Curated OER
An Introduction to Nonfiction
Examine the elements of nonfiction writings in this lesson. Learners list common features of nonfiction and compare nonfiction and fiction books on the same topic. Create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the two genres.
Curated OER
Teaching the Yoshimi Sode-Dako (Sleeve Kite)
Students explore Japanese culture through the art of kite-making. They read several selections on the importance of kites in Japanese to a Japanese holiday and the physics behind flying a kite. Then they work in amall groups to build and...
Curated OER
The Well of Truth
Second graders explore the Egyptian folktale, The Well of Truth. In this folktale instructional activity, 2nd graders read the tale and discuss the events from the text. Students write a diary entry from the point of view of a character...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving
Young scholars study tier two vocabulary words. In this vocabulary activity, students explore new vocabulary words while reading The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving. Young scholars record their new vocabulary words using a word journal or...
National Wildlife Federation
What's Your Habitat?
How are third graders like rabbits? They both live in habitats and require food, water, and shelter to survive! An educational science instructional activity encourages your learners to think about their own habitats and survival needs,...
Curated OER
Good Readers Visualize
Students explore reading. In this visualization lesson, students practice, creating images in their minds while listening to the story The Vegetables Go To Bed, by Christopher King. They listen to the story and then draw what they...
Curated OER
The Bee Tree
Young scholars practice reading comprehension by reading a book in class. In this story map lesson, students read The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco, and create a story map based on the problem and solution of the book. Young scholars...
Curated OER
Summertime
Explore expressive reading through the read-aloud Summertime: From Porgy and Bess. Readers will make predictions about the text and listen to the song Summertime. They will also identify how the story relates to the song lyrics.
Curated OER
Reintroduce: Main Idea
What would a main idea be without important details? Readers use a graphic organizer to record key details from an informational text (a fiction text would also work). Review main idea as a concept before beginning, asking scholars to...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Arthur's New Puppy (Brown)
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:...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Blueberries for Sal (McCloskey)
Take your budding readers on a literary trip to pick blueberries as they learn vocabulary from Robert McClosky's book, Blueberries for Sal. By pre-teaching the words pupils are prepared to raise their hands when they hear the words in...
New York Public Library
What's for Lunch?: New York City Restaurant Menus
Do you remember the days when a cup of coffee cost five cents? At A.W. Dennett restaurant in 1894, you could buy a five-cent cup of coffee and as well as a five-cent slice of pie to accompany it. The menu from that year is a primary...
Vancouver Island University
Ming Lo Moves the Mountain
A good story is a great way to support skills that are necessary for encouraging strong reading skills. Here is a class I do, You do, We do style lesson that stars the tale, Ming Lo Moves the Mountain. Included are two fun pre-reading...
Curated OER
Sequence, Predict, Infer: Pink and Say
Practice sequencing with your 2nd graders via Patricia Polacco's Civil War book Pink and Say. Begin with a blindfold and a bag of mystery items. Connect their use of clues to identify what they can't see with the skill of making...
Curated OER
Aesop's Fables
Regale your class with renditions of Aesop's fables from the engaging, and beautifully illustrated book by Jerry Pinkney. Guide discussion to practice prediction, compare and contrast various stories, explore the connections between the...
Curated OER
What Makes a Shadow?
Second graders respond to language, meanings and ideas in different explanatory texts relating them to personal experiences. They listen to and interact with others. Ask questions and talk about personal experiences in a group.
Curated OER
Let's Make Lemonade Lesson 2: Philanthropy in Song
Students discover a working definition of the word philanthropy. They sing the definition to the tune of a familiar song. They establish phonemic awareness through rhyming text and identify philanthropic acts.
Curated OER
Boy Cricket Girl Cricket
Pupils investigate crickets. In this series of cricket activities, students observe and chart crickets. Pupils discuss the differences between male and female crickets, record findings in a journal, handle crickets, and read a variety...
Curated OER
Ready...Set...Go!!
Readers work to increase their reading fluency through repeated timed readings. They learn to read with more excitement and enthusiasm in their voices, making a more pleasurable experience for their listeners.
Curated OER
Dancing Opposites (Size)
Students create movements that illustrate opposites. In this opposites lesson, students discuss what opposites do for writing and relate to dance. Students make movements based on their opposites.
Curated OER
Ride the Road to Freedom
Second graders discover that people can connect the dots of the stars to make pictures in the sky and have been doing so for thousands of years. They understand that throughout the United States people worked together to plan an escape...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Clap Your Hands
Read Clap Your Hands to explore new vocabulary with your class. In this three-tiered vocabulary lesson, youngsters read the book and identify the plot, setting, and characters. They also define vocabulary terms from the book and answer...
Curated OER
Dig A Little Deeper
Here is a great lesson plan on recognizing events and themes in a story. Students read chapters from a chosen book and then fill out a graphic organizer to further explore the purpose of the chapter. They write the events, themes,...
Curated OER
Discovery, Ship to Shuttle
The history of Florida is explored in this lesson which covers topics from Ponce de Leon to space travel. Learners listen to stories about Ponce de Leon's search for the fountain of youth and then move on to a discussion of the space...