Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

The Trumpet of The Swan: Novel Study

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
What lengths will one go to for love? Louis, a swan in The Trumpet of The Swan, struggles to gain the attentions of a girl because he cannot trumpet. Thankfully, his father creates a plan that may work. Scholars discover Louis's attempts...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children of the Earth and Sky

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the culture and traditions of Native Americans. After reading "Children of the Earth and Sky," students discuss the lives of Native American children in relation to their own. They create replicas of Hopi...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Naya Nuki's Journey

For Teachers K - 4th
Students read "Naya Nuki Shoshoni Girl Who Ran" by Kenneth Thomasma. Students chart Naya Nuki's route on a map and identify the navigational signs she used to find her way home. Students also analyze the weather she encounters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ruby Bridges: One Little Girl's Brave Act

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine the life of Ruby Bridges. In this bravery instructional activity, 2nd graders read the story of Ruby Bridges and discuss Ruby's actions and decisions.  
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flawed Democracies, Human Rights

For Teachers K - 5th
Students create drawing that tell a story about a young girl's life in an internment camp. In this internment camp lesson plan, students hear stories and analyze photographs of internment camps and then create their own drawings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Fiction

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discover how to identify historical fiction. In this historical fiction instructional activity, students read the story Meet Addy: An American Girl by Connie Porter. Students listen to the first chapter of the book read aloud....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genre Study of the Cinderella Story

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students interpret and compare different versions of the Cinderella story in this genre study. They complete KWL charts for each story beginning before listening and adding to the chart after the books are read aloud. Finally, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going West

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students examine the lives of early pioneers who traveled west for better opportunities. They listen to story "Josafina and the Story Quilt", and discuss hardships encountered by traveling families. Students then complete research and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Country Locations

For Teachers 1st
First graders read a story and locate where the countries in the story are located. In this traditions lesson, 1st graders explore food dishes from different countries and discuss where they are located. Students tell their favorite...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deborah Sampson: Revolutionary War Heroine

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders read the story of Deborah Sampson, who helped bring freedom to the newly organized colonies in their fight for independence from England.
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Young People Shake Up Elections (History Proves It) Educator Guide

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Vote, it's your civic duty! The resource provides several videos about voting in the United States. Scholars watch a series of topics ranging from youth participation to civic action. The educator's guide provides teachers with...
Unit Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

One Land, Many Trails: English Language Development Lessons (Theme 5)

For Teachers 5th Standards
English is not the only subject that requires its own set of vocabulary words—geography does too! A series of language development lessons designed to be used with Theme 5: One Land, Many Trails helps introduce readers to key vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The House on Mango Street

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read The House on Mango Street and analyze why the author chose to tell this story and how the characters are affected by immigration, poverty, and discrimination. Students compare this story to others about immigration to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cinderella Trilogy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars look at three different versions of the Cinderella story. In this comparative literature lesson, students read the Chinese version "Yeh-Shen", the Egyptian version "Rhodopis," and the Native American version "The Hidden...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kindergarten Memories

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students create a monthly memory and compile it into a Kindergarten Memory Book.  In this memory book lesson, students create a monthly memory page.  Students create a graphic organizer in Kidspiration which is developed into a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Explorers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine how the environment and climate affected Pre-Colombian settlements. In this civilization lesson, 5th graders view pictures of different Native American tribes in different places and discuss how different groups...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Piano

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read The Piano and become familiar with racial discrimination.  In this racial discrimination book lesson, 2nd graders answer comprehension question to focus on the importance of the book.  Students discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rules

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students read about an autistic boy and  learn about how he communicates.  In this picture book summary instructional activity, students draw illustrations of events in the story that convey the theme.
Activity
PBS

Heart to Heart

For Students 3rd - 7th
Study heart health and math in one activity. After measuring their resting heart rates by finding the pulse in their wrists, learners build a stethoscope to listen to their heart rate, and note the differences between the two methods.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The All About Me Poster

For Teachers K - 1st
Learners discover the literary genre of biographies.  In this creative writing lesson, students write about their own life experiences and personal stories.  Learners create a poster about their lives, a biographical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Pledge of Allegiance

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars explore U.S. history by identifying American symbolism. In this American Flag instructional activity, students read the poem "The Flag" by M. Hubbard and define the symbolism of the colors and stripes within the U.S. flag....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christopher Columbus: Historical Perspective

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study Columbus Day in relation to who discovered Canada. They complete a KWL about Canada and discuss Columbus Day as an American holiday. After viewing a video, they read articles of Christopher Columbus and work in groups...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders hear a story about the atomic bombing of Japan and write an editorial about the event from the perspective of either a Japanese or an American.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bus Ride Teacher's Guide

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine and respond to the text, The Bus Ride. In this African-American literature lesson, students explore pre-reading questions that focus on fairness of laws. Students read the text based on Rosa Parks and answer 11...