline. In this Nevada history lesson, 4th graders identify the geographic location of Nevada and discuss the history. Students read the book S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet and...
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Jean Fritz's American History Series
Students explore children's literature by reading biographies in class. In this history analysis lesson, students read books written by Jean Fritz about the Revolutionary War and discuss the events that led up to the critical moment....
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Adjectives
Students add adjectives to a paragraph to make it more exciting and describing. In this adjectives lesson plan, students compare 2 paragraphs, one with adjectives and one without, and then add in their own to another paragraph.
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African Art is Alive: Drum, Dance, Storytelling....
Young scholars investigate and experience African culture through various art forms. Students explore the physical and political geographies of Africa through mapping activities. Young scholars, in groups, prepare presentations about...