Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transforming Negatives to Positives

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create double-exposed photographs, poetry, and multimedia presentations to celebrate their Open Court "City Wildlife" unit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Continents and Oceans of the World

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore world mapping skills. In this world geography lesson, students identify and label the continents and oceans on a world map using the Visual Thesaurus. Students generate mnemonic devices to help memorize these terms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On-Line Homework Help: An Ethical Dilemma

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars use a visual thesaurus and Vocabgrabber to interpret a news article. In this vocabulary building and comprehension lesson, students analyze quotes from the article. Young scholars use the visual thesaurus and Vocabgrabber...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dictionary Work - Entry Words

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine the use of entry words in the dictionary. In this dictionary use lesson, learners look at guide words in a children's dictionary as the teacher/librarian describes the characteristics of each entry. They complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sand Horse

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are introduced to the book THE SAND HORSE and discuss the title and cover illustration. They listen to the story listening for words and phrases to describe the setting. They then brainstorm key words to illustrate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Words That Sell

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Explore words, definitions, their connotations and associations with brand names. Middle and high schoolers identify words used in commercials and determine their effect upon the consumer population. They explore how meanings are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Synonyms

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners complete online exercises for synonyms. In this synonyms instructional activity, students work in pairs to find pictures around the room and choose one as the music plays. Learners write a word to describe the picture and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Postcards to the Troops

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students write postcards to the troops in Iraq. After listening to letters written by troops in Iraq, students discuss ways the troops are helping America and how they should show their support. Students use a postcard template and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Me

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study the human body. For this health lesson, 3rd graders discuss that everyone's body is growing, measure body parts using a tape measure, and color the body worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Sense of Homographs

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
What is a homograph? Develop your students' vocabulary with a word association tool.   Language arts classes discover what a homograph is and how it can be used as a visual thesaurus. They discover the other uses for homographs...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take the Prefix Challenge

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students form words using prefixes.  In this prefix instructional activity, students compete in a "prefix challenge" to see which team can combine a set of twelve prefixes with a set of twelve words fastest.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Choosing Words Carefully

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Use literacy tools to select precise vocabulary. High schoolers respond to discussion questions that require them to consider the denotation and connotation of words. They then read non-fiction passages and identify words in the passages...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Anne Frank and Louisiana - There is a Connection!

For Teachers 8th - 10th
How is Louisiana connected to the Holocaust? After reading The Diary of Anne Frank, eighth graders complete a research report about a survivor of the Holocaust who currently resides in Louisiana. Though the idea is a good way to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Choose Your Words Wisely

For Teachers 2nd - 8th Standards
Improve word choice! Writers use dictionaries and thesauruses to aid them in choosing exciting words to incorporate in their writing. They rewrite sentences and practice identifying words that can be replaced using a better word....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Heart of the Matter

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Upper elementary pupils learn about the blood transportation system and anatomy of the human heart. They fill in an outline of the human heart  (not included) focusing on the flow of blood to and from the heart. Using stethoscopes,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing Poems

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students write garden inspired poetry. In this poetry lesson plan, students go out into the garden and write poems about how they feel, what they see, and what is going on in the garden.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Different Audiences

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine levels of language difficulty for different audiences. They explore how to simplify texts to suit a younger audience. Students use a thesaurus to find synonyms. Students select a news article to rewrite. They create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Synonyms: Say It Again!

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Learners discuss and learn synonyms. In this synonyms lesson, students use a thesaurus to look up synonyms for the given list of words.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can You Find It?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover how to do an Internet search. They reviewi traditional rescources used to find answers in the classroom and are introduced to electronic sources. They discuss terminology for navigating the Internet using the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Power of Words in "Charlotte's Web"

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students analyze the text in Charlotte's Web. In this language arts lesson, students dissect the passages from Charlotte's Web, specifically the adjectives Charlotte used to describe Wilbur. Finally, students play a game using "word...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eating Right with a Little Help From the VT

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore the food pyramid. In this nutrition instructional activity, students identify the 5 food groups and sort foods according to the group in which they belong. Students use the Visual Thesaurus to complete a food groups...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Your Genus? Scientific Classification and the VT

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students understand the definition of binomial nomenclature. For this binomial nomenclature lesson, students classify ordinary animals by seeking their scientific names. Students participate in a knowledge hunt using binomial nomenclature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sorting Out Homophones in Roald Dahl's

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the concept of homophones.  In this homophone instructional activity, students use a selection from the book Matilda to review homophones.  Students use a web to identify homophones. 
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Echolocation Stations: Exploring Sound

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the concept of echolocation during a unit on whales. They listen to the book and watch the Reading Rainbow video for "Humphrey: The Wayward Whale," explore various websites, and conduct experiments to demonstrate...