Arts Ed Washington
Art Lessons in the Classroom: Our Family
Blend art and family into one lesson with an activity involving oil pastels and watercolors. After viewing a few famous portraits of families, learners create masterpieces that represent their own families.
Curated OER
I Can't Hear You
Students practice reading silently to become better readers. They each read a copy of the book, "Mr. Cricket takes a Vacation," from Carousel Readers. Each student explains why if everyone read aloud in class how distracting it would be...
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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....
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We Have a Dream
Students work as partners to study Dr. Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech. In this African American history instructional activity, students work with their cross-grade partner to study, understand, and memorize the speech....
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Social Studies Strategies - Pick a Word
In this inference skills worksheet, students read a short passage, then pick two words that describe the passage. Next they explain why they chose that word. Students choose another word related to the passage and write it on a 3x5 note...
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I Think Mom Loves You Best
Sixth graders listen to, "The Pain and the Great One", by Judy Blume. They discuss advantages and disadvantages to having a particular position in a family. They write a paragraph from the main character's point of view.
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Thumbs Up For Expert Readers!
Students use the cross check strategy to increase reading comprehension in this lesson plan. They listen as the teacher reads "Where the Wild Things Are." The teacher purposely reads some words wrong so that the story does not make...
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Let's Be Emotion Detectors!
Students observe and demonstrate how to read with expression. They discuss the types of emotions and expressions to use while reading, and identify the appropriate punctuation for a variety of sentences. Students then write a sentence...
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The Main Man
Students explore visualizing stories by completing a graphic organizer. In this reading strategy lesson, students read the story Pecos Bill by Steven Kellog and identify the setting, main characters and their interpretations. Students...
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U.S. Set to Celebrate Lincoln Bicentennial
Students use a news article about the celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial to answer questions about Abraham Lincoln and the celebration. In this current events and US history instructional activity based on a news article, students...
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Science Fiction Literature
Students identify the elements of science fiction literature. They write and illustrate a science fiction story using real and exaggerated science. In addition, they read their stories aloud in small groups.
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Self-Monitoring Strategies and Vocabulary Games
Teachers model self-monitering strategies for their high schoolers. They participate in games and artwork that help them increase their vocabulary. They also complete a crossword puzzle.
Historical Thinking Matters
Spanish-American War: 3 Day Lesson
Why did the United States choose to invade Cuba in 1898? As part of a 3-day lesson, your young historians will first develop working hypotheses to answer this question, then work with a variety of historical primary source documents that...
Special Olympics
A World of Difference
Kids engage in a series of activities that ask them to consider differences and similarities in characteristics, both visible and invisible. With this new understanding, the class investigates the Special Olympics program and develops...
Curated OER
Hoot: List-Group-Label
Word association is a great way to explore vocabulary and new ideas. In a unit about Carl Hiassen's Hoot, kids think about the word environmentalist and come up with additional words that they associate with environmentalism on sticky...
Education Center
Star Rules
Why are rules so important? Just ask the main characters in the children's book Officer Buckle and Gloria. After a class read aloud, compare and contrast the safety tips mentioned in the story with your classroom rules, noting any...
Scholastic
Perfect Postcards: Illinois
Connect the geography and history of Illinois using an art-centered lesson on the railroads. The railroad connected once-distant places, particularly in the Midwest. Using research, class members create postcards of fictional cross-state...
Curated OER
I Think I Forgot Something!
Pupils examine human health by reading a children's book in class. In this breakfast lesson, students identify the importance of starting the day with a good, nutritious meal. Pupils read the book I Think I Forgot Something and answer...
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Spring-Aloud Read
Students study the season of spring and create stories about the season. For this spring season lesson, students read books about spring and discuss the season. Students then color and create a mini-book about Spring.
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The No Thanksgiving Read Aloud
First graders investigate a story with the theme of The Thanksgiving holiday. The teacher reads the story to the class. The story is meant to help students to think of things they are thankful for. Students share the ideas in either...
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Adjectives in Poetry
Pupils read selected poems from the book Beast Feast, by Douglas Florian. They identify at least two to three keyword facts about each beast highlighted in the poems.
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Shaking Things Up In Summarization
Students practice several techniques and strategies to become better at summarizing a piece of writing. They emphasize the five "W's: who, what, where, when and why. A book of Earthquakes is read and then summarized by each of the students.
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Patterns in Poetry: Part 2 -- Sound
Students understand a variety of poems listening for sound letter correspondence, rhyme scheme, assonance, and alliteration. In this language arts activity, students practice listening and reading skills to complete patterns in poetry. ...
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Fiction Elements in Hatchet
Students read or listen to Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, identify elements of fiction, develop writing, thinking, and organizing skills, and create PowerPoint slides based on the story.