Curated OER
Readings in Hudson River Natural History
Reading and understanding informational text is a key element to understanding every discipline. Elementary learners read three different articles focused on various animals and habitats in the Hudson River. They answer comprehension...
Media Smarts
Teaching TV: Enjoying Television
What makes a TV program enjoyable? As an introduction to media analysis, kids identify their favorite programs and the elements they find engaging.
Maryland Department of Education
Our Children Can Soar
Amazing efforts of African American leaders are celebrated in a lesson plan on civil participation. The engaging resource focuses on primary and secondary sources to analyze the impact of African American leaders such as Ella Fitzgerald....
Curated OER
To the North: A Black Family Leaves Arkansas to Find Work in Michigan
Upper elementary and middle school scholars study the economic factors that caused so many Arkansans to migrate to different parts of the country looking for work. Use this history lesson plan to help your charges gain a better...
Curated OER
Conservation in Small Places - Composting
A fabulous instructional activity introduces the art of composting to your gardeners. In it, youngsters learn about the composting process and how it actually works. They discuss the environmental benefits of composting, and use the...
Curated OER
Story Stew -- Teaching Character, Plot, And Setting
Students examine the story elements of characters, plot, and setting. They identify the story elements from various "ingredients" taken out of a pot, and add their own story element "ingredients" on index cards into the pot.
Curated OER
Letter from the Chateau
Students write a friendly letter based on their observations of a painting by Poussin.
Curated OER
Introduction to Tall Tales
Students watch a video about a tall tale and list ten elements of a tall tale that they noticed in the movie. They begin with a KWL chart, and complete it as the movie and discussion progresses.
Curated OER
Patterns and Literature
Young scholars create their own patterns. They discuss the reasons why Easter eggs are used in Easter celebrations. They also identify the elements of literature.
Curated OER
Cut Paper Masks
Students examine different types of masks from various cultures. Using the masks, they identify the use of design elements in them. They create their own paper mask using the elements and share them with the class. After viewing a...
Curated OER
Design and Texture
Students experience how texture is one of the six basic elements of design. It gives an image authenticity and 'flavor'. It invites the audience to enter a piece and encourages each viewer to experience rather than simply observe.
Curated OER
Where is Flat Stanley?
Students create a story map of the basic elements and significant events of the book Flat Stanley. Students brainstorm places they would like to visit if they had been flattened and then, write about an imagined experience. Students...
Curated OER
Enjoying Puerto Rican Artistts
Students examine artwork done by artists from Puerto Rico. As a class, they discuss each piece of work based on the elements used. They use the internet to research the lives of the artists and develop their own opinions on the art...
Curated OER
Author Study
Learners examine and identify the characteristics of the different genres of literature. After being read and reading various stories, they identify how different books by the same author carry the same story elements. They discuss how...
Curated OER
Looking at Illuminated Manuscripts: Exploring an Illuminated Manuscript Page
Learners compare a 13th-century illuminated manuscript page to other manuscript pages and modern printed books. They study the different elements of an illuminated manuscript page.
Curated OER
In Depth: Pearblossom Highway
Students analyze a photograph and a photo-collage showing the same highway. In this visual arts lesson, students write a descriptive paragraph about both images and identify one-point perspective in art. Students then draw a desert...
Curated OER
Speech Therapy Students Interact Between Schools
Students use technology to improve their communication skills and have the ability to interact with other speech students attending other elementary schools. Through riddles, games, and other activities, students attain their speech...
Curated OER
Writing a Children's Book -- Young Authors
Pupils practice their writing skills by creating a children's book. They integrate five elements of short stories into the narrative. They share their stories with their book buddies.
Curated OER
And Then What Happened?
Students analyze paintings by using verbs, adjectives, and nouns. In this visual arts lesson, students view a painting of a storm and a calm sky. Students use various verbs and adjectives to discuss the characteristics of each painting....
Curated OER
Story Wheels
Students use a Story Wheel to summarize a novel, practice sequencing skills, visualize story elements and recognize story structure. In groups, they each complete a piece of the story wheel and put it all together. They complete the...
Curated OER
Writing Your Heroic Quest
Students assess the patterns repeated throughout stories, focusing in on heroism. They recognize that each experience is a journey. They write and understand one's own story applying Joseph Campbell's heroic quest elements.
Curated OER
Integrating Japanese Folk Tales into the Classroom Using Japanese Kamishibai
Students study Japanese folk tales focusing on the traditional values and key elements. They compare the Japanese values with their own. They discuss Japanese art before designing a set of kamishibai on which they write a summary of a...
Curated OER
Reading to Learn
Students complete story maps in this lesson plan. Students read "The Magic School Bus", and get into groups to choose their story element. Each group shares their information with the class. They then complete a story map for a book...
Curated OER
About Life: The Photographs of Dorthea Lange - Images of Children in Dorothea Lange's Photographs
Students examine how visual artists tell stories with their work. In this visual art instructional activity, students study two of Dorothea Lange's photographs to find elements of art and narrative content, use descriptive language when...