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Summarizing
Third graders examine how to summarize the most important details in a reading passage in order to increase their comprehension. They design a story web using the summarization skills. Before class, they complete a reading assignment...
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Cryptid Zoo
Learners explore cryptids. For this story writing and technology lesson, students define "cryptid," write a short script, and draw an illustration for an imaginary animal character. Learners read their script aloud into a microphone and...
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Mystery or Hogwash?
Eighth graders choose topics of interest, and select books from the library about them. They utilize a worksheet embedded in the text which has the students rate the text they've read based on it's "believability factor." An interesting...
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Dirty Dan Isn't Dull!
Students read smoothly and expressively while noticing punctuation and using voice inflection to emphasize important words and phrases in the text. They listen to and reread a poem in small groups. Students discuss how the poem sounds...
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Letters of Advice and Encouragement
Students review the format for a letter. They discuss advice and encouragement and generate examples of each. Students write a letter to Despereaux. They proofread their work and a partner's work. Students discuss symbols and make a...
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Historical Fiction
Students discover how to identify historical fiction. In this historical fiction instructional activity, students read the story Meet Addy: An American Girl by Connie Porter. Students listen to the first chapter of the book read aloud....
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Identifying the Problem and the Solution in a Story
Story elements: the problem and the solution. Help your youngsters identify these elements by reading Bringing Down the Moon, by Jonathan Emmett. After a class discussion and chart creation discussing problems and solutions from past...
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If You Don't Believe Me, Look It Up!
Students learn about bats. In this bats and comprehension lesson, students read Stellaluna and share what they know about bats. Students complete a learning log and Internet bat research worksheet.
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My Farm Web
Students examine the role of agriculture in everyday life. In this agriculture lesson, students read books such as Harvest Year and identify products which from from the farm. Students fill in a word web using the knowledge they gained...
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Geo Jammin' By DeSign - Day 3, Lesson 15: The Quiltmaker's Gift
Students listen to a read aloud of The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau finding examples of symmetry in the illustrations in the book.
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So Many Inventions!
Students listen to a teacher read aloud of two books about Chinese inventions. They examine some items that were invented by Chinese inventors such as dominoes, an abacus, a silk scarf, or kite. Next, they determine how a compass works...
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Henry's Freedom Box
Young scholars explore the Civil War by reading a children's book in class. In this underground railroad lesson, students read the story Henry's Freedom Box and discuss the plot, settings and characters. Young scholars create their own...
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Cassie's Timeline
Fourth graders read Cassie's Journey: Going West in the 1860's. In this pioneer literature lesson, 4th graders develop a timeline of the major happenings in the story by creating a timeline. Students discuss new discoveries about the...
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Giving Tree Lesson
Learners read and respond the book, The Giving Tree. In this literary unit, students listen to the story and discuss the story using Bloom's Taxonomy. Learners write a letter of empathy to the tree and observe the changes the tree went...
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Amazing Animal Alliteration Book
Students understand the meaning of alliteration. In this alliteration lesson, students write sentences using alliteration and recognize how it changes the writing in a story.
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Winter Clothing
After listening to a reading of The Snowy Day, by Era Jack Keats, language learners use a SMART board and drag the appropriate vocabulary word to the correct clothing article. They then record and illustrate the new vocabulary words in...
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Rhyme Time Lesson Plan
What words rhyme? Help young learners deepen their understanding of rhyming words with this interactive plan. First they identify some words that rhyme, then they participate in a picture walk. Use books with rhyme, like Come Rhyme with...
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An Author Study on Kevin Henkes
To better understand how the author Kevin Henkes uses the theme of friendship throughout his books, learners engage in several compare and contrast activities. The class reads several Henkes titles and discusses the similarities in...
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The Power of Mental Images: Visualizing Literature
Looking for a powerful reading comprehension method? Try visualization! Learners use this strategy to increase comprehension of a chapter book selected by the teacher. As an assessment, individuals or small groups draw pictures of the...
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Teaching With Pourquoi Tales
Students read and discuss several Pourquoi tales--legends that explain why certain natural events occur. They complete a variety of activities surrounding each tale and then write their own Pourquoi tale.
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Compare and Contrast: Miss Nelson is Missing
Compare and contrast two characters from the book Miss Nelson is Missing. Using a Venn Diagram, have pupils compare and contrast personal characteristics between Miss Nelson and Miss Swamp. Individuals can then share their responses with...
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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.
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Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-How Dogs Really Work!
Students read How Dogs Really Work! by Alan Snow. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of dogs as pets. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies, and library connections.
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The Power of Mental Images: Visualizing Literature
With a chapter book in hand, readers practice visualizing the events and characters of the story. The lesson gives suggestions of novels that are rich in detail to help facilitate the process. Drawings from what they read act as the...