Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beatrix Potter's Naughty Animal Tales

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students gain insight into the unusual, solitary world of Beatrix Potter's Victorian childhood and can compare/contrast it with their own world to explain why Potter wrote such simple stories and why she wrote about animals rather than...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spin Me a Story

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars examine the motif of spinning and weaving in myths and folktales. They read various myths, complete a WebQuest, develop a mind map of story elements, and write an original "spider" story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beyond Louisiana

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the challenges that faced the United States as a new nation, especially those related to exploration, expansion, and international affairs. They study the chronology of events related to the expedition of Lewis and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reporting Live from the 20th Century!

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students read and write newspaper articles. In this newspaper article writing lesson, students collect and share current news articles, examine how they are written, then choose an event from the 20th century and write their own news story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pilgrims: The First Americans

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time.  In this Thanksgiving lesson, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Character Traits: Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Lensey Namioka’s Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear provides an opportunity for young readers to observe how writers bring their characters to life. Each class member selects a character to trace through the novel, recording...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sticks, Stones, Sinews and Stuff: How Early People Used the Environment to Meet Basic Needs

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students create an artifact. In this early survival lesson plan, students use found objects to create an artifact that could have been used to help early people meet their basic needs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Night Sky: Summer

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explain how moon phases occur. They describe and explain at least two common misconceptions that people have about the moon. Students explain what a star is. They explain 3 ways that the night sky has been used throughout history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planning a Road Trip!

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students generate plans for a fictitious road trip.  For this time management lesson, students investigate the most effective way to travel the country arriving at specific cities.  Students create their plans based on time and...
Lesson Plan
Michigan State University

Michigan State University: Intervention for Reading: Group Story Mapping

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
This intervention, which is based on Schema Theory, emphasizes linking previous knowledge structures (schemata) with reading materials. A pre-reading technique (see "My Story Map") provides a framework that directs students' attention to...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Story Elements

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
During this lesson, students will analyze what distinguishes the stories they love. Reading and reviewing their favorite books will help students begin to identify elements of a story. Students have the opportunity to navigate the...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Primary Technology Maps

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This hands-on, inquiry-based lesson combines maps skills which include identifying map elements, applying an understanding of cardinal directions, interpreting resource maps, and identifying a location. Students will have the opportunity...
Lesson Plan
Florida Center for Reading Research

Florida Center for Reading Research: Narrative Text Structure: Retell a Story [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
A lesson plan in which young scholars read a narrative text and complete graphic organizers to map the story. Materials are included.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Let's Get to Know Big Al

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
During this lesson the students will read and discuss the story Big Al, by Andrew Clements. Students will identify the story elements of Big Al and complete a story element map. Students will also do a character analysis of Big Al.
Website
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Story Writing With Arthur

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
This series of 12 downloadable activities teach students some basics of story writing, using books or videos from the PBS "Arthur" series as a springboard. Activities include creating story maps, asking questions about characters and...