Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Learning to Observe Closely and Record Accurately: How to Create a Field Journal

For Teachers 5th Standards
Look carefully. Scholars practice observing and recording the natural world around them by looking out a window or viewing an image. Learners discuss how their experience compares to that of Meg Lowman in The Most Beautiful Roof in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Awareness of Light Made Simply Fun

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners with sensory perception issues discover the properties of light through a series of excellent hands on activities. They look at beams of lights in a darkened room; use a kaleidoscope and optical illusions as they experience the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Raven: Creator of the Universe?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore biology by researching birds in class. In this raven identification instructional activity, students utilize the Internet to identify the anatomy, habits and habitat of ravens. Students write descriptive paragraphs about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Believable Characters

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners use descriptive strategies such as physical descriptions, background, and comparison of characters when writing narratives. They develop the topic with supporting details and precise diction to paint a visual image in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Proverbs

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders listen to a fable that ends with a proverb. They infer the meaning of the proverb. Students examine proverbs and predict meaning. They write a skit that shows the appropriate usage of the proverb.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Masks from Around the World

For Teachers K - 5th
Students examine the history of masks, and create their own mask as a culminating activity. They view and discuss a PowerPoint presentation about the history of masks, complete a class KWL chart, create their own mask, and write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"The Block": Romare Bearden's and Mine

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students study Bearden's style of collage and create their own collage that reflects their neighborhood. They are read "The Block" and poems about neighborhoods and write one about theirs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Valerie Bloom Poetry

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students listen to Granny Is, a poem by Valerie Bloom and discuss the metaphors in the poem.  For this poetry lesson, students read poetry written by Valerie Bloom and discuss the techniques she uses. Students write grandmother poems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Toilet Paper Solar System

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students classify the planets in the solar system, study planetary objects, and measure the relative distance between planets. In this solar system lesson, students use toilet paper to complete a scale model of the distance between the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indoor Air Pollutant Sensing LAB: Peppermint Diffusion

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students engage in an experiment for the scientific concept of diffusion of particles. There are instructions for classroom set up prior to conduction of the activity. Students sit in the classroom that is filled with the smell of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Italy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners read stories about Italy and identify main events and characters. They take an imaginary trip to Italy and write a story about their adventures. In addition, they practice several italian words and phrases.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Painless Poetry

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students choose two poems they like and share them with the class. Then they write their own poems using various forms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Day During Colonial Times

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders participate in read aloud activities of three books about life in Colonial times. They compare their life to that of children of Colonial times using a Venn diagram. They draw a picture and write about what a day in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lawton: A Child of the Prairie

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils complete word study activities, read a story and write a descriptive paragraph about the setting of Goo Goo Avenue in Lawton 1901.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poetry and Nature

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe an object in nature and record them. In groups, they create a group poem about the same object. They create their own poem based on another object using other their senses to help them. They share their poems with the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early English Settlement

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders encounter the TCI History Alive Assessment. Create a rubric together with other students. Use graphic organizers to brainstorm challenges that one would face attending school in a foreign country.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Princess's Point of View

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Everyone wants to be part of a royal family. Let your pupils experience the privilege of royalty by rewriting the story The Frog Prince from the point of view of the princess. While the story line remains the same, perspective is bound...
Unit Plan
Penguin Books

The Curriculum Guide for The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer

For Teachers 5th - 10th Standards
The death of a parent can turn a child's world upside down. A curriculum guide for The Secret Hum of a Daisy explores defining moments in the main character's life, including the loss of her mother. Chapter-by-chapter discussion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Special Education Plan

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Special needs students practice completing everyday tasks such as organizing a day plan, reading a clock and completing simple math problems. They define the proper learning techniques for their disorder and utilize props in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stain My Days Blue

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read several poems related to the life and culture of the Appalachia region. They are introduced to the poetic forms of simile, alliteration and onomatopoeia and respond to the poems through journal entries and poetry of their own.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fantasy, Fables, Myths, Legends & Fairy Tales

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify the differences between fantasies, fables, myths, legends and fairy tales. In groups, they create their own versions of the different genres. They practice identifying the examples, as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Laundry List of Idioms

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders think of idioms related to laundry as they create a laundry list of idioms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Travels With Charley

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders engage in a literature study that uses a variety of texts in order to maximize their exposure to different reading situations. They examine each book in order to practice skills of reading comprehension. They recognize the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Thrill of Big-Wave Surfing

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students view a PBS Nature program about big-wave surfing and participate in a class discussion about their experiences with surfing, body boarding, or body surfing. Students create a drawing based on a reading and post their art around...