Manchester University
The History of the First Thanksgiving
First graders complete a project about the first Thanksgiving. In this history lesson plan, 1st graders read The Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving, answer comprehension questions, and complete a booklet about the first Thanksgiving.
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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Students investigate storytelling by analyzing images in a book. In this reading analysis lesson plan, students read and analyze the book Alexander and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Students observe the illustrations...
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Graphic Organizer Lesson
Students investigate how to use graphic organizers. In this literary elements lesson, students are introduced to several types of graphic organizers and their purpose. Students read a book of their choice and complete a graphic organizer...
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Rosa Parks Refused to Do What?
First graders listen to two books about Rosa Parks. They contribute factual information for a web. They listen to an interview with Rosa Parks on the internet, adding more information to the web. They write and illustrate a book using...
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Personal Poetry: An Introduction to Narrative Poetry
Here are some simple and easy to manage lesson ideas to introduce narrative poetry in your classroom.
Curriculum Corner
Spring Break Writing Planner
Welcome scholars back from spring break with a prewriting activity that challenges them to draft a narrative account of one event that took place over the long holiday.
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Are You Sure They Lived Happily Ever After?
Students listen to a read aloud of Jon Scieszka's, The Frog Prince. They predict what happens after the frog prince marries his princess.
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My Dream Job
High schoolers write a research paper about their dream job. They organize their paper using research notes, and support their main idea with supporting details.
Hubbard's Cupboard
The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving
Students explore holidays by participating in class singing activities. In this Thanksgiving history lesson, students discuss the importance of Thanksgiving Day and read several poems which discuss the history of Thanksgiving. Students...
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The "Write" Stuff: Third Grade Strategies and Conventions
Students analyze the writing process through the ten lessons of this unit. The expository lessons address topic and detail sentences, paragraph organization and development, note taking, reports and letter writing.
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Halloween Comic Strips
Fourth graders participate in a lesson on the subject of creating comic strips. They create facial expressions in drawings for practice and gradually progress to making their own comic strips based on the holiday of Halloween. The...
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What Do I Write About?
Second graders write as essay describing the cooperative group drawing they made or describing the process to draw a group picture.
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VH1 Storytellers for Save the Music Starring Billy Joel
Students use a Billy Joel song to write a scenerio about it.
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Storymaking Through Pantomime
Middle schoolers explore performing arts by participating in a role-play activity. In this storytelling instructional activity, students utilize their physical expressions to particpate in a pantomime performance. Middle schoolers...
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All Aboard! All Aboard! The Essay Train
Third graders enjoy a train ride with The Little Engine That Could and discover how to create a five-paragraph essay train. This clever instructional activity has students use each boxcar of the train as a template for a paragraph.
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Adopt a Manatee
First graders engage in a writing activity about manatees and use e-mail to contact representatives about important issues. This would be a very exciting, and meaningful lesson plan for a first grade writer!
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Flat Stanley Guided Reading
Second graders listen to their teacher read the book, "Flat Stanley". They relate the activities in the book to activities in their own life. They can also create their own pictures of Stanley.
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And Then What Happened?
Students analyze paintings by using verbs, adjectives, and nouns. In this visual arts instructional activity, students view a painting of a storm and a calm sky. Students use various verbs and adjectives to discuss the characteristics of...
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Halloween Literature Unit: Pumpkin Patch Unit Project
Students simulate an agriculture project. In this sequencing lesson, students observe their classroom pumpkin patch, make journal entries, and predict how the pumpkins will grow. They discuss as a class how to keep their pumpkins safe...
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The Grouchy Ladybug
Students complete a Cirlce Map about time. They recall times during the grouchy ladybugs travels, and add dots on ladybugs using turn-around facts. Pupils correctly sequence the events of The Grouchy Ladybug. Students compose new...
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Extremely Personal Narrative
Seventh graders practice the skill of writing a personal narrative. They bring in an object that is related to themselves. Then students discuss the importance of the items and then write a personal narrative about the objects. As an...
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Aztec Dance
Seventh graders study Aztec dance to learn about their culture and civilization. In this Aztec study lesson, 7th graders watch a video of Aztec dancers and describe the dance on an index card. Students visit a website to learn the...
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What is a Philanthropist?
Learners discover the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students define the word philanthropist and create a flip-book based on The Lion and the Mouse.
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Picture This
Students create a descriptive paragraph about their past or their heritage and provide a picture to go along with it. In this past and heritage lesson plan, students share their paragraph with the class.