Virginia Department of Education
Identifying the Main Idea in Fiction
Discovering the main idea in fiction is like uncovering buried treasure; one must persevere to locate it, and the reward is priceless. Scholars delve deep into leveled stories using three questions to aid in identifying the main idea.
California Education Partners
Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
A 3-day exam assesses readers' comprehension. After hearing a passage from the story Kittens First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, scholars work with a partner to discuss and sketch what they found memorable. Peers share their final products...
Student Achievement Partners
Eleven
Turning 11 comes with a range of emotions. Explore those emotions by reading the short story "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros. Readers analyze the main character's reactions to the events of her day. Then, they write an essay describing what...
PBS
Button, Button
Youngsters count, classify, and estimate quantities using buttons after a read aloud of The Button Box by Margarette S. Reid. They discuss the difference between guessing and estimating. Based on an experiment, they predict the number of...
Curated OER
Night: Directed Reading Thinking Activity
As part of a reading of Elie Wiesel's Night class members engage in a directed reading/thinking activity that includes crafting predictions, verifying these predictions, and interpreting portions of the text.
EngageNY
Analyzing a Model Position Paper: “Changing Our Water Ways”
Follow the leader for better writing! Scholars analyze a model position paper, "Changing Our Water Ways." During the first pass, they listen as the teacher reads the paper aloud. They then do a second read of the paper and complete a...
Curated OER
Understanding a Story
Reading comprehension is the name of the game! After listening to the teacher model and share personal prior knowledge about small children and what they do with food, the class discusses how they too can use prior knowledge to...
EngageNY
Launching the Module: Identity and Transformation, Then and Now
Identify yourself! Learners listen to Nadia’s Hands read aloud before working in their identity journals to answer prompts relating to the story. They then look at identity using two recording forms Who Am I on the Outside? and Who Am I...
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
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
An Active, Healthy Lifestyle is ...
This is a two part worksheet. The first part consists of eight questions about healthy lifestyle choices. These can be answered out loud, or by using the thumbs up/down method as the teacher reads aloud. It can also be printed out and...
Curated OER
Teacher-Astronaut Offers New Lessons
Students read about teacher-in-space Barbara Morgan and life in space. In this space science and current event lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity, then students read the news piece and participate in a...
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.
Core Knowledge Foundation
Unit 1: Contemporary Fiction - They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poems by David Bowles
They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid's Poems by David Bowles is the focus of a five-week language arts unit unit. Fifth graders listen to various poems and participate in thoughtful discussions, examining vocabulary and learning new words in...
Student Achievement Partners
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm - "The Fisherman and his Wife"
Help young readers learn to read and interpret complex text independently. Teach young children to ask interpretive questions and use the text itself to answer them. Use art, word play and drama to provide a deeper understanding of...
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
What? You want me to read AND enjoy it?
Students appreciate independent reading through learning about authors and genre.
Curated OER
Expression Makes Reading Exciting!
Students examine how reading with expression makes stories more interesting by listening to a reading in monotone and one with expression. Reading in pairs, they practice with passages of Judith Voirst's, Alexander and the Terrible,...
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.
Curated OER
School-Home Links: Reading Practice
In this early childhood reading text worksheet, students read a brief selection with a caregiver, on their own, and to their teacher in order to practice reading smoothly, without stopping.
Curated OER
Reading and Responding -- Lesson 4
Fourth graders work individually with a tutor or teacher to (1) read a fiction selection, and (2) practice test-taking strategies. Reading passages and comprehension questions are provided.
Curated OER
Reading and Responding -- Lesson 12
Fourth graders work independently or in a small group to (1) practice test taking strategies, (2) practice using story details, and (3) use critical thinking skills. Reading passage, comprehension questions, and teacher script are...
Curated OER
Shared And Guided Reading with On Our Farm
Students participate in pre-reading activities before reading the book, On Our Farm. They read the book independently, but are guided by directive questions from their teacher. A discussion follows, as well as repeated readings for mastery.
Curated OER
Reading and Responding -- Lesson 1
Fourth graders work individually with a tutor or teacher and (1) read a fictional passage, (2) practice finding key words in questions, and (3)practice using test-taking strategies. Reading passages are provided.