Curated OER
Jeffrey and Sloth
Students listen to the story Jeffrey and Sloth and explore the six traits of writing. In this six traits of writing lesson plan, students practice doodling as a method of brainstorming ideas. Students then discover the importance of...
Curated OER
Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": Mixing Fact and Fiction
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," from The Jungle Book, offers young readers a chance to examine how Rudyard Kipling uses setting and personification to bring to life the brave mongoose who battles cobras to protect his family. Class members...
Curated OER
Great Lakes at Stake
Students explore conservation of the Great Lakes. In this geography and ecology lesson, students identify the Great Lakes on a map and view a video depicting the history and importance of these lakes. Students work in groups to research...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Drawing Conclusions Based on Literary Elements
Students compare versions of Cinderella and draw conclusions based on the story elements identified. In this literacy comprehension and story elements lesson, students read several versions of Cinderella, complete a "Comparing Folklore"...
Curated OER
Japanese Inspired Activities for the Classroom
Students become more aware of cultural differences by reading a variety of multicultural books about social issues. They assess various Haiku's by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Kamishibai stories by Dianne Clouet and snapshots from Japan by Peter...
Curated OER
Analytical Essay
What is an analytical essay? Introduce this type of thinking to your young writers. First, discuss what it means to analyze something. Then, identify the different components of an essay and what details are embedded in each component....
Curated OER
What's In a Name?
Students listen to poems, and discuss what they like and dislike about each poem. They write an original poem about a partner, describing their partner and creating art to go with it.
Curated OER
Nature and Haiku Poetry
Students compose haiku poems and recognize how cultures value nature and
natural forces through the study of Japanese poetry. This instructional activity includes a bibliography of resources.
Curated OER
Fifth Grade Literature: January
Fifth graders examine and analyze various poems by Edward Hersey Richards, Robert Frost, and Emily Dickinson. They explore similes, and write journal entry responses.
Curated OER
Free Verse
Students write free verse poems. In this poetry lesson, students use a three-step method to create a free verse poem. Students brainstorm ideas, let their ideas "incubate," and write a free verse poem.
Curated OER
Clerihew
Students explore how to create a Cherihew poem. They know that a Cherihew is a poem. Students write their own Cherihew poem. They are given examples of of a Cherihew. Students are shown that the poem has four lines and is often written...
Curated OER
The Cinquain
Learners explore writing a cinquain. Students engage in a pantomime experience. They observe and describe bubbles. Learners compose a cinquain and illustrate their work with bubble art.
Curated OER
What A Beautiful World We Live In
Students create poems, pictures, and essays to show their love of life. They also explain how to get through the difficult times. Finally, they describe what is beautiful in this world that they enjoy.
Curated OER
Book Report Haiku
Students study another method for writing a book report using a Haiku poem. In this book report instructional activity, students use the Haiku poem format to write a book report.
Curated OER
Ladybug Similes
In this simile activity, students review the definition and an example about similes. Students then write five similes about ladybugs, pick out the best one, and then illustrate it.
Curated OER
Greeting Cards
Students create greeting cards. They listen to verses from various cards and evaluate each one. They research websites of greeting card makers and complete a chart. They discuss themes and ideas in greeting cards and edit their free...
Curated OER
Poetry Calendar
Students research the work of famous poets. They design and create a school year calendar based on the work of famous poets. Students research five poets born during each month.
Curated OER
Wife of Bath's Tale Assignment
In this poetry analysis worksheet, students read the poem "Wife of Bath's Tale" and analyze the literary elements within the poem.
Curated OER
Number the Stars Ode to Peter and Lise
In this literature response worksheet, students learn that an ode is a poem written to honor someone. Students create an ode to honor the sacrifices of Peter and Lise in Lois Lowry's Number the Stars.
Curated OER
Arts and the Olympics/Dance and Athletics
Young scholars study and perform dances with a dance specialist, while others photograph their movements. The resulting slides were used to help both these students and others explain dance and write creatively.
Friends of Fort McHenry
Sensory “Star Spangled Banner”
Music can help us to access memories and events in a meaningful way, and Francis Scott Key used specific words to convey what he had seen and felt when writing what would become America's national anthem. Help your class connect to...
Curated OER
Magical Creatures
Students investigate entertaining characters within stories. In this writing lesson plan, students review nouns and adjectives and discuss magical characters. Students ask themselves questions about their selected characters and...
Curated OER
Making a Magical Story
Students create their own magical story. In this story writing lesson, students listen to the story The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe b C.S. Lewis to find the basic elements of a story. They come up with their own magical...