Young scholars practice techniques and strategies for understanding the parts of a story to help them remember what they've read. They review and analyze the elements of a story and how to find them first in a paragraph and then in a book.

Students create a sight word booklet for number words, "one" through "ten."  In this sight word lesson, students write and read number vocabulary.  Students write Dolch word sentences to create a booklet.

The teacher models a Picture Walk by using a "think aloud" method while reading a picture book to the class. On the second day, 3rd graders use a worksheet as a guide for a second picture walk. This time, students complete the "think...

First graders use geometric shapes to create and extend patterns. Students read a book and view African garments. They identify patterns in the garments. Students create and decorate a paper vest with geometric patterns.

Sorry, Charlie. Scholars take a close look at Apology by Plato. Activities analyzing the text help pupils understand, make, organize, and write about claims. Learners work in groups, complete claim tools, and evaluate thinking by filling...

Is love the strongest force in the world? Delve into the themes of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas with an anticipation guide that introduces the main points of discussion. Kids mark their agreement or disagreement with...

A lesson plan centers itself around the topic of family roles. A whole-class discussion uses puppets and posters to go in-depth into the following character traits; caring, responsibility, respect, and cooperation. The discussion closes...

Pupils identify fact and opinion statements with a language arts activity. Then, they explain their thinking in a sentence, including the clues or set of words that helped them arrive at their answer.

Put on some music and get moving as a way to represent the life cycle of a caterpillar. Kids listen to the story The Very Hungary Caterpillar, discuss the life cycle, then create vocal expression that represent each stage of the cycle....

Read a series to develop an understanding of series. The special focus professional development on infinite series consists of eight articles. Articles contain information strictly for teachers along with aspects to incorporate into the...

Spanish learners will follow directions given in Spanish (provided here) to craft an "ojo de dios". Learners will also discuss where it originated from and what its purpose is. 

Prior to reading Fever 1793, class members are introduced to vocabulary drawn from the text of Laurie Halse Anderson's novel with a bingo-style activity. The vocabulary list, a teacher copy with definitions, and the bingo template are...

Students discuss the weather conditions. They read thermometer, rain gauge, barometer, and wind direction and speed. They record observations of weather conditions and enter information into data base on the computer.

Use the present tense to create written assignments. Critical thinkers take a passage written in past or future tense and rewrite it in present tense. They then write a set of instructions in present tense.

I or me? Are your middle school grammarians struggling with pronoun case? Try this trick. Instruct your learners to look right before or right after the pronoun choice for the words and, or, nor. Have them cover the conjunction and the...

Well into Catcher in the Rye, when things are looking bleak and your readers may be needing some levity, read the picture book The Perfect Square by Michael Hall. Then use the Venn diagram included to compare how Holden Caulfield and the...

Popcorn is a tasty part of a culminating activity designed to motivate readers to share important literary elements. The popcorn fills the inside of a white paper bag that is transformed on the outside into a presentation tool with the...

Motivate your learners with this lesson about the Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly. They listen to a story about the butterfly and then follow directions to color pictures. This is a simple, but effective lesson with all the necessary...

Examine the idea of perpetual youth and immortality while you read Nathaniel Hawthorne's Dr. Heidegger's Experiment. Some links work to direct your learners to information about the Fountain of Youth. Using this information, scholars...

After reading the introduction to Maus I, class members use A KWHL approach to determine what they know, what they want to know, and where they can find information about World War II, the Holocaust, and other topics associated with Art...

Elementary English Language Learners practice following directions by participating in a treasure hunt. Adapt this resource to suit individual learners. 

Read, discuss, and write short stories with your primary class. They read a short story and complete worksheets for the story. They also brainstorm ideas for a class story and choose an idea to write 3 ideas and then write the story as a...

Students are given the United States Constitution, students generate a list on the board of Grandpa's constitutional rights that might help him keep his home and property. Students become "experts," by reading and group discussion, on...