The life of a tree is the focus of a packet consisting of several activities all covering a different subject. Second graders measure shadows, make pinecone critters, write poems, count rings, complete a word search, play tree tag, and...

Have your class create keepsake books about themselves. This activity is a presented as a basic idea with minimal justifications or classroom applications. However, with a little effort, this could become a full lesson. Add a rubric,...

Students listen to a read aloud and while working with other students, write alternate ending to the story.

Here's a project that gives academics the chance to share their opinions on social justice with storytelling, creative writing, or art. Scholars choose what they want to create and are assigned buddies to support their efforts. To...

Introduce middle schoolers to playwriting and the elements of drama with a six-session storytelling unit that encourages kids to expand their acting and writing skills. The 12-page packet includes overviews of the lessons,...

Students present their family shield or crest that was created during the first part of this lesson plan. In this historical arts lesson plan, students present their family shield to their classmates and are graded based on the...

Second graders investigate life cycles of insects by writing a story.  In this butterfly life instructional activity, 2nd graders create a checklist of the many steps a caterpillar takes before growing wings and flying. ...

Second graders practice their reading comprehension by analyzing stories they read in class. In this children's literature lesson, 2nd graders are assigned to read a book for 20 minutes each day in class and also reflect on it in their...

A project-based lesson has pupils create a bulletin board to share artwork, nonfiction articles, and messages based on social justice themes. The finished board is displayed in the community to create a place for discussion. 

Students practice using words to describe photographs they have taken.  In this descriptive writing lesson, students utilize a disposable or digital camera to take 5 pictures of their life after school.  Students create slides...

How can we create a more fair world? Chances are, class members have some ideas! After reading a text about fairness, individuals create skits around the ideas of fairness. Extend the learning and make their presentations a...

Not all heroes wear capes—or cleats. Class members identify unsung heroes in their schools or towns for interviews, then create trading cards. A celebration including presentations or trading of cards completes their investigation of...

Dive into an author study of one of the most beloved children’s book authors, Eric Carle. After reading some of his stories, including Papa Get me the Moon, A House for Hermit Crab, The Grouchy Ladybug, and The Very Busy...

Learners describe events that happened on the Oregon Trail and in the daily lives of Native Americans by writing a narrative essay of a family traveling through Nebraska based on Thomas Hart Benton's paintings.

Students design a carousel for an amusement park. In collaborative groups they conduct research, develop a presentation, write a descriptive paragraph, evaluate design features, and draw an artistic rendering of their carousel.

Students create an artistic response to the book, The Polar Express. In this creative writing lesson, students read the book and visualize an imaginary journey they would like to go on. Students create a train car from construction paper...

Students will read a study sheet about skipping up from one note to another, and complete a worksheet, filling in blanks and writing a skip up from given letters. A grading rubric is included.

Students investigate advertising. In this advertising instructional activity, students read the book Good Lemonade by Frank Asch and identify the advertising practices from the story. Students create ads for snacks using advertising...

Second graders engage in a instructional activity which provides a purpose for reading, writing, and technology. It also instills a sense of pride in students as they create birthday cards for a reading project in the community called,...

Students view and interpret Dan Howard's artwork entitled, Soliloquium:IV. They write a story of what they think is behind the painting and then paint their own soliloquy.

Students view and discuss the painting A Narrow Escape, by Alfred Jacob Miller. They write their own narrative about a time they were either scared or frightened. They make sketches of that time and choose one to paint using watercolor.

A picture can speak louder than words. An interesting lesson introduces the themes of social justice and diversity to young learners by having them create artwork. Scholars create collages from a variety of sources to showcase what...

Young performing artists create a song or choreograph a dance to illustrate a theme in a text they are reading. Step-by-step directions are included.

Learners collect memorabilia and create shadow boxes in the style of David Stewart. They also compose a poem and explain their identity in an oral presentation. This is a rare lesson that works quite well for a variety of age levels.