Curated OER
The True Story of Abbie Burgess
First graders read a story from their textbooks about women in the 1850's. They discuss what it was like to be a woman living in American during this time period. They brainstorm heroines of American history and then discuss woman...
Curated OER
Introduction to African Folklore
Students are read "Anansi the Spider" to begin their discussion on continents. Using a map, they locate the continent of Africa and the country of Ghana. They discover who the Ashanti people are and view examples of their artwork. They...
Curated OER
Adopt a Geographic News Story
Young scholars explore geography and the environment by reading the news. They discuss why it is important to follow the news. Students adopt a geographic news story, research the topic, and design posters to illustrate the story.
Curated OER
The Pink Pig Gets Icky Sticky
Pupils recognize that the letter "i" alone in written text will map out the /i/ phoneme in spoken words. By helping them with this short vowel mapping knowledge is further increased and decoding skills improve.
Curated OER
My Black Teddy
Students read "Bonnie the Black Bear"and discuss black bear facts. In teams, they research the internet about black bears. They create their own stories about black bears using three facts from the information they've researched.
Curated OER
Naya Nuki's Journey
Students read "Naya Nuki Shoshoni Girl Who Ran" by Kenneth Thomasma. Students chart Naya Nuki's route on a map and identify the navigational signs she used to find her way home. Students also analyze the weather she encounters.
Curated OER
Charlie Chose Cheese
First graders identify the digraphs in written and spoken language. After a brief discussion of the combinations of /c/ and /h/ that comprise th /ch/ digraph, 1st graders practice identifying initial and final placement of the digraph...
Curated OER
Sally Snake
Students study the /s/ phoneme by examining the sound in written and spoken words. They recite a tongue twister, and examine how their mouths move as they make the sound. Next, they write the letter, differentiate the sound in given...
Curated OER
Music - Touch the Wind
Students study the Oneida song "Touch the Wind". They discuss the meaning and sentiment of the piece. Students use important singing techniques including good breathing, dynamics, and pitch. Students illustrate of the meaning of the song.
Curated OER
Putt-Putt Old Car
Learners study the phoneme /p/ both in written and spoken language while differentiating from the phoneme /b/. They think about the "put, put" sound that an old car makes, and work with at tongue twister. Next, they write the letter p,...
Curated OER
Ohio Bicentennial
First graders research the history of Ohio and the Ohio Bicentennial. They conduct research using a variety of resources, and participate in class discussions about Ohio. Using Kid Pix computer software they write one fact and create a...
Curated OER
I Can't Stop Itching
Students recognize the short vowel i in written and spoken language. Through matching and listening activities, they discriminate the vowel sound /i/ from other phonemes. After reading the story "Liz is Six," students draw a picture with...
Curated OER
Chimps Chugging Chocolate Milk
First graders identify the digraph /ch/ in written and spoken language. After a brief discussion of the independent and combined sounds of the phonemes /c/ and /h/ students practice identifying initial and final placement of the new...
Curated OER
Monarch Butterflies
First graders listen to books about butterflies and look at pictures of butterflies. Students review the stages of butterflies and learn the migratory path the monarch takes in its adult stage.
Curated OER
Food For Thought: A Geography of Minnesota Agriculture
Young scholars participate in hands-on activities and discussions about Minnesota's agriculture. They practice reading maps and locating where certain agricultural products are found throughout the state.
Achievement Strategies
CCSS Unit Design Template for PE
From baseball and tennis to capture the flag and four-square, here is a great document that will help you design your next unit on a sport-related activity.
Curated OER
The Envelope Please
Students research an animal of the rainforest. They create a computerized claymation to present their research.
Achievement Strategies
CCSS Unit Design Template for Art
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...
Curated OER
Climate in Our Back Yard
Students construct a "A Year in Pennsylvania" poster on which they creatively describe at least three examples of how the climate they live in shapes their lives during every season of the year.
Curated OER
Word Families -at, -an, -ap
In this word family activity, 1st graders examine 16 words and write them in their word family lists. They place them in columns that are labeled with -at, -an, and -ap.
Florida Center for Reading Research
Rhyming A-LOT-OH!
Rhymes are a great way to help your scholars with phonemic awareness and word relationships. Kids work with partners to match cards from a stack to their rhyming counterparts on a game board. There are six different boards, so this will...
Curated OER
Knowing the Essential Elements of a Habitat
First graders compare their environment with that of Belize by researching via the internet on the sites provided. Students participate in various activities/centers utilizing the information they discovered.
Curated OER
The Seven Continents Scavenger Hunt
Who doesn't enjoy an engaging scavenger hunt? Here, scholars listen to, and discuss, the informative text, Where is my Continent? by Robin Nelson. They then explore the seven continents and four major oceans using...
Curated OER
Learning to Ask Questions
First graders analyze historical materials and create questions about Dwight D. Eisenhower. In this question writing lesson, 1st graders ask and answer questions about the life of Eisenhower. Students write about photographs they...