+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Book Discussions in a Reading Partnership

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Do you have a lot of different reading levels in your class? Pair kids up by level and have them choose a book to read independently. They will make predictions, ask questions, make connections, etc. Consider creating a general reading...
+
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Interpreting and Connecting Information: Creating a Cascading Consequence Chart Using Frightful’s Mountain

For Teachers 6th Standards
Decisions, decisions. Scholars take a close look at making decisions by discussing the character Sam in chapters one through eight of Frightful’s Mountain. Partners discuss whether Sam should interact with Frightful and then complete a...
+
Lesson Plan
Maryland Department of Education

A Raisin in the Sun and Dreams Deferred

For Teachers 10th Standards
To conclude a study of A Raisin in the Sun and to prepare for a visit to the Lewis Museum, class members analyze Langston Hughes' poem "Harlem." Learners then draw connections to characters in the play and to their own experiences by...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dragonwings: Explore Chapters 1-5

For Teachers 6th - 8th
If you are beginning Laurence Yep's Dragonwings, this will provide activities for the first five chapters. The objectives include making connections to oneself and the world, organizing information and events, vocabulary acquisition,...
+
Unit Plan
West Corporation

Making Inferences – Use Your Mind to Read!

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
How can you tell if someone is happy? The lesson works with elementary and middle school scholars to activate their schema and pay attention to details to make inferences in their daily lives, poetry, and other literature. Cleverly...
+
Assessment
New York State Education Department

Comprehensive English Examination: June 2015

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Heroes rise from adversity. That theme forms the focus of the critical lens essay in a sample comprehensive English examination. The exam, which is part of a larger series of sample standardized tests, also includes two short response...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Night Shift Daddy (Spinelli)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Do any of your budding readers have parents who work the night shift? Eileen Spinelli's book Night Shift Daddy, which can be found on YouTube if you don't have it, examines this family dynamic in a positive light and is an excellent...
+
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Readers Theater and the UDHR

For Teachers 5th Standards
Let's make connections! Using the resource, class members make connections between the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and their readers theater scripts. To finish, they complete a worksheet to evaluate the role of narration in...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Mama, Do You Love Me? (Joosse)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Barbara Joosse approaches an age-old question through an equally traditional culture in her story Mama, Do You Love Me?, which helps budding readers explore Native American vocabulary in context. Here you'll find instruction to teach the...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Ruby's Wish (Bridges)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Jump into traditional Chinese culture with budding readers as they examine vocabulary in context through Shirin Yim Bridge's book Ruby's Wish. This book is read on YouTube if you don't have it on hand. Scholars are briefly introduced to...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Smoky Night (Bunting)

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Experience the Los Angeles Riots through the eyes of a child in Even Bunting's poignant story Smoky Night. Use this text as you teach vocabulary in context, using comprehension questions to help scholars make connections to outside...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Clifford the Big Red Dog (Bridwell)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Clifford the Big Red Dog is here to introduce some new vocabulary terms in context to young readers. Although this activity is designed around Norman Bridwell's picture book, the strategies are applicable for any text. Introduce the new...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Arthur's Baby (Brown)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Many of your youngsters have experienced a new baby coming home, and Marc Brown's story Arthur's Baby is a relatable way to cover some new vocabulary terms. Introduce and define the new words before reading the text aloud: adorable,...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Fly Away Home (Bunting)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Approach a difficult subject with budding readers through Eve Bunting's story Fly Away Home, a child's perspective on homelessness. Focus on vocabulary in context, going over the terms learners will hear before reading aloud. There are...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Matthew's Dream (Lionni)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Explore vocabulary in context with emerging readers using Leo Lionni's whimsical story Matthew's Dream, which you can find on YouTube if you don't have it. Kids expand their word base as you pre-teach the terms (appear, bleak, embrace,...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Tar Beach (Ringgold)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Anyplace can become a beach! Budding readers explore Faith Ringgold's world of imagination in her book Tar Beach, which can be found on YouTube if you don't have it. What words will budding readers learn? They focus on the following...
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
Maryland Department of Education

The Concept of Diversity in World Literature Lesson 3: Igbo Culture

For Teachers 10th - 11th Standards
What cultural concepts must readers understand in order to connect to Things Fall Apart? As part of their study of Chinua Achebe’s novel, class members research Nigeria and the Igbo culture to create a collaborative, web-based, annotated...
+
Lesson Plan
Personal Genetics Education Project

Using Primary Sources to Examine the History of Eugenics

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Eugenics philosophy takes survival of the fittest to a whole new level. With a research-focused lesson, young scientists examine the history of the eugenics movement and its impact on society. Pupils engage with a video clip, primary...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: A Picture Book of Helen Keller (Adler)

For Teachers K - 3rd
The story of Helen Keller is a fascinating one for young scholars; use it to practice reading comprehension and new vocabulary as learners listen to you read David Adler's picture book (hint: this strategy can be applied to any book)....
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Arthur's New Puppy (Brown)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learn new words as you read Marc Brown's story, Arthur's New Puppy. This is focused as a vocabulary-in-context activity (though this strategy could be used with any book and set of words). Introduce the new words you will focus on:...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Fancy Nancy (O'Connor)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Get fancy with Jane O'Connor's story Fancy Nancy as scholars learn some elegant new words in context: accessories, chauffeur, plume, stupendous, and tiara. After introducing these new terms (do any scholars already know them?), encourage...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: For You are a Kenyan Child (Chunnane)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Discover that Kenyan children aren't much different from your young scholars as they read Kelly Cunnane's story For You are a Kenyan Child. This story is an excellent resource for vocabulary in context, and introduces new words...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse (Henkes)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Familiarize budding readers with new vocabulary in context as they listen you read Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, which can be found on YouTube if you don't have in on hand. Recommended focus words here are: considerate, creative,...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Miss Spider's Tea Party (Kirk)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learning new vocabulary words is best done in the context of an engaging story like David Kirk's Miss Spider's Tea Party. New readers (or almost-readers) focus on any of 12 new words: conceal, courtesy, demand, descend, dread, fragile,...