Listening Library
The Sign of the Beaver
Extend a class reading of the novel The Sign of the Beaver across all subject areas with this literature unit guide. From basic discussion questions and writing prompts, to a research project about tracking animals, this resource offers...
Curated OER
Determining Author's Point of View: The Sneeches
Determine the author's point of view in a text. Young readers read Dr. Seuss' The Sneeches and identify the author's purpose in the story. They identify persuasive techniques in writing, asking and answering questions to better...
Curated OER
Summer Reads for Teachers
Keep up on current trends in education while taking some time to relax with the perfect book.
Curated OER
Making a Rainstick
Learners construct a rainstick. In this music lesson, students investigate the history of the rainstick by reading the book Bringing the Rain to the Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema. Learners express their feelings about the rain and create...
Curated OER
Water Uses and Children's Lives in East Africa
Students explore water usage around the world. In this "water" social studies lesson, students brainstorm ways in which water is used. Students visit the Water in Africa website to view pictures of water usage in Africa. Students...
Curated OER
The Shape of Home
Students define home and understand that home is not the same to everyone. For this homes lesson, students participate individually and in groups to create a classroom definition of home. Students discuss the events in the story the...
Lee & Low Books
First Come the Zebra Teacher’s Guide
Accompany a reading of First Come the Zebra written and illustrated by Lynne Barasch with a teacher's guide equipped with before reading, vocabulary, and after reading activities. Additional social studies, science, music, art, math, and...
Curated OER
Mark Twain- Teaching About American Authors
Mark Twain lesson plans can shed light on his famous works, like "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."
Curated OER
The Caldecott Award
Fourth graders engage in a multitude of written and artistic activities as they study illustrators, how illustrations enhance a studenT book, and the Caldecott Award.
Curated OER
Lesson Plans on the Intersection of History and Literature
Finding out about "the story behind the story" can provide a greater understanding of literature and its historical and social context.
Curated OER
Out of Old England in the 1630s-Flat Me Project
Young scholars write letters to penpals. In this geography/literacy lesson, students become penpals with a classroom in England to learn about customs and society across the ocean. Flat Stanley by Will Holton is read aloud, and young...
Curated OER
Our Heritage: American!
For this poetry worksheet, students read the poem "Our Heritage: American!" and then answer 4 questions about the poem. There are 2 questions at the bottom of the worksheet for discussion.
Curated OER
Coyote and Anansi
Students explore the structure of folktales. For this coyote and Anansi lesson, students discuss the attributes of folktales as they read versions of tales featuring coyote and Anansi. Students collaborate to write and perform their own...
Nazareth College
Creative Writing
Students discuss creative writing—what makes something creative writing? Each learner starts writing a story and after 15 minutes, they pass their story to another who adds to it. After another 15 minutes of writing, the story is passed...
Curated OER
Irish Literature Scavenger Hunt
Fourth graders locate and evaluate various books, journals, anthologies, and Internet sources that contain information that may be used in answering the scavenger hunt questions related to Ireland and Irish literature.
Curated OER
?Que ser de nosotros? (What Will Become of Us?)
Students discuss uses of a pumpkin. They fill out graphic organizers. Students listen as the teacher reads a story, and participate by repeating sounds the objects make as the story progresses. One student narrates the story while others...
Curated OER
Cinderella Cinderella
Students compare and contrast various versions of the story Cinderella and create their own version. They read versions of Cinderella and identify their components including setting, characters, events/plot, magic and biographical...
Curated OER
Contrasting Cinderellas
Young scholars compare and contrast the traditional Cinderella to the modern-day fairy tale, Cinder Edna. In this fairy tales lesson, students read both stories and construct a Venn diagram to compare the two fairy tales. Young scholars...
Curated OER
Modern day Folktales: Recasting Folktales in the 21st Century
Students write their own modern day folktale and compare it with "Cathal O'Cruachan and the Cowherd." In addition, they illustrate a character from the original Irish folktale and how the same character would appear today. Students read...
Curated OER
Harry Potter: Early Grades Activity
Learners analyze labels and explore the social hierarchy found in Harry Potter. They expore inclusion and exclusion in social groups.
Curated OER
Earth Connections
Young scholars explore the concept of the planet Earth and its connection to the Native American traditional beliefs of 'Mother Earth.' Students describe and illustrate the Native American beliefs for 'Mother Earth.' Young scholars...
Curated OER
Feltboard Storytelling
Students read African folktales and retell the story using feltboard. For this folktale lesson, students read the story Why the Sky is Far Awayand use feltboard to retell the stories.