The multi-lesson, 47-page packet contains everything you need to ensure kids can recognize the clues provided to identify the type of text, the intended audience, and the author's purpose in writing the passage.

It is true that the more you practice something, the better you'll get at doing it. Lesson three in a three part series on author's purpose has kids venture out to determine the author's purpose in three different passages. They'll read...

Third graders compare and contrast two things. In this comparing lesson, 3rd graders see vocabulary words used when comparing or contrasting two items. They read the story Alligators and Crocodiles by Trudi Strain Trueit and write a...

Remember that old skimming technique, where you'd read the first and last sentence of a paragraph to glean the main idea? That tried and true college trick is taught to third graders as a way to gather information while they read....

Students identify the characteristics of the genre of mystery.  In this genre lesson, students discover the elements of a mystery story and begin recording the elements on a class chart of the book entitled Two-Minute Mysteries: The...

The poem "The Teller of Tales" by Gabriela Mistral is the subject of a thoughtful lesson that allows scholars to listen to or read the poem, then discuss its meaning. 

Examine the book Stargazers by Gail Gibbons. Young readers will practice reading and interpreting information from diagrams in this informational text. They work together as a class on this skill and then move into independent...

Encourage more pun-derstanding of word play in your literary scholars as they explore Brian P. Cleary's book Rhyme and Punishment: Adventures in Wordplay. Although this isn't suggested, consider beginning this study by simply showing...

Third graders use contrasting statements to find the meaning of new vocabulary. In this literacy lesson, 3rd graders read a contrasting statement and use the first part to identify the meaning of a word in the second half. 

Time for Kids: Butterflies is used to model the process of determining if a text is based on fact or opinion. Children are taught how to skim for key words, and use headings or chapter names to locate proof of whether or not what...

Compare and contrast while challenging your class with this higher-level thinking and reading comprehension lesson plan. After observing the teacher model comparing and contrasting bats and birds, learners read passages about two towns....

What is the main idea? Interest your young readers with this fun introductory lesson! After selecting several items from a paper bag, the teacher leads learners to determine the big idea for those items. This concept is then applied to...

How do a character’s feelings and actions influence the plot of a story? The interaction between character and plot is explored in this lesson that uses When Charlie McButton Lost Power to launch the discussion. Charlie’s love of...

Remember that boy David from the David, No! books? He's back, and youngsters draw a picture of him from a scene in the book David Goes to School. They write a sentence describing his appearance, actions, and feelings...

The words I, me, and my are the first clues learners will use as they are introduced to identifying first person point of view. First the class charts word clues that usually indicate first person, then they read a story as a class and...

The stories in Sandra Cisneros’s The House on Mango Street form the basis for a lesson on plot elements. The class examines introduction, sequence, problem, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution and identifies these...

The US Constitution is the beginning of Americans' rights. Use a five-paragraph passage to give a brief history of the US Constitution. A great last minute addition to a lesson on Constitution Day.

Different types of text are written for very different reasons. Learners discuss the differences in writing to entertain, to inform, and to persuade their audiences. They work on identifying the author's purpose by reading and charting...

Keep reinforcing the concept of author's purpose with a practice activity. After discussing the three purposes of writing, third graders will complete a graphic organizer intended to help them pin point textual evidence that proves...

Give your class a strategy they can use when trying to identify cause and effect relationships in text. You'll model, and they'll practice using signal words to quickly identify cause and effect. They focus on signal words such...

Cause and effect relationships can be found in life and in literature. Enthusiastic readers will find and discuss all of the cause and effect relationships in the story, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad...

Third graders understand how to find the theme of a fable. In this theme lesson plan, 3rd graders use graphic organizers to record the events of a fable. Students use that information to determine the lesson plan of the story. Students...

Perfect for your unit on pumpkins and autumn! Learn how to write step by step directions on how to dry pumpkin seeds based on The Pumpkin Book. Youngesters also explain how they know this is a "how to" book. A fun and yummy lesson!

Students read the story of Paul Bunyan and identify the characteristics and actions that make him a hero. In this heroes lesson plan, students explain their answer and draw pictures.