Students observe and demonstrate a variety of strategies for reading with expression. As a class they identify different expressions and emotions, then create expression cards. Students then discuss appropriate punctuation for the ends...

First graders read "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" and use Kid Pix to identify characters from the story. In this character identification lesson plan, 1st graders first hear several versions of the classic tale, and then...

First graders participate in active read aloud of Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. In this read aloud lesson set, 1st graders practice the "turn and talk" technique as they listen to Chrysanthemum. They listen to the story chapter by...

Students sing "Three Little Pigs", the "Pony Song", and "The Animal Blues" in this elementary school music lesson plan. National and State Standards are addressed. Assessment rubric is included for grading and student evaluation.

Even pirates know not to steal stuff you can make yourself! Read The Pirate's Parrot Stole the King's Carrot to engage your class. Then, plant carrots with your class. If this isn't possible with your kiddos, consider cutting out paper...

Students develop an awareness of environmental print, such as signs, logos, brand names, and other print and non-print items that the children see and read in their neighborhood each day. They then engage in active problem solving as...

Learners are introduced to the topic of legends. Using the text of Irving's novels, they gather information on different cultures. They practice using new vocabulary and their listening skills. They retell the stories in chronlogical order.

Show your young researchers how to find information, brainstorm a topic, map or outline their own stories, and create rough drafts. This lesson also shows learners how to peer edit, conference with the teacher, and write their final...

Students investigate the recycling program in Palm Beach County. In this recycling lesson, students discuss how garbage is processed and identify the proper color-coded bins to place recyclables in.

Students practice using strategies to help them read. They participate in activities that help them sound out words and determining the main idea. They also examine good and bad reading habits.

Students listen to stories about the tradegies of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Using their own experiences from the hurricanes, they try to put their own story into words. They are to focusing on getting the information and their feelings...

Students examine the lives of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Using the information, they complete a Venn diagram discovering what the two men had in common. In groups, they review a timeline made in an earlier lesson and view a...

First graders understand the importance of rain in our environment by writing a sentence about something in existence that would cease to be without rain. They use describing words to describe the living thing's color and draw and color...

Students practice various strategies for becoming fluent readers. They review the skills of phoneme recognition, decoding, crosschecking and spelling in order to read with automation. Working in pairs, students complete a pair-share of...

First graders read The Scrambled States of America and discuss whether it is real or fantasy as compared to the United States. In this geography lesson, 1st graders identify their city or state on a map and work in groups to color the...

How many ways can you arrange ten mice? After listening to the story, Mouse Count by Ellen Stone Walsh, it's the young scholars' turn to figure out how their mice can be organized, with some inside a jar and some out. Using visual and...

Here is a quick activity that could help your kids with their reading comprehension. They practice a classic strategy that gets them to start asking questions about what they are reading, while they are reading it. They write out...

When scholars re-tell a story, do they boil it down to important details in a logical order? Practice summarizing narratives using this think-aloud strategy, which is scripted here for your convenience. After explaining why this is an...

Primary students will use the five "W" questions for reading comprehension as they read silently to themselves so that they can understand and remember what they have read. They then read The Velveteen Rabbit aloud, discussing the five...

  Did you know that 50% of all Americans can trace a relative who traveled through Ellis Island? Relive these journeys with your class and then provide sentence strategy templates for them to use to compose their own informative...

After a review of the steps involved in writing a summary, class members read The Physics of Baseball by Sarah Ives and use a story web to identify the important details to include in their summary. Class members then choose an article...

Learning to summarize texts takes practice. Jump into the training ring and guide your learners through a summarizing practice session. The classic direct instructional practice of "I do, you do, we do" is used to help them identify key...

Art classes, like any lab class, require extensive preplanning and set-up time. Use this planning template in the quiet before the storm to identify the equipment and materials that will be needed, the procedures and processes...

First graders share their wishes for the future and discuss changes that have taken place. They observe a puppet who describes life in the future and identifies positive and difficult challenges he may face. Individual students draw a...