Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When A Says Its Name

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students are introduced to the concept of vowel digraphs. They identify the digraph /ai/ in spoken language. After a brief discussion, students apply the rule for reading and spelling words containing the /ai/ digraph by playing word bingo.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Yummy in My Tummy

For Teachers K - 1st
Students explore phonemes in spoken words. They discuss the correspondence u=/u/. Students identify a meaningful representation for the phoneme and practice identifying /u/ in both written and spoken words. Students learn a tongue...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebrating Halloween With the Purple People Eaters

For Teachers K - 4th
Get youngsters moving by teaching them some basic dance moves. This dance can be done in a circle, a line, or scattered around the gym. There are four movement combinations that are taught to the song "Purple People Eater" by Sheb...
Lesson Plan
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Section Two: Why is Biodiversity Important?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Explore soil, genetic traits, natural resources, and pollution in a series of lessons that focus on biodiversity. Kids complete experiments to learn more about the importance of varied genes and organisms in an ecosystem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Speedy Readers

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Student increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing chunking, decoding, and rereading, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Icky Fingers

For Teachers K - 1st
Students are introduced to digraphs so they can match letters to their phonemes. They recognize the short vowel i=/i/ in both spoken and written words by practicing reading and spelling words containing /i/. Elkonin Letter Boxes are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Are Your Local Officials?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars identify the names and positions held by local public officials. In pairs, students research the requirements and duties needed to hold office. A brief presentation of their research will include the names and positions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Read For Speed!

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Explore reading for fluency and speed with your class. They discuss reading faster, smoother, and with more expression. Practice reading with fluency using one minute timed reads. They read "Tin Man Fix-It." and record how many words...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Faces Bingo

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create a classroom letter-sound recognition bulletin board. They post each letter of the alphabet on the board, and place photos and written name cards of each student with the corresponding letter of their name.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Basic Waltz Steps

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learn the five basic waltz steps: box step, under arm turn, walt left box or waltz right box, hesitation step, and progressive waltz step. Teach a little about the history of the waltz and the countries from which it came: Germany and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waves Interference

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students identify different wave types and their characteristics.  In this wave instructional activity students complete activities by activating tuning forks and interpreting data. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wave Superposition: Interactive On-line Mac and PC

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students study definitions of wavelength, wave speed, wave amplitude, and wave period using an interactive JAVA environment. Distance and time are given so speed=wavelength/period can be verified or deduced by students. Waves reflection...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rhyme Time!

For Teachers K
Students practice working with rhymes in groups to create wanted posters for rhyming words utilizing Publisher to assist them. They recognize words that rhyme and identify words that rhyme and show examples of rhyming words from the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All In a Day's Work

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore contributions made by working animals. In this service learning lesson, students research working animals and design posters or multimedia presentations regarding the animals, contributions to society.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monkey Reading

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students work to gain fluency and become successful readers through repeated readings. They use the cover-up method to help them decode new words and chart their progress as they complete one-minute timed readings with a partner.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Words

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders spell words and define homophone.  In this making words lesson, 3rd graders decipher words from letter strips in an effort to identify the "secret word". Students use a set of letters to spell different words. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"OU" O U Hurt Me!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Pupils explore the digraph ou=/ow/ in written and spoken words. They practice writing words with the ou=/ow/ digraph. Students match phonemes in words they hear. Pupils read The Napping House and identify words with the ou=/ow/ digraph.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chuga, Chuga, Choo, Choo

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify the digraphs in written and spoken language. After a brief discussion on the combinations of letters that comprise digraphs, students practice identifying initial and final placement of the digraph /ch/ in words and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Theo and His Thirty Thirsty Brothers

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students recognize the digraph /th/ in both spoken and written words. They read and spell words containing /th/ digraph. They read "Changes in Seasons" by Eizabeth Sengel and make a list of the words containing /th/ digraph.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spelling Patterns: Or , Oor, and Ore Words

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete word work with words that contain the /or/, /oor/, or /ore/ spelling pattern. In this spelling pattern lesson, 4th graders participate in the weekly spelling list activity in which they sort words with the given...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sh! Sh! Stop that Noise!

For Teachers K - 1st
Students practice reading, writing, and spelling words that contain the /sh/ digraph. Students participate in a chant using /sh/ digraph words. They then use Elkonin boxes to spell words containing the digraph. They complete a worksheet...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How The Weather Effects Us

For Teachers K
Students discover how weather affects their lives. They review the climates of Florida, Alaska and New York. They need choose the place they would most like to live in based on the climate of that state.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Icky-Sticky

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students practice recognizing the connection between phonemes and letters with an emphasis on finding the short vowel /i/ in words. They each receive a Elkonin letterbox and a picture card with icky-sticky gum on it and the letter i.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fuzz and the Buzz

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students practice various strategies for becoming fluent readers. They review the skills of phoneme recognition, decoding, crosschecking and spelling in order to read with automation. Working in pairs, students complete a pair-share of...