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Literary Elements: Storytelling Techniques
Students think about what makes a story interesting to read or hear. What kinds of details make a story come to life? How can a storyteller create a feeling of excitement or suspense? What kinds of characters do students like? If anyone...
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Hurricane Season Blows In
Students are asked whether they agree or disagree with statements about hurricanes. They then read the words that appear in the News Word box on the Students printable page and one one of the words to complete each sentence. They read...
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Latin American Film
Students identify characteristics in a Latin American film. In this filmography lesson, students describe their favorite movies and the reasons why they like them. Students are shown a short clip of a Latin American movie and discuss the...
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Comparing Cultures
Young readers compare two stories/cultures, identifying how they are alike and different. They share their own version of a well-known story and adapt it to another culture. They explain their adaptations.
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An Introduction to Nonfiction
Examine the elements of nonfiction writings in this instructional activity. 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...
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Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers
Young scholars compose a letter to a family member. In this writing activity, students listen to the book, Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers and identify the parts of a letter.
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Conflict Resolution in 9 Easy Steps
Students investigate student psychology by reading assigned text about nonviolence. In this conflict resolution lesson, students read nine specific steps they should take the next time they are in an argument with someone. Students...
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Using a Database to Organize Vocabulary Words
Students use a database as a vocabulary resource during writing/reading. They preview stories and list unknown works into their reading notebooks. Students find the definitions, and enter their words into a database using a teacher...
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Where's the Boss? -- A Scripted Play About the Iditarod
Pupils utilize a Reader's Theater script and accompanying lesson plan to learn about the Iditarod race that takes place in Alaska. During the process, they also learn about teamwork and working together.
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Doodle Splash
Learners navigate Doodle Splash to create a painting. For this doodle splash lesson, students explain their splash painting relationship to a piece of literature.
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Beanie Baby Biographies
Learners write a biography for their favorite Beanie Babies and then share their biography out loud. A simple, yet effective idea! Everyone loves their Beanie Baby!
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Getting Hooked, Introduction for a Narrative
How can you interest your reader? Here is a great lesson on reading and discussing the characteristics of a narrative. Elementary schoolers explore writing techniques to hook the reader. They identify their hook and share their...
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Stop Sign Punctuation
Students use punctuation and capitalization. In this grammar lesson students use stop signs in the place of periods. Students cut out sentences and put stop signs in appropriate places. Students indicate capitalization where needed.
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Writing to a Specific Topic
After a class discussion where learners make predictions about what will happen in a book based on its cover illustration, pupils are asked to compose a written response about an aspect of the story and include some of their own...
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Dear Peter Rabbit
Write dear old Peter Rabbit a letter with this lesson. First, youngsters listen to the story Peter Rabbit and analyze the story elements. Then they complete a story map graphic organizer in order to write a letter to Peter...
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Escolas de Carnaval
Pupils create a carnival display displaying the different themes they have studied. In this carnival lesson plan, students display the work they have studied through the samba schools in Brazil. Pupils also incorporate music in their...
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Magic Pencil Story Starters
While mentioning adult learners in the description, this lesson could be used at any grade level. This activity gives a list of procedures and writing prompts to help unlock the writer in everyone. Learners of all ages could benefit from...
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Developing Relationships with Older People
Young scholars read books and view movies about older people. They write a questionnaire to interview older people at a retirement center, interview the people, record their information on graphs, and write follow-up letters.
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The All About Me Poster
First and second graders become familiar with the components of a biography. In this language arts lesson, pupils create an "All About Me" page using components of a biography. They also create an interractive poster, and work with a...
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Lemony Snicket Series Comes to an End (Unfortunately)
An informational text about Lemony Snicket leads to a discussion of the books class members have read in the Series of Unfortunate Events series. Children then compare and contrast the settings, plots, and characters in the...
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Scientists Find Fossils of T. rex Relative
Students read a news article that describes scientists finding a fossil of a T. Rex relative in China. They view a picture of the G. wuccai. They respond to the reading using details and by revisiting the anticipation set of questions.
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Holiday Poetry and Music
Pupils discuss Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and family traditions. After brainstorming how holidays are celebrated, students write a poem about a chosen holiday and create their own hand-made instrument. They share their poems...
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Ask a NASA Engineer
Students develop questions to ask a NASA engineer to email them. After emailing the quesitons to the volunteer, the answers are sent to the class via the same method. To end the lesson, they formulate more questions and repeat the process.
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The Furry News: How to Make a Newspaper
Students investigate the process of making a newspaper using children's literature to create context for the lesson. The readers are asked to predict the events of the story as it is read to them. Then the teacher uses guided questions...