Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Who Lives at the Poles?
In this lesson, students will be able to gather information from provided resources to answer a question. Included is a video of the introduction of this lesson, pictures of students' completed work, and examples of books on the subject...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Ew, Gross!
In this lesson, students will be able to gather information from provided resources to answer a question. Using the book "Owls", the teacher will read the book while asking guiding questions. After the book, the students will have to...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Mice Squeak, We Speak
In this lesson students will write an informative sentence in response to listening to the story; "Mice squeak, We speak". Included in this lesson are examples of student work, videos of oral presentations, and puzzle pieces for new...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Question: Do You Know Your Question Words?
Once students realize they are able to gain more information and expand their learning by asking questions, they love to use their question words. In the end, the more students ask, the more they will have to answer; therefore, the more...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Accountable Talk Introduction
Learning to engage in collaborative conversations allows children to learn about their world, to become familiar with words, and to build a solid foundation for the development of reading and writing skills. This lesson will model...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?
Learners will write an informative sentence in response to listening to the story "Does A Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?". Included in this lesson are videos of mother and baby animals, pictures of the lesson in action, and a video of...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Describing a Memory
Students will be able to use a combination of drawing, dictating, or writing to narrate a single event and provide a reaction to what happened. This lesson centers around the book "The Song and Dance Man", a great Grandparents Day activity!
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Mary Wore Her Red Dress
Students will be able to write and illustrate a personal narrative after listening to the story "Mary Wore a Red Dress". Samples of student work are included.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Tell Me About It
Learners will be able to describe familiar items and with prompting and support provide additional details by making Flubber. Making Flubber encourages students to engage in descriptive dialogue which helps develop the ability to provide...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Guess My Solid
Descriptive details are used as learners develop a guessing game poster for others to try and guess their chosen solid. Included in this detailed lesson plan are videos, samples of student work, a printable worksheet, an assessment...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Introducing Practical Speaking Skills
If you really speak WELL, people will love to listen! In this lesson, students will practice routines to help them speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly. Teaching this in the first weeks of school sets...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Acid Alert! The Effects of Climate Change on Ocean Ecology
Students answer the question of how does climate change affect ocean ecology? Students explore a wide ranging effects of climate change through this online lab simulation. Lesson plan includes teacher notes, activity worksheets, and...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Skate Park Energy
Using computer simulation, students will explore the concept of conservation of energy at a skate park. After the completion of that exercise, students will move to a worksheet about the concepts with a roller coaster. Site includes...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: What Kind of Animals Live on Farms?
A lesson on sustainability of urban farms in particular in New York City. Students learn how to apply sustainability principles to environmental problems. Students will look at the need for sustainable farming practices that maximize...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: What Do You Hear?
Celebration words can be used to help students review and practice beginning sounds. This lesson will help students recognize and produce the initial sound of a given word. Included are an assessment checklist, videos of the lesson in...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Match That Pie
Knowing the relationship between written letters and spoken sounds will help children recognize words accurately and automatically. In this lesson, children practice matching letters with initial sounds.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Punctuation Practice
Students have a tough time differentiating between punctuation marks when writing and especially when reading. It is important that we give students explicit instruction on punctuation to allow them to become more fluent in using them...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Talk About Plural Nouns
It is imperative that our students in Kindergarten understand that words have different forms. Students will orally change nouns from singular to plural by adding /s/ and will be able to show understanding of this in their writing....
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Complete the Sentence....
Oral language development is crucial to Kindergarteners because it lays the foundation for the development of reading and writing. One of the main skills students need to tackle is speaking in complete sentences. With this lesson plan,...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Multiple Meaning Words
This lesson helps students to USE words for all they're worth! Multiple meaning words may not seem like a kindergarten skill; however, it is imperative that we teach our students about these "tricky" words! Included are printable...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: What's in a Dream?
Young learners really struggle with multi-meaning words. Using Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, students will become familiar with 'dream' as the concept of 'dreaming' in the sense of a want rather than just something they...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Write the Room Punctuation
Using a "Write the Room" activity to identify punctuation motivates students to practice this new skill. Students will place punctuation marks in the proper place using clues from signs around the room. Included is a video of the lesson...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Vocabulary Routine
Kindergarteners take ownership of the JUICY words they learn by hearing them, practicing them, and checking them. The following routine supports children to own their words! Instead of the teacher introducing the word and giving the...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Shake It in Shades Game
Make every moment count! Utilize a brain break to learn shades of meaning among verbs at the same time! Included in this lesson is a video of the activity, a reference chart, and a list of fun verbs to act out.