Curated OER
Periodic Poetry
Students review periodic table of elements, choose one element, and create piece of poetry about it using Cinquain, Haiku, or Acrostic format. Students then read aloud their poems to classmates.
Curated OER
Factions
Middle schoolers investigate factions in society. For this factions lesson, students learn the definition of factions before breaking into groups. They listen to a read aloud of The Butter Battle Book and describe what happens to the...
Curated OER
Astronauts Build Space Station Addition
Young scholars read a story called Astronauts Finish Building Space Station Addition and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this space station lesson plan, students respond to literature by answering questions,...
Curated OER
What is a Make Believe Story?
Explore the concept of make believe stories. In this genres of literature lesson, students discover the difference between realistic fiction and fantasy. They are asked questions during and after the reading of a book to ensure the...
Curated OER
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
Robert Coles’ The Story of Ruby Bridges forms the basis of this powerful cross-curricular study of civic education and civic responsibility. Class members consider how the book presents authority, responsibility, justice, and privacy.....
Curated OER
Zoo-Goers Ready to Greet Baby Panda
The Smithsonian's National Zoo, also known as the Washington Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. Youngsters read and discuss a news article about Tai Shan, baby panda that was one of the zoos most famous residents. They...
Curated OER
King Tut On The Move
Students read a story called King Tut On the Move and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this current events King Tut lesson plan, students respond to literature by answering questions, recalling details, sharing...
Curated OER
My First Book
Introduce young writers to the process of writing a book. Start by reading a book of your choice and discussing the essential elements of any book such as the cover, story, and illustrations as well as who is responsible for each...
Curated OER
Writing a Personal Letter Using the Short Story "Eleven"
Challenge your class to connect to the text of "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros with this activity, which prompts them to write a personal letter from the main character's point of view. The story, prompt, and letter template are all included...
Core Task Project
Whatif by Shel Silverstein
What a skillful way to incorporate Shel Silverstein, a wonderful author, into the classroom. Composed of three tasks, children are led through a series of text-dependent questions that force them to unveil the meaning of Silverstein's...
Curated OER
Long Vowels
Now here is a great set of activities that will make learning about long vowel sounds a snap. The activities cover two days and include vowel identification, reading, and several great games. Kids will hunt for long vowel words, play...
Curated OER
Counting Up/Down Stories
Mirroring Jerry Spinelli's style in Wringer, chapter 5, pupils use the "counting up/down technique" to recall an important moment in their lives. In the book, the character is being punched, and between blows he remembers details that...
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ABC Book of Tongue Twisters
Pupils construct sentences using alliteration. In this phonemic awareness lesson, students listen to a read aloud such as Some Smug Slug and identify alliteration. Pupils write their own sentences using alliteration.
Curated OER
Spiders - KidPix
Students answer questions after a story is read aloud, identify and recall the three major body parts of a spider (head, body and 8 legs), construct a spider when given parts of a spider on a handout, and draw and decorate a spider using...
Curated OER
Stepping Stones
Students listen to stories read aloud. They examine a work of art by a known artist. Students take a picture using the digital camera. They listen as the teacher reads "Where the Wild Things Are." Students compare and contrast the...
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The Pirates of the Caribbean
Third graders participate in a demonstration lesson that shows a map of the Caribbean Islands. They examine a natural resource that each island is known for. Next, they listen to a read aloud of Gail Gibbons, "Pirates: Robbers of the...
Curated OER
You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer!
Students study women's clothing in the 19th century as well as one prominent
feminist of the time. They examine women's dress of the period from the picture book read aloud You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer! They provide adjectives...
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Remembrance Day
Second graders research the meaning behind Remembrance Day. In this Remembrance Day instructional activity, 2nd graders discuss peace and why Remembrance Day is significant. The book Why We Remember is read aloud to the students.
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Writing a Book Review - Non-Fiction
Fifth graders write a book review for a nonfiction book. In this response to literature lesson, 5th graders read a nonfiction book and write a review that gets others interested in reading the book without giving too much away. The...
Curated OER
Where Is Saturn in the Solar System? Where Am I in the Solar System?
Students engage in a solar system activity, In this activity, students will read aloud as a class about the solar system. The students will then listen to the teacher read a solar system book prior to filling out a worksheet about their...
Curated OER
Interpersonal Communication
Pupils identify and practice the skills necessary for effective communication including reading, listening, and non-verbal. They read aloud and discuss, "They Water Closet Story" to determine which characters did not adequately...
Curated OER
Farm Animals-Cows, Pigs, Horses
Here is a good instructional activity for kindergartners that combines technology, literature, and art. In it, learners take a close look at some famous farm animals. They make the sounds that each animals makes, they use the internet to...
Bantam Books
The Tempest: Kinesthetic Grammar Approach
Though beautiful, William Shakespeare's prose can be inhibiting for learners who are new to his works. A lesson based on The Tempest guides high schoolers through the paraphrasing process, including noting the subjects and verbs to align...
Lafayette Parrish School System
Teaching Tone and Mood
Tone and Mood are not synonymous! Introduce young readers to these literary devices with a series of exercises that not only point out the significant differences between the terms but also shows them how to identify both the tone and...