Curated OER
Saving An Endangered Species
Second graders work in groups in order to look at specific internet sites for animal adoption and sponsorship. They select an endangered species, determine needed funds, develop, advertise, and carry out a fund-raising plan.
Curated OER
Going to Extremes
Students recognize that our ability to explore the extremes of the ocean is directly related to the technology of remote sensing. Students will recognize the deep submergence vehicle, Alvin, and the advanced sensors on board as tools for...
Curated OER
Author, Author!
Third graders, in groups, select and research a favorite studenT author or illustrator. They answer questions about the author, conduct research and prepare a PowerPoint presentation with their findings.
Curated OER
Dr. Teeth and Dr. Gums To The Rescue
Second graders role play as dentists researching teeth and their care. They create a slide show showing how a character, Bear, can take care of this teeth explaining habitats, diets and teeth.
Curated OER
Japanese Peasants
High schoolers examine how the Japanese peasant was depicted in art in this high school lesson plan about Asian cultures. Emphasis is placed on individual observations and written reflections.
Curated OER
Bats Online!
Second graders read books and other resources to learn about bats. In this bats lesson plan, 2nd graders read books and research the internet about bats. Once students learn about bats, they will take an online bat quiz.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Poetry Writing With Karla Kuskin
With the aid of Karla Kuskin, this site from Scholastic explores the world of poetry. Here you can find tips for poetry writing, ideas for revising, and even a place to post your completed poem online! A fully developed teacher's guide...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: A Poem for Two Voices [Pdf]
In this lesson students write in contrasting voices to create a descriptive poem.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Prose Poetry Paragraphs
Inspired by the vignettes of Sandra Cisneros, students will write about a familiar thing from their lives. Students will use the style of prose poetry to describe something familiar around their home, school or neighborhood. The final...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Found Poems/parallel Poems
Students compose found and parallel poems based on a descriptive passage they have chosen from a piece of literature they are reading.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: The Legend Lives On
In this lesson, students will Use "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", sung by Gordon Lightfoot as a model. They will write poems that tell a detailed story of a historical event. The poem will be brought to life using a combination of...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Color Personification Poems
For this lesson, Hailstones and Halibut Bones, a book written by Mary O'Neill and Red Sings, and From Treetops: a Year in Colors, a book by Joyce Sidman, are used as mentor texts. Young scholars will brainstorm to collect different...
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Descriptive Writing
This is a comprehensive article about what descriptive writing including what it is, why to teach it and strategies to teach it. It also features two videos Five Senses Graphic Organizer and Writing Poems as well as an annotated list of...
Daily Teaching Tools
Daily Teaching Tools: Free Graphic Organizers for Planning and Writing
This Daily Teaching Tools resource provides graphic organizers that students can use to plan their written pieces. Graphic organizers for all modes of writing are provided.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Using Web Based Bookmarks to Conduct Internet Research
The important thing about this lesson plan is that it connects literature and science. The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown provides a model for original student poems about a content area topic. Web-based bookmarks guide students...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: The Backwards Writing Assignment
In this lesson students will create a backwards poem based on descriptive settings and characters.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Tail Acrostic Poems
In this lesson, Spring: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur Mentor, Silver Seeds by Paul Paolilli, and Henry & The Kite Dragon by Bruce Edward Hall are used as mentor texts. Students will practice their acrostic skills on the tail...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Playing With Prepositions Through Poetry
Students play with and explore prepositions during a whole group reading of Ruth Heller's Behind the Mask, and then by composing and publishing prepositional poems based on the book's style.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: So Much Depends Upon
In this lesson students will write a descriptive short story based upon 16-word imagery poems they have previously written.
Can Teach
Can Teach: How to Write an "I Am" Poem
This is a template for "I Am" poetry. Young scholars will focus on their own characteristics as they create an autobiographical poem.
Can Teach
Can Teach: How to Write a Diamond Poem
This is a good poem format to help teach adjectives, verbs, and nouns. Lesson plan indicated for 2nd grade and above.
Can Teach
Can Teach: How to Write a Name Poem
This site describes how a Name Poem is a good way to teach children to focus the influence that people (friends and family) around them have. Lesson plan indicated for 3rd grade and above.
Can Teach
Can Teach: How to Write a Cinquain
At the most basic level a cinquain is a five line poem or stanza. Here are two variations. Lesson plan indicated for 1st grade and above.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Seasonal Haiku
This site is a three-part lesson that teaches students how to write and depict seasonal imagery through haiku. Students study, listen to, and create original haiku on colored backgrounds.