Activity
Scholastic

A Reading Guide to Sarah, Plain and Tall

For Teachers 1st - 5th Standards
Eliminate the hard work of creating an entire literature unit with this reading guide for the novel Sarah, Plain and Tall. From background information about the author and her motivation for writing the story to...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Happy Birthday Hans: How To Celebrate International Children's Book Day

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Honor Hans Christian Andersen while encouraging young readers with enjoyable projects and activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rules and Responsibilities Was It the Pied Piper's Fault?

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Learners read or listen to a piece of literature to find the connections between people and their responsibilities. They participate in a variety of activities after experiencing the literature.
Activity
Curated OER

The Night Before Thanksgiving

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Natasha Wing's story The Night Before Thanksgiving is a great way to incorporate rhyme and literature into the Thanksgiving season. Learners make text-to-self connections, recall main events, and choose post-reading activities...
Lesson Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Analyzing Literary Elements in Fiction

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Young scholars analyze the characters and events in fictional writing. In this literary elements lesson, students study the meaning of the words characterization and fiction. They listen to the story Pigsty by Mark Teague, or any other...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introducing Literary Elements in Fiction

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Identify literary elements in fiction. In this reading comprehension lesson, learners read the book Pigsty and record literary elements onto a graphic organizer. They specifically discuss the main characters and events in the text.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Language Arts, Social Studies, African Americans, The Blues, To Kill A Mockingbird

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
African American history during the Jim Crow era includes encounters with poverty, racism, disrespect, and protest. Harper Lee develops all four of these themes in her famous 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. To help students understand...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Generations: An Exploration of our Families Through Literature

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students complete a unit of lessons on families. They read and analyze various stories, label a map, assemble sentences, write letters to grandparents, analyze character traits, and write and illustrate a sheet for a class book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Friendly Neighbors

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners review the days of the week and the meaning of unconditional kindness. In 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Piano

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read The Piano and become familiar with racial discrimination.  In this racial discrimination book lesson, 2nd graders answer comprehension question to focus on the importance of the book.  Students discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When This World Was New

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders participate in a guided reading activity and read about and immigrant family.  In this guided reading lesson, 2nd graders answer questions that focus on their new homeland. Students write a response to literature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gettin' Through Thursday

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Have your class explore active reading strategies! In this guided reading lesson, learners make personal connections to characters having a bad day as a prior knowledge activation discussion. After reading Gettin' Through Thursday, class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fun in the Sun

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students learn about safe summertime play and responsibility. In this Clifford-themed lesson plan, students read Clifford Keeps Cool, use a time line to discuss the story, and participate in a summertime picnic activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
In this story structure activity, students read the book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and identify the characters, setting and main themes of the book. They answer a list of study questions about the book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coming to America

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Students read one book together about the immigrant experience. Teacher asks students to identify some of the themes around immigration contained in the book (example: prejudice).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Searching for Stars

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Positive character traits in literature are explored in this character development and literacy lesson plan. Learners listen to Cinderella by Charles Perrault and Little Gold Star by Robert D. San Souci, followed by a discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Writing Portfolio

For Teachers K - 3rd
Emerging writers create a portfolio showcasing various writing formats. They discuss Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. They observe the key features of picture books and then create their own book to add...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh Say Can You See?

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learners discover the meaning of patriotism through literature, songs, and poetry. They also identify patriotic symbols and activities such as the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Star Spangled Banner, the bald eagle, and monuments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solid Waste and Our Natural Resources: Utilizing the Story THE LORAX

For Teachers K - 12th
Students gain an introduction to our planet's solid waste problem and our personal responsibility in curbing and solving said problem through the use of Dr. Seuss' book, The Lorax. After hearing the book, class discussion follows.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Importance of the Rainforest

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students read "The Great Kapok Tree" by Lynne Cherry while listening to Tropical Rainforest music. They name all the speaking animals in the book and list each of the reasons the animals gave for not cutting down the tree. They then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looks Like Respect, Sounds Like Respect, Feels Like

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore philanthropy through art. In this service learning lesson plan, students discuss the diversity in their community and use their senses to create tolerance posters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classroom Guide for The Birthday Swap

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners complete activities with the book The Birthday Swap by Loretta Lopez. In this literature lesson, students answer pre-reading questions, locate new vocabulary, and read the story. They answer comprehension questions,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students examine the Declaration of Independence. In this colonial America lesson, students read literature regarding the document as well as excerpts of the document itself. Students also perform a Reader's Theatre script based on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cause and Effect

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners identify cause and effect relationships in a short story. After reading a short story, they participate in a discussion of how one event in a story can lead to several others. Students are then paired for a matching task that...