Curriculum Corner
Book Study: The Polar Express
All aboard! Pair a reading of The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg with a set of literacy activities. The packet of worksheets includes task cards, sorting activities, a synonym match, comparing and contrasting activities, writing...
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Telling a Story
Young scholars create a story about a picture. For this writing lesson, students select a picture and write a story about what happened in the picture. Young scholars are encouraged to write a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
Teacherfiles
Basic Story Map
Here’s an all-purpose story map template that readers can use to keep track of books read for class, of independent reading, and even for stories planned. Users identify the title, author, major characters, setting, and events from the...
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Verdi
Third graders explore language arts by answering study questions about a book they read. In this reading summary lesson plan, 3rd graders read the book Verdi by Janell Cannon and identify the plot, characters and sequence of the story....
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Scumbelina
This cute and new imagining of the old tale of Cinderella comes complete with a beginning, middle, and end, audio, and comprehension questions. Learners will read along as you progress through each slide, then answer several questions at...
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Thrilling Information: Music and Reading
Here’s a cross-curricular program music activity that uses Peer Gynt to engage class members. Groups take one section of “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” choreograph their section of the tune to represent the story as they imagine it,...
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Introduce: Summarizing Narrative Text
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...
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Animation Pre-Production
Does your class love reading cartoons? Use their talents and interests to examine the process of writing a story they wish to tell through a cartoon. They develop the beginning, middle, and end of a story based on their original...
Poetry4kids
How to Write a Diamante Poem
A lesson begins with a description of a diamante poem and the rules to follow while writing one. Scholars examine the ins and outs of synonym and antonym diamantes, then compose an original poem using their newfound knowledge.
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Writing a Personal Narrative
Students complete a variety of computer file pre-writing activities to help them prepare for writing a personal narrative. They focus on including a beginning, middle and end to their narrative. They make a class book.
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Let the Campaign Begin
Learners examine the many steps involved in the electoral process. They examine past president's campaigns and write an announcement speech for the candidate of their choice.
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Speed Reading
Pupils increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing good reader strategies, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed assessment of...
For the Teachers
Sequence Plot Chart
Your kids can identify the plot sequence of a short story, but what about an informational article? Have them examine the chronological order of events in informational texts with a activity on the sequence of events.
Poetry4kids
How to Write a Cinquain Poem
A lesson challenges scholars to create a cinquain poem. Writers begin by choosing a topic and brainstorm details, then compose their original poem making sure to count syllables.
BBC
The Role of a Monarch (key stage 2 and 3)
What makes a good monarch? Elementary and middle schoolers examine popular symbols of the British monarchy before designing a television advertisement about the qualities needed in a monarch. Next, they write poems using metaphors and...
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SEQUENCING A STORY WITH PICTURES: TEXT AND TALK
Third graders create a graphic organizer. They draw illustrations that show the beginning, middle and end of a trip they took to visit a friend or a relative. They write age-appropriate text to accompany each drawing. They tell...
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School-Home Links/Book Links
In this reading homework activity worksheet, students choose a book then write the title of the book and the author of the book. Next students read the book with their family and draw a picture of the beginning and the end of the story...
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The Name Jar
Students participate in a lesson that focuses on the literature of Korea. "The Name Jar" is read by students to practice some essential reading skills. This would include the recognition of sequence in a story, characterization, and...
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Review Letters and Words: 20
In this reviewing letters and words activity, students name letters, say sounds of letters, read sentences, say beginning sounds, and more. Students complete 5 exercises.
For the Teachers
Story Strips Sequencing
What happens next? Work on story sequence with a lesson that prompts kids to put a story back in order. Additionally, they discuss what would happen if one event was missing from the sequence.
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Making a Movie in our Mind
Pupils participate in visualization exercises to create mental pictures as they read. They discuss silent reading techniques, and observe the teacher modeling how to visualize the beginning of the book Pippi Longstocking. In pairs they...
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Chow
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a four paragraph story. After reading, students answer five multiple choice, three short answer, and six fill in the blank questions about the story. They also write a paragraph and...
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Creative Writing
Students create a story with a beginning, middle and an ending. They also read and analyze another's story.
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Story Train
In this story sequencing worksheet, students will record the beginning, middle and ending of the book that they are reading on a graphic organizer in the shape of a train.