Curated OER
In Other Words: Using a Thesaurus
Help your young writers stay engaged with their writing through the practical use of a thesaurus. They work to reinforce the use of synonyms as a way of making writing more interesting and to determine word meaning by finding synonyms....
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Clifford's Family (Bridwell)
Do you know Clifford, the big, red dog? Clifford takes an adventure to see his family, and young readers join him to learn some new vocabulary in context! Before reading, introduce the four new words: city, county,...
Curated OER
Musical Mystery Words
Students study the letter names for the treble clef and create words using the letters that represent the lines and spaces on the staff.
Curated OER
Student Dictionary
Third graders practice dictionary skills. They use a digital camera and insert pictures from a floppy disk into a document. They play a game in which they are handed an anonymous definition of each other and must find each other in class.
Curated OER
Now That's a Problem!
Help learners improve multiplication skills by skip counting and creating their own multiplication word problems. They will begin by practicing skip counting and then illustrate word problems using a software program. Pixie is a software...
Curated OER
Antonyms, synonyms and homophones
Shed light on what antonyms, synonyms, and homophones are. For this lesson, upper elementary schoolers create pairs using an antonym, a homophone, and/or a synonym. Then they play an antonym matching game.
Curated OER
Babylonian Mathematics I
Learners examine a Babylonian clay tablet and the mathematics found on it as a catalyst to investigate a variety of mathematical ideas. They work with prime numbers, classify numbers as whole, integer, rational, or irrational and use...
Curated OER
Reliving History through Slave Narratives
Helpful for an American literature or history unit, this lesson prompts middle schoolers to examine slavery in the United States. They read slave narratives that were part of the Federal Writers' Project and then conduct their own...
Curated OER
Compare and Contrast Poems vs. Lyrics
Combine your pupils' love of music with their growing knowledge of poetry! First, have them bring in their favorite songs for a discussion on word choice and literary devices. Then, use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the...
Curated OER
Analyzing Poetry
Use this poetry analysis learning exercise to help your learners understand a poem of their or your choosing. This resource asks class members to summarize the poem and analyze it by looking at voice, word choice, imagery, and theme. The...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Words Kindergarten
Improve your kindergartners' math and science vocabulary with flash cards and word walls. Based on the vocabulary in the Common Core standards, the cards use illustrations to show the meanings of many math terms and descriptions.
Curated OER
Is Perception Reality? Writing Paradoxes in Poetry
Explore the paradox of the universe - or, at least, of popular music - with this lesson. Using the songs "Inaudible Melodies" by Jack Johnson and "She" by Green Day, your class will complete a graphic organizer to help them understand...
Curated OER
Watch Your P's and Q's
Using your graphing calculator, find all the rational zeroes of a polynomials by using the Rational Zero Theorem. Divide polynomials using the Remainder Theorem and the Factor Theorem and then graph it to find the number of real roots.
Curated OER
The Case of Vanishing Farmland
High schoolers consider decisions about how to use resources that are in short supply. Students role-play different perspectives in a land-use simulation, and examine land use issues around the world. This interesting instructional...
Curated OER
Color My World Grey and Blue
Can colors help to convey a mood in writing? Explore this question with your class using the songs "Grey Street" by the Dave Matthews Band and "Blu is a Mood" by Blu Cantrell. After analyzing the effect of the color words in these songs...
California Department of Education
Name That Job!
Can you name the job that involves scholars, classes, and grades? If you guessed teacher, you just won a round of Name That Job! The second lesson in a five-part college and career readiness unit has career seekers team up and go head to...
Curated OER
Creative Writing Workshop (Middle, Reading/Writing)
Bring this instructional activity into your unit about creative writing and precise language. First, middle schoolers create a piece of writing with the help of their classmates. In the second part of this workshop, they edit their own...
CK-12 Foundation
Greatest Common Factor Using Lists
By creating a list of factors for two numbers, it is easier to see the greatest common factor. Each question in an interactive resource asks pupils to identify the greatest common factor for the numbers 24 and 36 in several different...
Kenan Fellows
Dinner Party: Using Pattern Trains to Demonstrate Linear Functions
Nothing fancy here ... just your run-of-the-mill Algebra party! Learners explore the patterns of linear functions while designing seating arrangements for a dinner party. Comparing the number of tables to the perimeter of the combined...
Curated OER
Poetry Gifts
What kind of shoe is this person? What time of day is this person? Aspiring poets’ responses to a list of questions provide descriptive words and phrases that can be crafted into a blank verse poem. A link to sample poems is provided.
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Delicious Words
Fifth graders work together to make simple menus more interesting by adding descriptive words. This plan works well with the Six Traits of Writing as it covers the trait of word choice. This is a really fun way for students to practice...
Curated OER
Picture It: Teaching Descriptive Writing
There are many fun and effective ways to teach students to write descriptively.
Curated OER
Create an Illuminated Alphabet Word Book
Students create a class alphabet book. In this letter recognition instructional activity, students use line and color to draw an object whose name begins with a specific letter. Students use adjectives to create a sentence describing the...
Curated OER
Adopt a Tree
First graders describe the characteristics of a tree. In this science instructional activity, 1st graders create predictions about a book they will be listening to, Have you Seen Trees. Additionally, students describe their trees using...