K12 Reader
The Scientific Method
Introduce the scientific method with a reading comprehension activity. Have kids read a few paragraphs that describe the process of making a hypothesis, gathering evidence, and taking notes that will support the experiment.
Denver Art Museum
Descriptive Haiku
Even though this is technically an art activity, haiku poetry is actually the main focus! Learners view photographs of Japanese tea caddies. They list five descriptive words for the caddies, then write haiku poems using the caddies as...
Federal Reserve Bank
Glo Goes Shopping
Making decisions can be very difficult. Show your class one way to evaluate choices with this lesson, which is inspired by the book Glo Goes Shopping. Learners practicing using a decision-making grid with the content of the story and a...
Curated OER
The Betsy Ross Story: Truth or Legend?
Students discover that some historians question the story of Betsy Ross's involvement in the creation of the first U.S. flag, study why historians question the story and list reasons the story of Betsy Ross might not be true.
Curated OER
Letter Writing
Keep the art of letter writing alive in this age of Tweet and Twitter! The 10 activities detailed in this resource lead pupils through the process of crafting classic forms. A list of and links to famous letters is also included as part...
Pala Software
SpellBoard
How do you spell great? G-R-E-A-T! Ensure that your pupils can spell great and so much more with this effective app.
Curated OER
My Grammar Booklet
Looking for a fun way to teach grammar concepts and terms to your elementary schoolers? Learners create their own grammar reference books with this resource! After cutting out each box and stapling them together to create booklets, young...
Curated OER
Lesson 3: Puns
Encourage more pun-derstanding of word play in your literary scholars as they explore Brian P. Cleary's book Rhyme and Punishment: Adventures in Wordplay. Although this isn't suggested, consider beginning this study by simply showing...
Curated OER
Barnyard Protest: Cows, Chickens & Fundamental Freedoms
Here is an ambitious and engaging instructional activity that should help elementary schoolers begin to develop a basic understanding of human rights. Pupils are asked to think about their own rights, the rights of others, and how an...
ReadWriteThink
Looking for the History in Historical Fiction: An Epidemic for Reading
Combine informational reading skills with fictional text in an innovative historical fiction lessons. After reading a fictional text related to diseases, class members read non-fictional text to gain knowledge about specific infectious...
EngageNY
Asking and Answering Questions: Reading about a Frog's Habitat
Building upon previous lessons, scholars take to asking and answering questions about a frog's habitat. A partner discussion follows a read-aloud of an informational text in preparation for a worksheet that boosts reading comprehension...
EngageNY
Reading about Freaky Frogs: “The Water-Holding Frog"
Boost reading comprehension skills with a lesson all about freaky frogs. A poem hooks scholars and takes them into a reading of an informational text followed by peer discussions. A three-page worksheet focuses on text features and...
Curated OER
Retelling Stella Louella's Runaway Book: Point of View
Stella Louella’s Runaway Book launches a study of point of view and storytelling. After reading the tale, class members retell the story from the point of view of another character. The scripted plan, developed by a teacher candidate,...
K12 Reader
Galileo and His Telescope
Learn about Galileo Galilei's contribution to modern science with a reading passage that focuses on reading comprehension. After kids read several paragraphs about his life, they answer five questions about the information they have just...
K12 Reader
Estimation
When is it a good idea to use estimation? Learn about estimation and rounding with a reading comprehension lesson. After kids read a passage about estimation, they answer five comprehension questions on the other side of the page.
K12 Reader
United States Geography
Encourage reading for information with a text about United States geography. Kids read a short passage about the landforms in the United States, including mountain ranges and natural resources, and answer five reading comprehension...
Scholasic
The Magic School Bus and the Missing Tooth
We chew with our teeth every day, but how much do we really know about them? Allow Ms. Frizzle to teach your kids a thing or two about teeth. Kids complete a prereading exercise, read the book, and respond to several prompts about the...
Student Handouts
Textbook Vocabulary Word Boxes
Encourage the development of proactive readers with this graphic organizer, which prompts pupils to identify words they do not recognize as they are reading a textbook or literary piece.
Curated OER
Long Vowel Sounds
Build reading skills, phonemic awareness, or spelling strategies with this super handy presentation. Each slide contains several variations of a long vowel sound and multiple examples of each. This is a great tool to have around,...
Curated OER
Why is Handwriting Important?
Love this resource! Have your ever found it difficult to get your class to buy into the idea that handwriting is important? This resource provides a history of handwriting and a detailed discussion of the importance of it as a...
Curated OER
Apostrophes
Here is some very good, interactive practice for your class regarding when they should, and should not, use apostrophes. Clear examples are given, and learners have ample opportunities to practice the skill. Instant feedback is given for...
Curated OER
Procedural Text: Pop up card instructions
Build procedural text comprehension skills by having your class follow a set of instructions, first with, then without visual aids. They work through each step to create a pop up card. They also learn a bit about themselves as learners...
Curated OER
Story switch up
Gather your class around to hear the real story of Jack and the Bean Stalk. In this version Jack is mean and rude, and the Giant is friendly and kind. Have your class rewrite a classic fairy tale to build strong written...
Curated OER
Informative/ Expository Writing
Elementary schoolers are charged with writing an article for their peers. A class discussion yields topics about which learners consider themselves to be an expert. The teacher models how to construct an article by using facts he or she...