Pennsylvania Department of Education
Comparing Key Ideas and Details in Fiction and Nonfiction
Students recognize the differences between fiction and nonfiction texts. In this genre study lesson, students discuss what nonfiction means and write the definition. Students listen to a read aloud and vote whether the text is fiction or...
Curated OER
Celebrate Our Favorite Authors
Students read and compare and contrast a variety of books by their favorite authors. They sort books from various authors and identify themes and patterns in writing and drawings. They also create their own book in the style of their...
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Launching a Writer's Workshop
Students interview each other and their parents to examine why and when writers write and where published authors get their ideas. They complete a class T-chart, fill-out an interview worksheet, and read and discuss a variety of book...
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Sequencing The Three Billy Goats Gruff
First graders participate in sequencing activities. In this sequencing lesson, 1st graders read the book the Three Billy Goats Gruff. Students retell the story and act out the scenes in groups. Students create a mural of the story...
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Thanksgiving Traditions
Everyone celebrates traditions in different ways. Young writers share the ways their families celebrate Thanksgiving with a journal writing prompt and discussion activity.
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Corn Cob Painting
Students explore creativity and imagination. In this lesson about art, students experiment with different tools used for creating prints. Students use ears of corn with kernels and without kernels, tempera paint, paper plates for the...
Curated OER
Why We Count
Students visualize census data on a map and use a map key to read a population map. For this census lesson, students use a map of the Virgin Islands and corresponding worksheets to gain an understanding of population density.
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Flowers and a Beautiful World: Earth Day (1st)
Young scholars consider caring for their environment. In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, students read Miss Rumphius and discuss how sharing their time, talent, and treasure through volunteering makes the world...
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What is Kwanzaa?
Describe the general characteristics of Kwanzaa after reading Seven Candles of Kwanzaa. For this Kwanzaa lesson, learners study the principles of the Kwanzaa holiday and interpret the principles through music and dance. They...
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Phil's Garden of Good
Students read "The Rainbow Fish" and discuss how the fish benefited by giving others. In this sharing lesson, students prepare plants and letters for senior citizens. Students present their letters and plants at a visit to a senior...
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Poetry for the Common Good
Students identify examples of philanthropy in poetry or song. In this philanthropy lesson, students examine several poems such as Give by Carrie A. Thomas and identify concepts of philanthropy in the poem. Students construct their own...
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Who Takes Care of the Maya Forest Corridor?
First graders study the animals in the Maya Forest Reserve. In this conservation instructional activity, 1st graders create a graph to compare the environment of animals to their own. They design a 3D model of these two environments.
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Amazon Rainforest Conservation, Brazil
Students explore rain forests. In this rain forest lesson plan, students participate in a "BioBlitz" of their schoolyard, observing and recording every living thing in a designated area. Students visit websites about rain...
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Natural Disasters: An Adventure in Non-Fiction
Students study different natural disasters. In this natural disaster lesson students read a nonfiction book followed by a discussion, an experiment, then collect illustrations from their experience.
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1st Grade - Act. 14: Who's in Your Family
First graders create classroom graph of their family members after reading book, Family.
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Inside Out!
Students use reasoning skills to understand the concepts of opposites, inside, and outside. In this early childhood lesson plan, students identify words that are opposites, particularly inside and outside. Students then apply their...
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Repair, Reuse, Recycle
Students read "Joseph had a Little Overcoat" and explain why his clothing didn't go to waste. In this repairing, reusing, recycling lesson, students recognize by reusing objects they help the environment. Students write their ideas for...
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Friendly Neighbors
Students review the days of the week and the meaning of unconditional kindness. For this days of the week and kindness lesson, students participate in a reading of Libba Moore Gray's Miss Tizzy. They talk about the days of the week and...
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Growing Gold
First graders explore a folktale from India. In this folktale lesson, 1st graders read the tale, Growing Gold and discuss facts about India. Students construct the national flag of India from construction paper. Students also participate...
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What Am I?
Students identify various shells. In this oceanography lesson, students create a KWL chart to activate background knowledge on shells. Students read the book Ocean Day and learn about waves, tides, and the seashells that can...
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Continuing Gandhi's Legacy of Cross-Cultural Understanding: Central Asia and the Middle East
Students investigate the lifestyle of Gandhi by creating a Venn Diagram. In this biographical lesson, students compare the philosophies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi while discussing their teaching methods. Students...
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Who are My Sisters and Brothers?
Students explore religion by completing a cultural diversity activity. For this human compassion lesson, students identify all of "God's Children" as their sisters and brothers. Students read the book Frederick in class and listen to...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Tell Me Again
Students demonstrate how to retell a story in sequential order. In this reading comprehension lesson plan, students listen to a suggested read aloud, such as Little Boy Blue. Additionally, students practice retelling the story by using...
Curated OER
Your Land, My Land, Woody's Land Too
Students become familiar with the song writer Woody Guthrie and his song, This Land Is Your Land. In this getting to know our land lesson, students understand the vocabulary of the song and some biographical information about Woody...