Feelings of loneliness and alienation drive the characters in John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men. Use this handout to set your class members up for a lesson on these big ideas. In addition to finding a couple of definitions...

There's nothing like a sky full of big rain clouds to pique a child's imagination and wonder. Youngsters create their very own book about rain! A clever lesson incorporating language arts, science, art, and rainy day games. Each pupil is...

Learn about the destruction of the rainforest by analyzing statistics. Young learners make an original line graph showing destruction in the rainforest. Additional activities include making a collage, sequencing Dr. Seuss' The...

Students investigate fun physical activities that can be done year round.  In this physical education lesson plan, students read the story Big News! Straight From the Heart, and list the activities written about in the story....

Students listen to The Important Thing About Quilt Design and rewrite an original version using geometric terms.

Students complete a variety of activities related to the short /o/ sound. They spell different words containing the short /o/ sound using letter manipulatives, and with a partner read the book "Big Top." With their partner they count...

Students investigate the characteristics of different circus jobs and the animals commonly seen at the circus. They read a book about clowns and construct and perform a trick hot dog. Students also create a clown accordion book.

Young scholars observe changes in their classroom.  In this coping with changes lesson, students note the differences in the activities of the day  and the changes in the classroom.  Young scholars explain changes in their...

Students explore body movement.  In this shapes and dance instructional activity, students demonstrate body movements and positions that resemble simple shapes.  Students read I Spy Shapes in Art by Lucy Micklethwait and choose...

Learners listen to the story The True Story  of the Three Little Pigs and explore a variety of questions related to conflict resolution. In this trade book activity lesson, students listen to the teacher ask a variety of higher...

Students learn about the Underground Railroad. In this Civil War and slavery lesson, students discuss how successful slaves would be moving around at night, learn the secret vocabulary used for escape routes and review background about...

Young scholars practice beginning reading while exploring an environmental theme. In this our green city lesson, students create their own published books, examine phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, comprehension, and vocabulary.

First graders identify, interpret, and gain proficiency in using a clock to tell time to the hour and determine how many minutes are in an hour. They identify and list what they do as they travel through their dayand how much time you...

Students connect literature (story Jelly Beans for Sale by Bruce McMillan) to math concepts. In these estimating and money lessons, students work with jelly beans, unifix cubes, pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, to estimate and make...

Students explore philanthropy. In this character education lesson, students define and give examples of philanthropy. Students listen to the story A Symphony of Whales and describe how the characters helped the whales. Students discuss...

Students explore child psychology by reading a children's book in class. In this bullying lesson, students read the book Larger Than Life Lara and discuss the characters and how they treat each other. Students answer study questions...

Students complete an obstacle course.  In this following directions lesson, students read the book Going on a Bear Hunt.  Students learn how to maneuver through the obstacle course, walk through the obstacle course and then...

Students complete activities with the book The Birthday Swap by Loretta Lopez. For this literature lesson, students answer pre-reading questions, locate new vocabulary, and read the story. They answer comprehension questions,...

Students discuss the effect of global warming on bodies of water after reading "An Icy Riddle as Big as Greenland" from The New York Times. Students work in groups to research topics related to global warming and Greenland's ecology...

Students interact with the strategy of visualization to better understand what is happening in a story. They assess the poem, "Talented Family," and the book, "Sarah Plain and Tall," to visualize and imagine in their minds pictures of...

Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students compose personal mission statements that express their personal beliefs about their responsibility to the environment.

Students explore the element of "line." In this beginning art lesson, students listen to the book Harold and the Purple Crayon, then describe the types of lines Harold drew. Students identify straight lines,  jagged lines, curvy...

Young scholars listen to a story about helping others. In this citizenship lesson, students investigate a group of animals that do not want to help an ant. Young scholars learn about elephants and sing songs about the elelphant in...

Students listen to the story Jeffrey and the Sloth and relate the story to how it feels to have writer's block. In this Jeffrey and the Sloth lesson, students use this book to inspire their creative writing process. Students create their...