Second graders investigate self- and teacher-selected literature (e.g., picture books, nursery rhymes, fairy tales, poems, legends) from a variety of cultures. They re-enact and retell stories, songs, poems, plays, and other literary...

Students explore the fairy tale genre of literature. In this Cinderella lesson, students read fairy tales and discuss their attributes and cultural background. Students examine and write their own fractured fairy tales.

Second graders read literature about Africa, examine physical characteristics of the continent, explore animals native to Africa, and discuss distance between Africa and locations in the United States.

Students present a play based on The Lorax.In this environmental issues lesson, students read and discuss literature and complete activities pertaining to environmental stewardship.

Students discuss the fable, The Crow and the Pitcher. In this literature lesson, students read the fable and create a crow sock puppet. Students use their puppets to dramatize the fable.

Learners read and discuss books with bullying themes. They take a pledge against bullying and watch an animated movie on the subject. They inspect tips for dealing with bullies and consider how people become bullies.

Students participate in various activities that explore the book, Koala Lou, by Mem Fox. They listen to an audio file of the author reading the book aloud, complete graphic organizers, investigate the animals of Australia, and read an...

Students examine Newbery book awards from 2005. They visit Web sites with author interviews, excerpts, and related activities. They explore both medal and honor books.

Young scholars brainstorm prior knowledge of Ancient Egypt, locate Egypt on map of Africa and on world map, watch King Tut film, discuss term biography, and map geographical information mentioned in stories and documentaries about...

Students dramatize scenes from the picture book Turk and Runt. In this holiday lesson, students view the book Turk and Runt and identify the events of the text. Students dramatize scenes from the text to demonstrate comprehension.

Students read the book, You Cheat! by Jamie Gilson. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding sibling relationships and other concepts included in the book. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing,...

Students read Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the ideas presented in the story. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies, and library...

After a unit on Jan Brett's books, this resource would be a great way to discuss what everyone has learned. Each of the slides in this presentation focuses on one of Brett's books. There are also links to quizzes and other supplementary...

Students retell story events on a lunch bag filled with popcorn. They illustrate the story events and enjoy the popcorn snack.

Did you know that Green Eggs and Ham is written in iambic pentameter? Model the rhythm of language using Dr. Seuss’s tale. Direct class members to march about the room tapping their right foot on the first syllable and stomping their...

No activity accompanies this drama about the American Revolution. With 13 speaking roles, the short script could be used for a class production, a activity on the parts of a play, or to supplement your social studies curriculum.

Help learners construct relationships between written narratives and book illustrations, and between the narratives in formal visual art and the subject of the visual art. Look at Caldecott winning books and focus on the pictures drawn....

Second graders should be familiar with characters of a story and adjectives. The students should have some knowledge of Kidspiration. After reading a story, they will use Kidspiration and create a character web to describe a character in...

Students participate in a variety of activities designed to integrate drama into the classroom. They play charades, mime, practice visualization, active and passive improvisation, develop characters using puppets, etc.

Enhance reader comprehension! Examine different comprehension strategies with your second, third, and fourth graders. They discuss the strategy of questioning by developing their own comprehension questions to help improve their memory...

Students read Dancing With the Indians by Angela Shelf Medearis. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of Native American festivals and traditions. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing,...

Elementary learners practice reading short passages to increase their fluency. They work in pairs to do repeated readings of Jane and Babe, recording their times. They switch roles and time one another in an effort to decrease the...

Second graders investigate the story of "The Three Bears" while focusing on the character of Goldilocks. They answer key questions that are focused upon the development of positive feelings and reactions. Students discuss the possible...

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...