Curated OER
The Hidden Forest
Learners examine the forests of the Pacific Northwest. After being read a book, they discover the choices people have made in this area and its effect on the environment. They examine the role of kelp plants on the economy of this area...
Curated OER
Safe from the Storm
Fourth graders read the poem "Snowbound" after brainstorming what a place of refuge is and why it's needed. They, in pairs, meet and write a list of ten attributes that describe a refuge. They write a paragraph describing the look, feel,...
Curated OER
Kissing Coyotes
Fourth graders are read the book "Kissing Coyotes". During the story, they make predictions about what they believe might happen next. After the story, they create their own story using their imagination and draw illustrations.
Curated OER
The Joy of a Garden
Students study environmental stewardship. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students read the story The Gardner and define the character's actions for the environment. Students define philanthropy and complete a Venn Diagram...
Curated OER
The Important Poem
Students are read numerous examples of strong poetry. Individually, they brainstorm a list of interests or attributes about themselves and choose the most important one. They write a poem using the attribute and shares the poem with the...
Curated OER
Storytelling with the Opaque Projector
Students create illustrations for a folktale that are shown with an opaque projector during the story reading. They are assigned a picture description and do not know how their picture fits into the story until all of the illustrations...
Curated OER
Michigan's Lumbering history: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Fourth graders explore lumbering in Michigan. For this lumbering instructional activity, 4th graders examine the life of a modern day lumberjack and how technology can interfere with natural ecology. Students create a list of...
Teachnology
Teachnology: Lesson Plan: Letters From Rifka
For this 3rd through 5th grade lesson, students read the book Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse and write responses as Tovah to three of Rifka's letters in their journal.
Other
Literature Learning Ladders: A Long Way From Chicago
Check out this informative site about "A Long Way From Chicago" by Richard Peck and learn about small-town life during the Depression in seven short stories for the years 1929 through 1942.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Blogging in the Primary Grades? Yes, Indeed!
In this lesson, learners read blogs written by students their own age and learn to shape a well-thought-out response that addresses and answers the questions posed in the blog. Then, after reading, discussing, and deciding what makes a...
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Richard Peck
What do you know about Richard Peck's life and work as an author? Use this informative site to learn more about this young adult author and to find resources for lesson plans.
Scholastic
Scholastic Lesson Plan: Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich..
This multipart lesson plan the cost of opportunities when you have limited resources. It uses the hilarious children's book, "Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday" by Judith Viorst to drive the lesson home.
McGraw Hill
Glencoe Literature Library: "Tuck Everlasting" Study Guide [Pdf]
Reading guide on Natalie Babbitt's "Tuck Everlasting" with a variety of resources, discussion and writing questions, and brainstorming activities. Provides pre-reading material, such as an author biography, novel introduction, and...
McGraw Hill
Glencoe Literature Library: "Where the Red Fern Grows" Study Guide [Pdf]
Great reading guide for "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls. Provides pre-reading material, including an author bio, book introduction, background articles, and journaling activities, as well as charting and brainstorming ideas...
McGraw Hill
Glencoe Literature Library: "Missing May" Study Guide [Pdf]
A great resource for students reading "Missing May," complete with a brief biography of author Cynthia Rylant, pre-reading material, diagramming activities, personal response and analysis questions, and an essay prompts for students who...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Interactive Strategy Workbook
Read two poems and reflect on the numerous teaching strategies featured in Teaching Multicultural Literature . Choose strategies to explore, and consider how you might adapt them for these poems and your students. Then compile and print...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Book Report Alternative: The Elements of Fiction
Analyzing a book takes the form of creating their own when students complete this activity. The stated goal is to help students "Read like writers." Includes link to a template for student use.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Book Report Alternative Creating a New Book Cover
Contains plans for four lessons that ask students to create new book covers as an alternative to the traditional book report. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as...
Other
Literature Circles: Lesson Plans and More
What are the major roles in literature circles? Check out this site to learn more about the individual roles needed to form a literature circle. Includes links to various reading handouts and lessons.
Other
Penguin Group Canada: 'Run' Teacher's Guide [Pdf]
Run' by Eric Walters is a fictionalized account of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope run across Canada. This teacher's guide has discussion questions and response journal prompts for each chapter as well as extension activities for the novel....
Other
The Dream Flag Project
This creative and collaborative project is centered around the poetry of Langston Hughes, and incorporates art, multi-cultural ideas, and student performance. The site is full of examples, information, lessons and explanation.
Other
Thorntons: Sarah, Plain and Tall Student Study Guide
Follow the novel through this informative study guide.
University of Missouri
Wise Pockets: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
This site has activities for enrichment for the book "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg.
Utah State University
Teacher Link: Letters From Rifka
This site features an interdisciplinary lesson plan for the book "Letters from Rifka" by Karen Hesse. Discover how this twelve year old girl's struggle to get to America from Russia.