Third graders analyze the importance of characters in fiction writing and performances.  In this theatre lesson, 3rd graders identify the important characteristics of a fictional character and how to portray a character through many...

Every book has a few great characters, but James and the Giant Peach is the only one whose characters travel in a piece of fruit. The class creates T-charts for the main characters of the novel, while reading the book. They write actions...

Build unity in the dojo or the gym with an activity that not only teaches the importance of stretching and flexibility but also offers class members an opportunity to get to know one another. After warming up and engaging in a Medicine...

Third graders practice the skills of identifying the main message in a story, describing the main character, and sorting the key details of a story into specific categories. The story they read is, The Boy Who Loved Words. Using a...

Benjamin Franklin may be known as a Founding Father, but he was also a prolific writer. Scholars examine his better-known pieces to learn about genre, voice, and early American history. The resource includes options for various...

Students create a character map of the main characters in The Tale of Despereaux. After reading the text, students create a character chart based on information they gleaned from the story. They use this information to write a letter...

Find key details in books using this note card strategy. Each reader gets six cards with the classic who, what, where, when, why, and how detail prompts. After they read the book, they choose a card and locate a key detail...

Students explore the concept of comprehension.  In this comprehension lesson, students use a bookmark to mark a place in a story they want to "stop and think" about what they are reading.  Students practice this skill with a...

Reader's Theater is a great way to build fluency, intonation, and dramatic flare. The class reads the theater piece, "The New Friends" paying attention to how they express emotion and feeling as they read. They discuss the use of plot,...

Scholars find out how the government used propaganda to mobilize children to help in the war effort. Lesson exercises include analyzing a quote from Franklin Roosevelt, viewing propaganda images and posters, and participating in a lively...

Students explore the book Billy Brown and the Belly Button Beastie. In this verb, onomatopoeia, and syllable lesson, students pantomime verbs, read onomatopoeia from the story and clap out syllables. Students unscramble sentences from...

It's a play, it's a story, it's a puppet show! A lively resource provides academics with a creative outlet to express their views on diversity and social justice. Scholars are responsible for writing, creating, and performing a puppet...

Extend the exhilarating learning experience of Dr. Seuss with five activities designed to reinforce literacy skills—site word reading, dialogue writing, story mapping, and more! Featured stories include The Lorax,...

Students discover story analysis by discussing a book the class reads together.  In this reading comprehension lesson, students read the book The Keeping Quilt and discuss the different characters and plot points among the...

First graders explore learning skills that can be practiced at home in the ten lessons of this unit. Oral reading, letter formation, fairy tale identification, and phonic awareness exercises are provided in this unit.

Fourth graders read about Rose Freedman, a famous American woman. In this famous women in American history lesson, 4th graders read a story about Rose Freedman, answer comprehension questions, and complete an associated worksheet. They...

Here is a way to build your pupils' public speaking abilities. The instructional activity describes a reader's report chair, which is used each week by a student who has just finished reading a book. The featured reader sits in the chair...

Practice being concise. Exercise your vocabulary. Improve your editing skills. The contention in this lesson is that by imposing a 140 character limit, the Twitter format actually helps improve writing skills. And of course class tweets...

Students introduce and converse with classmates as they review basic tense structures.

Learners discover ways to surf the Internet while being kept safe from other web dangers.  For this web surfing lesson, students utilize several different web programs such as imbee.com, Disney's Surfswell, and Netsmartz, which...

Students persevere to build character. In this philanthropy lesson plan, students consider how to put forth their personal best in all areas of their lives as they participate in a physical activity.

Students learn how to express their feelings. In this language development lesson plan, one student reads a sentence off a sentence strip and another student responds with "I feel...". The class discusses why the student feels that way...

Students explore storytelling by reading a classic book. In this story structure lesson plan, students read the story The Gingerbread Man and identify the characters, settings and plot. Students answer reading comprehension questions...

Learners investigate the relationship between children and parents by reading a book about owls.  In this story analysis instructional activity, students read the book Owl Babies and participate in a role play based on one of the...