Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Some Birthday! (Polacco)
Patricia Polacco weaves an engaging tale for budding readers in her book Some Birthday!, an excellent resource for vocabulary in context. You can use this text to introduce the following words: investigate, snarl, and squawk. After a...
Curated OER
Common Idioms 5
If you have been analyzing idioms, you can assess your learners' grasp of their figurative meanings with this 10-question matching exercise. Or you could give the sheet to groups to foster discussion about literal versus figurative...
Curated OER
Reading Poetry
Present your class with an overview of poetry-related information. The slides are clearly organized by topic, starting with reading poetry, ending with myths, and touching on everything from the five senses to open and closed forms of...
Curated OER
Peter and the Starcatchers: Magic Squares
Engage your class in vocabulary from Peter and the Starcatchers with this exercise. Learners match words to their definitions to determine the magic number.
Curated OER
Fun With Poetry!
Here's a fun way to introduce your young poets to literary terms associated with poetry. Colorful and filled with examples that illustrate the terms and their definitions, the entire presentation could be used at the beginning of a unit,...
Lawrence Virtual School
Context Clues
Considering a lesson on using context clues to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words? This packet includes a brief reading passage about strategies readers can use and 12 very different graphic organizers, including a template for a...
Book Units Teacher
Skill Lessons – Prefixes and Suffixes
Sometimes the best way to understand a concept is to break it down. Young vocabulary pupils work with word parts in a hands-on activity that prompts them to connect flash cards with affixes to their root and base words. Additionally,...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Problem Solvers: Extra Support Lessons (Theme 4)
When it comes to reading and understanding a text, sometimes readers need extra help. The third and final resource in a series of guides to accompany Theme 4: Problem Solvers provides additional activities to help struggling learners....
Twisty Noodle
Animal Action Cards Book
Can you stomp like a elephant? Or slither like a snake? Use these animal cards to get your little monkeys moving! Each card features an illustration and action word that matches the animal.
Curated OER
Visualization: Cricket in Times Square
After reading The Cricket in Times Square chapter titled "Caught in the Kitchen," learners list three describing details about the characters and setting. Groups collaborate to find sensory details to support their character assertions....
Curated OER
Languages of the World
This teacher-generated word search lists 29 world languages to locate in the puzzle. There is little educational merit to this learning exercise; however, it may improve spelling of some less common languages.
Curated OER
Gary Paulsen's Canyons: Vocabulary Activity
The final chapters of Canyons (chapters 17-24) present readers with more challenging vocabulary. Two activities provide readers with an opportunity to figure out what they know, and then to use what they know to complete a word search...
Curated OER
What are the Elements of Poetry
Students read the poem "Ode to Pablo's Tennis Shoes" and analyze the form, figurative language, and mood. They complete a T-chart containing what they have learned about Pablo and the evidence from the poem supporting their conclusions.
Curated OER
Vocabulary Instructional Routine: Multiple Meaning Words in Context
Tackle multiple-meaning words with your youngsters using this scaffolded instructional activity which features a detailed script. Begin with the word shoulder, using context clues to help scholars understand the meaning. Next, they...
Reed Novel Studies
The Great Gatsby: Novel Study
Some people believe that no matter how hard a man works, the American dream will always remain out of reach. A study guide for The Great Gatsby explores the themes, such as the illusory American dream, and elements of F. Scott...
Museum of Disability
Buddy, The First Seeing Eye Dog
Learn about how the seeing eye dog program began with a reading lesson about Eva Moore's chapter book, Buddy, The First Seeing Eye Dog. With vocabulary words, discussion questions, and extension resources, the lesson is a great way for...
Barbara Kowal
Winter Crossword (with Pictures)
This winter, reinforce vocabulary instruction with a crossword puzzle. Scholars examine picture clues to determine its word and plug them into the puzzle. Vocabulary terms include snowball, skate, cold, and more!
E Reading Worksheets
Context Clues
Build vocabulary skills by teaching learners how to figure out the meaning of words by using clues in the surrounding text. Given a sentence, learners determine the definition of the bolded word and then note the clues that helped them...
EngageNY
Launching the Performance Task
This word or that, this picture or that. Individuals dive into the lives of The Little Rock Nine and the connotation used in the book A Mighty Long Way as they begin the performance task. The task scenario establishes literature lovers...
EngageNY
Inferring About Character: Atticus (Chapter 5)
As part of their study of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, class members participate in a silent discussion of the novel using a Chalk Talk chart. They then respond to the teacher's questions by writing their thoughts on the chart....
EngageNY
Analyzing Poems from Inside Out and Back Again to Develop Criteria for an Effective Poem
Scholars analyze a model poem to help guide their poetry writing. They use Think-Pair-Share to discuss word choice and meaning in "Papaya Tree" and "Wet and Crying." To finish, they use their discussions to collect evidence on what makes...
New York State Education Department
TASC Transition Curriculum: Workshop 4
Why is it important to use precise language? Participants explore this question in the fourth activity in a series of 15 on effective instruction. Perfect for all content areas, the activity promotes appropriate language choice through...
Curated OER
Pre-AP Strategies for Spanish Literature
Take a break from vocabulary development and have your Spanish scholars immerse themselves in Spanish culture. What are common Spanish proverbs? In short sessions over the course of a few weeks, the class will learn about different...
Curated OER
Lesson Three: Go Free or Die
Fourth graders look for sensory details and figurative language. For this reading strategy lesson, 4th graders read the story Go Free or Die by J. Ferris and complete a chart with figurative language. They use a word wall in the class to...