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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: "I Can't," Said the Ant (Cameron)

For Teachers K - 3rd
With both rhyme and a fun storyline, Polly Cameron's story "I Can't," Said the Ant is a useful resource for vocabulary in context. Emerging readers focus on five key words: cooperate, mend, nimble, sling, and trickle. After a brief...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? (Yolen and Teague)

For Teachers K - 3rd
If you are reading Jane Yolen's fun story How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, use these strategies to enhance the experience for budding readers. What new words will they learn? Find detailed comprehension questions for these in-text words:...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: For You are a Kenyan Child (Chunnane)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Discover that Kenyan children aren't much different from your young scholars as they read Kelly Cunnane's story For You are a Kenyan Child. This story is an excellent resource for vocabulary in context, and introduces new words...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: I Love You the Purplest (Joosse)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Use Barbara Joosse's heartwarming story I Love You the Purplest (which can be found on YouTube if you don't have it) to practice vocabulary in context with emerging readers. This sensory text is an excellent opportunity to learn new...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Froggy Goes to School (London)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Just like your budding readers may have felt, Froggy is nervous on his first day of school. Use Johnathan London's book Froggy Goes to School to practice vocabulary in context. Prior to reading the story aloud, pre-teach the new words...
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Curated OER

Let's Go Exploring!

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
Use a Courbet painting of a cave or tunnel opening to reinforce the importance of descriptive writing. Writers of all ages use sensory details to describe what the scene depicts as they pretend to be in the painting. Then they imagine...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Alphabetical Autobiography

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
Design a pictorial autobiography using the letters of the alphabet. For each letter, writers select visual images that represent life events and interests. Younger writers add words or sentences of explanation while older writers narrate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Fancy Nancy (O'Connor)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Get fancy with Jane O'Connor's story Fancy Nancy as scholars learn some elegant new words in context: accessories, chauffeur, plume, stupendous, and tiara. After introducing these new terms (do any scholars already know them?), encourage...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Charlie Parker Played Be Bop (Raschka)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Get in touch with Charlie Parker's jazz beats as learners explore new words in Chris Raschka's onomatopoeic book Charlie Parker Played Be Bop. Scholars are acquainted with some musical terminology before they hear these terms in the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: How Do Dinosaurs Go To School? (Yolen)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Dinosaurs don't go to school...but what if they did? Use Jane Yolen's book How Do Dinosaurs Go To School to explore vocabulary in context. Find this on YouTube if you don't have the text on hand. These in-text words give some ideas of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: I Hate To Be Sick (Bermiss)

For Teachers K - 3rd
No one likes being sick; use Aamir Bermiss' book I Hate To Be Sick as the context for a vocabulary study of illness-related words. Acquaint pupils with this unhealthy vocabulary (dizzy, faint, fever, gag, and sore) before reading aloud,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King (Marzollo)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Looking for a vocabulary lesson relevant to MLK Day? Try this reading comprehension idea designed around Jean Marzollo's biography Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King. Go over new terms (freedom, justice, leadership, and talent) before...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Franklin's New Friend (Bourgeois)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Franklin the turtle makes a new friend as youngsters learn vocabulary in context using Paulette Bourgeois' story (tip: this strategy can be applied to any book). Brief kids on the new words so they can raise their hands when they hear...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Franklin Goes to School (Bourgeois)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Join Franklin the turtle at school as youngsters learn new vocabulary in the context of Paulette Bourgeois' story (or apply this strategy to any book). Scholars are acquainted with new words before reading and raise hands when vocabulary...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (O'Connor)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Although this vocabulary-in-context activity could be used with any text, it's a piece of cake if you're reading Jane O'Connor's Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy. What new words will pupils learn here? Find comprehension questions for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Blueberries for Sal (McCloskey)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Take your budding readers on a literary trip to pick blueberries as they learn vocabulary from Robert McClosky's book, Blueberries for Sal. By pre-teaching the words pupils are prepared to raise their hands when they hear the words in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Clap Your Hands (Cauley)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Lorinda Cauley's book Clap Your Hands is a fun way to expand budding readers' vocabulary in context (although you could use any book for this strategy). To prepare kids, introduce the following terms before reading: dare, flap, frown,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Curious George Rides a Bike (Rey)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Are your learners curious about new words? Take them on an adventure with Curious George as they learn vocabulary in the context of H.A. Rey's book, Curious George Rides a Bike. Prepare budding readers by introducing the terms before...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Alphabears: An ABC Book (Hague)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learn new words in the context of Kathleen Hague's whimsical alphabet book, Alphabears: An ABC Book (note: you can use these strategies for any text). Get pupils ready by introducing the new words they will hear: useless, gruff,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Barrett)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Although this vocabulary strategy would work in the context of any text, it's a piece of cake if you're reading Judi Barrett's book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Go over the terms they will hear so pupils are ready to raise their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Countdown to Kindergarten (McGhee)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Budding readers will relate to Allison McGhee's story Countdown to Kindergarten in which a young girl is worried about not being able to tie her shoes once she gets to school. This is a fun way to teach vocabulary in context, although...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Animal Action ABC (Pandell)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Get your kinesthetic learners engaged in a vocabulary study using Karen Pandell's book, Animal Action ABC. They move around as you read, and raise their hands whenever they hear one of the words you are learning. Pre-teach the terms:...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Grandfather's Journey (Say)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Read Allen Say's classic tale Grandfather's Journey as scholars expand their vocabulary in context (note: this strategy could be done with any text). Wondering what words they will learn here? Although you could easily include more,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Chrysanthemum (Henkes)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Kevin Henkes' sweet story Chrysanthemum is the perfect way to teach vocabulary to budding readers in context. Present the new terms they will hear so pupils are ready to raise their hands when they come up in the story. Although you can...