Curated OER
Lesson 3: Writing a News Story
Start a writing lesson by examining a news video that explains writing clearly, concisely, and correctly. Learners consider the importance of writing news properly to avoid breaking the law, then write their own weekend news stories.
Anti-Defamation League
"What is it Like to be an Outsider?”: Building Empathy for the Experiences of Immigrants
This instructional activity highlights the struggles of immigrants and the importance of showing empathy. Beginning with a read-aloud of a book in another language and a poem, scholars take part in a thoughtful discussion. Then, the...
EngageNY
Analyzing Character and Theme: Tracking Control in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Scholars examine how characters try to control one another in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. They engage in a read-aloud and class discussion to iron out ideas. They also work in small groups to complete a note-catcher...
Curated OER
Chicken Soup with Rice Extension Activities
After reading Chicken Soup with Rice, by Maurice Sendak, incorporate some of these great extension activities into your lesson plan. Ideas include focusing on knowing the months of the year, or studying the illustrations and how they are...
Curated OER
Counting Back and Counting On
Read aloud your choice of books about counting on and counting back (a list is provided, or tell stories of your own). Your learners will write horizontal equations to portray what happens in the story. They build a paper chain and...
Curated OER
Plan a Read-All-Day Day
Students celebrate Read Across America Day by holding a Read-All-Day Day. they spend an entire day involved in fun reading-related activities.
Curated OER
Bad Case of Stripes Lesson Plan
Learners think about why we worry about what others think, bullying, and learning to respect and accept differences in others.In this Bad Case of Stripes lesson plan, students examine cause-and-effect relationships in a story as they...
Curated OER
Jubal's Wish
Students discuss the story "Jubal's Wish." In this literature lesson, students take turns making predictions about what will happen next in the story and state their own wish by taking turns as well.
Curated OER
A Cloe Reading of Shakespeare On Your Feet
Students act outeach word in a Shakespearean speech. In this reading technique lesson, students learn passages from Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew reading using their bodies to act out each word. Students watch an...
Curated OER
Printing and Publishing
Explore African literature and artwork in a multicultural literacy and art lesson. Begin with a read aloud of Tiger and the Big Wind: A Tale from Africa, and afterward, have kids retell the main events in the story. They identify and...
Curated OER
Barter vs. Money
First graders listen to the book, Sheep in a Shop, that leads them to think about making financial decisions, trading, and the barter system. After the book is read aloud, a discussion ensues about some of the things that the sheep...
Common Sense Media
Private Today, Public Tomorrow
What responsibility do we have to protect the privacy and safety of others when posting information about them online? This is an essential lesson for every learner today experiencing their social and professional worlds in an online...
EngageNY
Building Background Knowledge: Colonial Craftspeople
In the first lesson plan of this unit on colonial trade, fourth graders gain background knowledge of different jobs performed by early colonists. The class begins with a slide show presentation that includes a variety of great...
Curated OER
Getting to Know You: Lesson Four
Fifth graders practice skills for writing and reading. In this independent reader and writer lesson, 5th graders are given tools to edit their own writing and to choose books they can read on their own. They work both as a class and...
Curated OER
Reading and Responding
Eighth graders read and respond to a poem. In this reading and responding lesson plan, 8th graders read a poem as a class and respond to questions about it.
Curated OER
Reading and Responding -- Lesson 13
Fourth graders work independently or in a small group to (1) read a fictional passage, (2) use context to define unfamiliar vocabulary, (3) use comprehension strategies, and (4) make inferences. Reading passage and teacher script is...
Curated OER
Reading and Responding -- Lesson 16
Fourth graders work independently or in a small group to (1) read a nonfiction selection, (2) identify the author's purpose, (3) distinguish informational text from narrative text, (4) skim and scan for facts, and (5) complete a graphic...
Curated OER
Shhh!!! I'm Reading!
Learners practice reading silently decodable texts in this lesson. They discuss the importance of being able to read silently. They then practice silently reading "Wemberly Worried." An assessment/checklist is included in this lesson.
Curated OER
English - "Once Upon a Time" - Storytelling
In this storytelling worksheet, 4th graders fill in 17 missing words without looking at the story. After the students read the story again aloud in pairs, the students complete a matrix on how well each student reads the story aloud.
Curated OER
Off To the Reading Races
Students increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing good reader strategies , students complete an initial read of a novel text. With a partner, they read complete an assessment of their...
Curated OER
Ready...Set...Let's Read!!
Students observe and demonstrate various reading decoding strategies to improve their reading fluency. In pairs, they take turns reading sentences outloud to each other, with the goal of reading them more quickly each time. Students...
Curated OER
Hit a Homerun with Reading Speed
Students review basic reading decoding/comprehension. They read passages and see how fast they can read the pages. In a baseball-like game, they try to read faster and faster. If they improve their fluency rate, they increase their...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: One Tiny Turle
Students use context clues to figure out the meaning of new vocabulary words in the story, One Tiny Turtle. In this language arts lesson, students listen to the story and raise their hands when they hear the new term used in the story....
Curated OER
Reading and Responding -- Lesson 11
Fourth graders work independently or in a small group to (1) read a fictional selection, and (2) practice test-taking strategies. Reading passage, comprehension questions, and teacher script is included.