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We love to Express Ourselves: Growing Toward Independence and Fluency

For Teachers Pre-K - 4th
Reading with expression is an important component in developing fluency. Emerging readers learn different strategies for accomplishing this skill through the teacher's model reading of Earrings!. Partner practice is combined with...
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Random Acts of Kindness For Kids

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Develop a world-wide, email chain on which class members can showcase their acts of kindness. After defining the meaning of random acts of kindness through discussion and through a reading of Random Acts of Kindness,...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Arthur's New Puppy (Brown)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learn new words as you read Marc Brown's story, Arthur's New Puppy. This is focused as a vocabulary-in-context activity (though this strategy could be used with any book and set of words). Introduce the new words you will focus on:...
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Bud, Not Buddy: Directed Reading Thinking Activity

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Here’s a reading strategy that can be used with any text. Class members examine portions of a novel, and make predictions about the theme or subject matter of the book. Although designed for Christopher Paul Curtis’s Newbery Medal...
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I Have Emotions

For Teachers K - 4th
Students read books and discuss different emotions that they have. For this emotions lesson plan, students make different facial expressions to that express specific emotions and role play emotions.
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Snowy Evening Poetry for ESL (Elementary, Literature)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners read Robert Frost's Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, illustrated by Susan Jeffers (2001). This is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations that go with each line of the poem.
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Culture Ads

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine cultural differences in picture books. In this cultural diversity lesson plan, students identify cultural differences in picture books about children from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and...
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Animal Alphabet: Kindergarten Zoo

For Teachers K - 1st
Students explore the letter sounds and read the book, "A, My Name is Alice." They create a page for a class alphabet book or zoo animal display.
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Literature of the Islands and the Sea

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students read an age-appropriate novel in which an island setting plays an important role from a provided list. This will help them understand life on an island. They will analyze the plot, theme, characterization, setting, and style...
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The Important Thing About Reading

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students write about the importance of reading. In this reading lesson plan, students listen to the book called The Important Book which is about the importance of reading, discuss it, and write about how they can take action to provide...
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My Owl Babies Miss Momma

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students investigate the relationship between children and parents by reading a book about owls.  In this story analysis lesson plan, students read the book Owl Babies and participate in a role play based on one of the characters....
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My Secret War: Lesson 12

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore how the war affected American children. In this social studies lesson, 5th graders discuss how quotes made people feel about the war effort. Students write reflections on their reading.
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Who Moved My Cheese

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders write advice for people on how they can deal with change. In this dealing with change lesson plan, 5th graders read a book about change, discuss it, and come up with solutions for people who struggle.
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Friendship Reminders

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders write about a photograph they have that represents friendship. In this friendship lesson plan, 3rd graders also read a book about friendship.
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To March or Not to March?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read historical artifacts about the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and analyze the choices made during the time. In this March on Washington lesson, students read Martin's Big Words and the 'Step Back in Time' sheets....
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Listening to Gather Evidence in a Reading Selection

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore an Ethiopian folktale, "Fire on the Mountain." In this literature instructional activity, 4th graders evaluate and record the evidence, as well as make predictions about what they think will happen. Students...
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Time Capsule - Jewish Children In Concentration Camps

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore personal characteristics of Jewish students in concentration camps and the ghetto and make a time capsule of events and photographs following survivors from the ghetto and concentration camps to freedom.
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Feeling Good About My Body: A Lesson on Self Esteem

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the concept of self esteem. In this health lesson, 3rd graders participate in several classroom activities that address developing a positive self concept.
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Sato and the Elephants

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write a persuasive letter to the government of an African country that has elephants as a resource. Students research and debate the pros and cons of ivory use. Students identify the value of ivory products versus the lives of...
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Journey to Topaz, a Literature Based Approach

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students view a video clip of the experiences of Japanese-Americans during World War II. They read parts of a book in which a child tells her story about living in the internment camps. They participate in a simulation activity as well.
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The Book Boy by Joanna Trollope

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Learners read, analyze and critique the novel, "The Book Boy," by Joanna Trollope. They brainstorm if you can tell a book by its cover, construct a character map, explore cultural differences and investigate how a family hides a family...
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Using Children's Literature to Teach Writing: Oh, Tucker!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are read the book "Oh, Tucker". They write a paper about the positive and negative aspects of having a dog as a pet. They use a graphic organizer to organize their thoughts and they edit them the next day in class.
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Rhythm in Language - Feel the SWAMP BEAT!

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Learners explore the rhythm of words. In this reading skills lesson, students read Bedtime at the Swamp and use rhythm instruments to find the cadence in the words of the story. Learners listen for rhythm in other written text as they...
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The Polar Express

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students read The Polar Express.They prepare a painting on KidPix that shows what they predict The Polar Express will be about. They show their paintings and tell what they feel the story is about and discuss why it is important to...