Curated OER
Launching a Writer's Workshop
Young scholars interview each other and their parents to examine why and when writers write and where published authors get their ideas. They complete a class T-chart, fill-out an interview worksheet, and read and discuss a variety of...
Curated OER
Using a Writing Workshop
Students observe modeling of the writing workshop. In this writing workshop lesson, students understand that the writing workshop will be taught throughout the year and each lesson will be a segment which will be discussed.
Bulgarian Creative Writing Competition
Creative Writing Workshop
Looking for suggestions on how to organize a creating writing workshop? For topic suggestions appropriate for various grade levels? Check out a resource packet, designed for English language arts instructors, that is packed with ideas...
Curated OER
Nonfiction Genre Mini-Unit: Persuasive Writing
Should primary graders have their own computers? Should animals be kept in captivity? Young writers learn how to develop and support a claim in this short unit on persuasive writing.
Curated OER
Visualizing While Listening
First graders practice visualization. In this reading and listening comprehension strategy visualization lesson, 1st graders close their eyes and listen to the teacher describe a familiar place, then draw what they visualized in their...
Haiku Society of American
Haiku: Lesson Plan for Teachers
After examining winning entries to the Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku Competition, young poets try their hand at this fixed form.
Curated OER
Accordion-Book Summary
Introduce your young readers to the book review. Groups of writers practice the basic steps of writing a book report and complete an Accordion-Book Summary activity. The lesson includes book report basics and directions to make...
Curated OER
National Novel Writing Month - Release the Inner Writer
Your students can write a 50,000 word novel in a month.
Curated OER
Water: Liquid or Solid?
First graders investigate how water can be both a liquid and a solid. They weigh popsicles and observe them as they write in their science journals. They measure the liquid as the popsicle melts and refreeze them to change them back...
Curated OER
The Palm of My Heart: Poetry By African American Children
Elementary students explore African American culture by reading children's poetry. They read the book, The Palm of My Heart which features poetry by an assortment of young African American boys and girls. Students define several...
Curated OER
Natural Disasters: An Adventure in Non-Fiction
Students study different natural disasters. In this natural disaster lesson students read a nonfiction book followed by a discussion, an experiment, then collect illustrations from their experience.
Curated OER
Mixing Colors with "Little Blue and Little Yellow"
Students mix colors to make new colors. In this color mixing lesson, students listen to Leo Lionni's Petit Bleu et Petit Jaune, before retelling the beginning, middle, and end of the story. They watch as the teacher mixes food coloring...
Curated OER
Drafting
Students use transitions to connect the beginning, middle and end of their writing. In this lesson on drafting a story, students use a graphic organizer sandwich to put pictures back together and recognize a specific order.
Curated OER
Silly Animal Problems
Students read the story Dog Breath and write their own story focusing on sequencing about an animal with a silly problem. In this writing lesson plan, students use memorable details and pacing in their story.
Curated OER
Quotations and Capitals
Pupils read a story in which they identify the instances of dialogue. As a class, they determine how to tell someone is talking in their reading and use different sentences to identify where the quotations marks should be placed. To...
Curated OER
Habitats: Cactus Hotel
A reading of Brenda Z. Guiberson’s, Cactus Hotel, launches a study of animal habitats. Working with parent volunteers or teacher aides, groups travel outside the classroom to select a habitat, take digital pictures, and incorporate the...
Curated OER
Mood
Students read the book "Tight Times." They discuss what they believe a mood is. Students write a list of moods the characters in the book feel. They tell reasons for the moods that were selected. Students discuss similar and different...
Curated OER
Rain Forest Writing
First graders have already examined the characteristics of the rainforest. They write a story about the rainforest and it can be fact or fiction. They type their story in the computer lab to be published.
Curated OER
Language Arts: Using Descriptive Adjectives
First graders listen to "Behind the Mask" and identify all the descriptive adjectives in the story. After discussing the importance of using adjectives, they brainstorm lists of adjectives to describe jack o lanterns. Finally, 1st...
Curated OER
Tomie dePaola Author Study
Using Tomie de Paola's books for an author study can get students thinking about characters, plot, and illustrations.