Curated OER
Heartsongs Poetry by Mattie Stepanek
Use Mattie Stepanek’s Heartsongs book of poetry to inspire young poets to write about their own lives, experiences, and feelings. After reading the introduction to Mattie’s book, in which he talks about himself and his reasons for...
Scholastic
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Practice sequencing events using Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's narrative poem about the famous revolutionary hero. Learners read Revere's own account of the event, and compare/contrast the two texts using a t-chart. Finally, they imagine...
Great Books Foundation
Shared Inquiry Lesson Plan for “The New Colossus”
Two is better than one. Scholars use shared inquiry and discuss their ideas with one another to better interpret Emma Lazerus' poem "The New Colossus." They work through pre-reading, reading, questioning, and rereading activities before...
Curated OER
Presenting Poetry
Learners encounter the fluency formula that states that it is important for kids to read and reread decodable words in a connected text. They must become effortless decoders in order to read fluently, and fluency in reading allows the...
Curated OER
In the Poet's Shoes: Performing Poetry and Building Meaning
Middle schoolers explore poetry by completing a webquest in which they hear poets reading their own work. Later, they examine the dramatic impact of reading poetry out loud. Finally, they practice reading poetry aloud and performing.
Curated OER
A Poetic Finale
Young scholars write a poetic response to the Holocaust as a culminating activity to a unit on the Holocaust. They listen to and discuss a rap song about the Holocaust, complete various handouts, and write a poem for future generations.
Curated OER
Responding Syllables: Reading and Music
Shell Silverstein’s “Sick” provides an opportunity for kids to demonstrate their understanding of syllables and phonemes. The class creates a list of descriptive words used in the poem that have more than one syllable, and brainstorm how...
EngageNY
End of Unit Assessment: Perspectives on Natural Disasters
Caption this! Scholars complete the end of unit assessment by rereading In the Middle of the
Storm. Learners answer written response questions about the text, and then create drawings to accompany their work. To finish, they caption the...
Curated OER
The Odyssey Plan
Ninth graders read and analyze The Odyssey. They apply note-taking skills to identify enemy, type of enemy, and traits demonstrated throughout the book. Students create a storyboard that illustrates the selected episode from the book...
Curated OER
Gearing up for Grammar
Students input autobiographical information to apply in a Diamante' poem that utilizes the different parts of speech. Students interact with each other sharing their autobiographical information completed on the database created....
Curated OER
Reflections on Poetry Readings
Eighth graders design and compile a booklet of published and original poems reflective of a specific theme.
Curated OER
Reading and Poetry Theatre
Student increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing crosschecking and cover-up, learners complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed assessment of...
Curated OER
5-4-3-2-1 Blast Off To Reading
Students practice reading with fluency by rereading texts to increase their speed. They listen to the teacher model fluent, smooth, and expressive oral reading. They then work in a small group reading orally and self-assessing their...
Curated OER
Dirty Dan Isn't Dull!
Students read smoothly and expressively while noticing punctuation and using voice inflection to emphasize important words and phrases in the text. They listen to and reread a poem in small groups. Students discuss how the poem sounds...
Curated OER
Jack O' Lantern, Jack O' Lantern
First graders listen to the story, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear." students listen to a poem, "Jack O' Lantern, Jack O' Lantern," and take turns retelling it. They draw the poem in correct sequence on paper to retell it.
Curated OER
Flying To Fluency
Students increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing decoding and rereading strategies, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed...
Curated OER
Up, Up, Up The Banana Tree
Students increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing decoding, chunking and rereading, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed...
Curated OER
Safe from the Storm
Fourth graders read the poem "Snowbound" after brainstorming what a place of refuge is and why it's needed. They, in pairs, meet and write a list of ten attributes that describe a refuge. They write a paragraph describing the look, feel,...
Curated OER
Expression Is the Key
Students practice reading fluently and expressively through the use of various strategies. After reviewing chunking, crosschecking, and rereading, students complete an initial read of a play. They read a poem to the instructor in a...
Gwinnett County Public Schools
Analysis of the Tuck Everlasting and The Birchbark House Text Exemplars
Looking to introduce some text-based questions into your ELA lessons? Practice the kinds of skills the Common Core demands with the seven text-based questions and the essay prompt provided here. Designed to be a three-day lesson, day one...
Curated OER
Cinderella Stories
Students read and compare Cinderella stories using a worksheet. They write and illustrate original tales with a twist.
Curated OER
Greek Origins and Character Development
Seventh graders examine words of Greek origin and discuss character development in fiction. They read a list of Greek word parts and create words on a worksheet. Students then read and discuss an informational handout about character...
Curated OER
"Beeing" Expressive: Growing Independence and Fluency
Students practice independence and fluency in reading. They read and reread Honeybees until they become fluent. Students focus on expression while reading. Students read with expression while working on fluency. They read with a partner.