Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Exploring Environments
Different animals live in distinct and specialized environments. Learners will discuss organisms and environments, and then create some using their dramatic art skills. They all act like animals in a marine environment. When they are...
Curated OER
A Colony is Born : Lesson 5 - Dear Mem
Discover colonies! Young historians will listen to a primary source journal entry read aloud with a backdrop of wave sounds. They discuss the entry, add historical facts to a chart and personal insights to another. Then they listen to...
Curated OER
Sincerely Yours
Learners write a friendly letter. They write a friendly letter to author, Cynthia Rylant, after reading a number of her books, and watch a presentation by the teacher that describes how to write the letter. They word process their...
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Pudd'nhead Wilson: K-W-H-L
Prejudice is the theme of this Pudd'nhead Wilson KWHL chart. Learners fill out their charts, discuss how to find the answers to their questions, and spend some time researching a topic they want to know more about.
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Elders' Stories
Very young learners study the ways that oral traditions play such a huge part in the culture of Native Americans. They see how Elders pass along stories to the younger generations. If possible, a tribal Elder comes into the class to...
Baylor College
Microbes and Disease
Discuss how diseases have impacted human history. Divide your class into groups and assign each group one of the following: tuberculosis, malaria, plague, cholera, smallpox, and AIDS. They read up on, complete a concept map, and present...
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"The Popcorn Book" by Tomie dePaola
Students read "The Popcorn Book" by Tomie dePaola and complete a variety of comprehension exercises. They discuss the text, identify facts presented in the book and the evidence supporting those facts and fill in the blanks of a worksheet.
Curated OER
Mercer Mayer 1: Guided Reading and Using Concept Maps
Students observe a model classroom of children working in a cooperative group activity. After the video, students discuss how cooperative group learning is used to be most effective. They explore the effectiveness of giving well thought...
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Authoring Stories for Guided Reading
Students in a teacher education program write their own children's book. Using books already written, they review age appropriate for their grade level placement. They write their own story and illustrate it using various software...
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Studying Pillow The Book
Learners investigate the content of The Pillow Book. They conduct research and complete journals about the readings. There are target questions to guide the writing and reflection process.
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Active Reading: Finding a Conversation Voice
Young scholars practice reading for comprehension and understanding. In groups, students read, out loud, using a conversation voice. They predict and discuss the story as it unfolds.
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Pop Pop And Grandpa
Students develop various skills needed to perform the best examples of reading comprehension for the purpose increasing literacy. They make cognitive connections to the sequence of events in the story and make comparisons as events occur.
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A Tour of Rome Fit for an Emperor
Students travel to Rome. In this geography skills lesson, students explore famous places in Rome with Google Earth tools. Students research the city of Rome and create touring brochures of the city from the perspectives of past emperors...
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The Power of Autobiographical Writing
Students explore the concept of injustice. In this nonviolent resistance lesson, students discuss how autobiographical writing may be used to promote justice. Students read an excerpt from Gandhi's autobiography and determine how his...
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"Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
Students complete a variety of activities that revolve around the book "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen. They view and discuss stills from the move "Hoot" and compose original storylines, conduct Internet research about the life of Carl Hiaasen,...
Curated OER
Holes
Students read and analyze the story elements of the novel "Holes" by Louis Sachar. They play a "Holes" matching game, complete a timeline of story events, complete a Cause-and-Effect graphic organizer, conduct research on Louis Sachar's...
Curated OER
Larger-Than-Life Lara
Students explore child psychology by reading a children's book in class. In this bullying instructional activity, students read the book Larger Than Life Lara and discuss the characters and how they treat each other. Students answer...
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Book Swap
Learners explore the publishing roles of author and illustrator. Stories are written and the illustration done by other students. Answers to several questions act as a motivating force for the creation of the stories.
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Animal Farm
Students read Animal Farm and examine how power corrupts. They role-play situations involving power and control. They investigate corruption and abuse of power in society. They write propaganda articles and hold panel discusssionsabout...
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Journey to Topaz, a Literature Based Approach
Students view a video clip of the experiences of Japanese-Americans during World War II. They read parts of a book in which a child tells her story about living in the internment camps. They participate in a simulation activity as well.
Curated OER
Unanswered Questions in Number the Stars
Students read a book, "Number by the Stars." Students explore the internet and search engines. Through guided internet research, students find answers to questions posed in the book. Students share their internet experiences and discuss...
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Follow the Drinking Gourd
Students create an art project based on "Follow the Drinking Gourd," a song used to guide slaves to freedom during the Civil War. They read a picture book to learn the story of how Harriet Tubman and Peg Leg Joe led slaves to freedom.
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Caterpillar to Butterfly
Students draw the life cycle of a butterfly. In this life cycle lesson plan, students read about and discuss the life cycle and then draw what they have learned.
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The World's Simplest Cartesian Diver
Have your class learn about buoyancy using this simple lesson. First, they bring in condiment packets and see what happens when they place it in a glass of water. Then, they use one of the packets to illustrate the concept of a Cartesian...