First graders listen to the book, So Many Cats, and discuss the number of cats in the story. They demonstrate simple addition problems using cat counters and a work mat in the shape of a house.

With a chapter book in hand, readers practice visualizing the events and characters of the story. The lesson gives suggestions of novels that are rich in detail to help facilitate the process. Drawings from what they read act as the...

After discussing the main events in Mr. Popper’s Penguins, young writers describe in sequence what they would do if they had 12 penguins living in their house. The narratives are then glued onto a penguin cut-out, mounted on construction...

Students practice compassion. In this character education lesson, student read Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. Students discuss the book as well as ways to demonstrate they care for one another. Students fill buckets...

Explore the visual arts by creating a construction paper art project. In this collage lesson, young artists research the Internet to examine styles of famous artists including Keith Haring. They create cut-outs of hearts using...

Flip-books which represent one of five states are created by your class in this art and geography lesson. All of the materials for the flip-books are embedded in this inventive plan. They will make a book for: Kentucky, Vermont, Rhode...

Young scholars make flowers from art materials. They use construction paper and paint to create a t-shirt with the flowers on it. They use a pop bottle to create the petals.

Fifth graders explore shapes. They recognize and name two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. Pupils discuss the properties and criteria for each shape they find in real life and construct a Kid Pix project using pictures of the...

Lizards are amazing! After a lesson on reptiles, take a look at this set of instructions. You'll be able to guide your class in making a paper lizard sculpture that moves. This idea also includes variations on the paper technique used...

Help first graders gain an understanding of the beginnings of our nation by learning more about Christopher Columbus. They begin by listening to a read aloud of Christopher Columbus and His Voyage to the New World (another title...

Young mathematicians read the book, The Doorbell Rang. They examine the necessity of division in everyday life, such as cooking and sharing. They use paper cookies to construct equivalent sets.

Second graders participate in a bartering activity. They discuss the problems of bartering. Students read the book "A New Coat for Anna," by Harriet Ziefert. Students discuss the bartering Anna's mother did. They record the trades made...

Here is a creative way to assess your geologists' grasp of the rock cycle: have them write and illustrate a children's book in which the main character journeys though his life, i.e. the rock cycle! A brief student instruction sheet and...

Fifth graders read a book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder to examine the hardships that were endured by pioneers traveling during the Westward Expansion of the US. They predict, summarize and participate in literature circles. They visit...

After listening to a reading of The Snowy Day, by Era Jack Keats, language learners use a SMART board and drag the appropriate vocabulary word to the correct clothing article. They then record and illustrate the new vocabulary words in...

A cut and paste mural activity is a fun activity to complete after reading a Dr. Seuss book. In this shape recognition and art lesson, students read the book The Shape of Me and Other Stuff and discuss the main idea. A class mural...

Create a village and learn about recycling at the same time! A materials list is included, as well as instructions for what you need to do to create a recycled carton village with your kids. Two great book links are included.

It's time to investigate patterns! First and second graders construct a paper weaving using a hundreds chart, then use the Ti-10 calculator to make patterns such as adding 3 each time. Learners remove multiples of three from the hundreds...

Students create an art project and write a process paper  as a response to literature.  In this literature response lesson, students listen to Lynn Ehlert's, Snowballs before decorating a construction paper snowman. They write...

Text marking and a T-chart format to distinguish important information from trivia help elementary readers summarize effectively. Encouraging readers to construct a chapter summary from paragraph-level topic sentences is another sound...

Students create a mini-book with the Spanish numbers 0-10, then compare and contrast the English numbers to the new Spanish numbers.

A field trip to the library begins this lesson where children select their own books to practice fluent silent reading. They then practice their writing by creating a new ending to the story they chose before receiving a mini-lesson on...

First graders listen as the book, "Try It With Triangles" is read to the class. They name the geometric shapes that they see in the story and view the Shape Vocabulary Cards as they name them from the book. They then cut out the...

Foster a sense of community by having youngsters work together to create a list of classroom rules. They draw pictures of their hopes for first grade after reading a children's book as a group. They also discuss why it is important to...