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...

Pupils create a pizzeria atmosphere in the classroom with Italian music, pizza menus and checkered table cloths. They compare their different tastes in pizza toppings to different tastes in reading. Then they use a reading menu to select...

Pupils 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 as...

Students create individual representations of Chinese calligraphy symbols in this cross-curricular activity for the elementary Language Arts or Art classroom. One enrichment activity is included.

Learners create a graph showing their family roots. They read about how immigrants can develop strong feelings for two countries. They discover the importance of their earliest memories.

Students access web sites have classroom activity ideas for the book "Math Curse." They read what other students have written about their own math curses and try to solve word problems.

Sixth graders read the novel Grab Hands and Run by Frances Temple. They explore the effects of war on human rights. Students explore the idea that human rights are protected by the United Nations. They identify the human rights that were...

Sixth graders examine the characteristics of early civilizations. After reading a story, they discuss the photographs of Egyptian peasants and try to determine what the detectives in the story are looking for. They play the role of...

Students examine the role of Rosa Parks in ended segregtation in the South. Using new vocabulary, they observe the effects of segregation by being placed into different groups over a two day period. They discuss the feelings and emotions...

Students brainstorm and discuss ways math is all around them, explain in writing how they solve math problems, describe mathematical ideas in writing, and create original story problems.

Students simulate the quarters aboard a ship. They write a letter to Joanna Colcord or Alice Drinkwater that shows an understanding of the experience of being aboard ship, and asks further historical questions about the experience.

Students travel the world. In this global studies lesson, students research selected countries and investigate their cultural traditions.

Students write from differing points of view, and act out stories in pantomime as another student narrates.

Students listen to several Japanese stories and write their own Japanese-style stories, which they share with the class.

Students are given a description of some fascinating animals from "Planet X". They follow the descriptions given to illustrate one of these animals paying careful attention to introduced vocabulary such as 'appendages', 'receptors', and...

Students examine how different groups of immigrants contributed to the growth of specific communities. After reading a novel, they keep a journal on the important elements found and create a map of the community portrayed. Using the...

Students are read an apache folktale and discuss the characters in the story. Using the text, they identify the factors that make it a folktale and not a fairy tale. On a map, they locate where the Apache people live. As a class, they...

Sixth graders research online various types of poetry. In this poetry analysis lesson, 6th graders research different types of poetry online, their characteristics, and poets. Students create a class atlas that incorporates the seven...

Sixth graders are read The Way to Start a Day by Byrd Baylor or Bear Shadow by Frank Asch. They discuss how the sun affects their daily life, 6th graders are encouraged to think about the light we recieve from the sun and how man has...

Students examine a Baga Drum in order to explore the history of the Baga people of West Africa. In this art history lesson, students recognize figures used in Baga Drum design that represent aspects of Baga culture. They also design and...

This is a phenomenal resource. It allows the user to create a reading list of quality children's literature based of choices such as reading level, type of book, genre, ethnicity, gender, etc. In addition, one can determine if a book won...

This page from Carol Hurst's Children's Literature offers book reviews and planning help for an upper elementary unit on the Civil War. Includes information on books for teachers, books for students, easy-purchase links, and links to...

Free monthly email newsletters featuring classic children's literature, new books, ideas and activities to use with students, and links to other Internet resources.

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site provides a commentary on the young adult fiction of Avi.