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Introduce Vocabulary: Airport (Barton)

For Teachers K - 3rd
This vocabulary-in-context strategy can be applied to any book that learners read with you; however the activity here is designed around Byron Byrton's fiction book, Airplane. First, introduce the new words you will learn: attendant,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Have You Seen Bugs? (Oppenheim)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Are your scholars interested in bugs? Get future entomologists excited about vocabulary through Joanne Oppenheim's colorful book Have You Seen Bugs? They use the informational text (although this strategy is useful for any book) to...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Make Way for Ducklings (McCloskey)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Use the Caldecott Award-winning book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (which can be found on YouTube if you don't have it) to guide budding readers through vocabulary in context. Although the...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Arthur's New Puppy (Brown)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learn new words as you read Marc Brown's story, Arthur's New Puppy. This is focused as a vocabulary-in-context activity (though this strategy could be used with any book and set of words). Introduce the new words you will focus on:...
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Introducing Vocabulary: Christopher Columbus (Weinberger)

For Teachers K - 3rd
The story of Christopher Columbus has fascinated young historians for centuries; use this vocabulary-in-context strategy to dive into Kimberly Weinberger's picture book about this classic explorer. Begin by introducing the new words:...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Cross a Bridge (Hunter)

For Teachers K - 3rd
What does suspension mean? Learn this and other bridge-related vocabulary as scholars listen to Ryan Ann Hunter's nonfiction book, Cross a Bridge. This strategy can be applied to any book. Before reading, acquaint pupils...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Doctor DeSoto (Steig)

For Teachers K - 3rd
William Steig's story of a witty mouse couple will have scholars intrigued as they listen for new vocabulary words and context clues. Doctor DeSoto can be found on YouTube in case you don't have it. Emerging readers expand...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Happy Birthday, Moon (Asch)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Can you wish the moon a happy birthday? Beginning readers contemplate this as they listen to Frank Asch's book Happy Birthday, Moon, the context for a vocabulary study. There are three words outlined here: chat,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Smoky Night (Bunting)

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Experience the Los Angeles Riots through the eyes of a child in Even Bunting's poignant story Smoky Night. Use this text as you teach vocabulary in context, using comprehension questions to help scholars make connections to outside...
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Chocolate Graphing

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Chocolate lovers develop a bar graph based on the types of chocolate the class likes. They participate in The Art of Chocolate at The Hershey Story before they make a bar graph that shows the favorite chocolate types of their class. They...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Clouds (Bauer)

For Teachers K - 3rd
What type of cloud is that? Explore meteorological vocabulary using Marion Bauer's book, Clouds (although these strategies could be used for any fiction or nonfiction text). Pre-teach the new words before reading the story...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Dandelion (Freeman)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Dandelion the lion is dapper and elegant; young readers learn these and more vocabulary words as they read Don Freeman's story Dandelion (hint: this strategy can be applied to any book). Familiarize pupils with the new words...
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Picture This

For Teachers K - 4th
A unique writing lesson, this plan begins with learners talking about multiculturalism in small groups. Each learner will choose a picture from a newspaper, describe it to their small group, and think about how it relates to...
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Pablita Indian Legends

For Teachers K - 3rd
Scholars are introduced to the characteristics of a legend. They read and discuss Old Father Story Teller by Pablita Velarde. Then, in groups, they write and illustrate a poem based on one of the legends from the book. This lesson plan...
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Don't Call Me A Pig

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore wildlife and habitats in the Arizona desert. Throughout a classroom discussion, 1st graders observe pictures of the desert and animals that live there. As they go on a nature walk around the school, students...
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Find The Hidden Message: Media Literacy in Primary Grades

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners practice listening to and reading various types of media and text. In groups, learners use video, newspapers, magazines, and more to compare and contrast different types of information. They identify the differences between fact...
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The Infamous W Gang & Lonely H

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students remember that the main purpose of reading is to comprehend what they have read as they read a section in their history book with the expectation that they answer questions at the end. They answer comprehension questions using...
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Identifying and Describing Story Elements

For Teachers 1st
First graders examine how to identify the different elements of a story and how they fit in a definite sequence. The use of comprehension skills is essential to retell the story as desired within the lesson.
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Shh! I am Trying to Read!

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore the advantages of being able to read silently. They then review a "stuck on a word" strategy using context clues to determine meanings of unknown words. They then practice reading silently and the teacher assesses for...
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Speedy Readers

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars practice reading a poem, "It's Raining Said John Twaining," by, N.M. Bodecker Athenuem, to assess a variety of strategies to maintain what they have read as well as speed up their reading paces. They keep a record of how...
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Synonyms and Antonyms

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore and respond to poetry. They define and identify synonyms and anotnyns. They create antonym pairs in English. They create synonym pairs in English and Spanish.