Curated OER
Introduction Lesson to the Book Where the Red Fern Grows
An excellent lesson plan on the classic book, Where the Red Fern Grows. Learners view the W. Wilson Rawls website and engage in a series of activities generated by the website. They write in their reflective journals, watch a video, and...
Curated OER
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters - Mapping the Story
Students listen to John Steptoe's story, "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" and create a story map.
Curated OER
Rockin' Map Summaries
Students summarize a piece of text. After reviewing the correct way to read and summarize, students work in groups to summarize a piece of text assigned by the instructor. They write a summary paragraph by creating a story map and the...
Curated OER
Writing a Children's Book -- Young Authors
Students practice their writing skills by creating a children's book. They integrate five elements of short stories into the narrative. They share their stories with their book buddies.
Curated OER
A Tale of Two Frogs
Second graders locate Russia on a map or globe and work in pairs to complete the Map worksheet. They read the book, A Tale of Two Frogs stopping after page 15. They write an ending to the story and then read more of the book stopping...
Curated OER
Understanding a Narrative: The True Story of Balto
Strong comprehension questions and a list of initiating events that drive the plot make this resource worth a try in your classroom. Intended for use with tools specific to the mindwing concepts reading strategy system, the outline...
Curated OER
Mapping Out the Story
Discuss the reading comprehension strategy of summarization with your elementary schoolers! They read a chapter from their social studies textbook, Regions Near and Far, and create a map, or word web, for the chapter. They identify...
Curated OER
A Walk Around the School: Mapping Places Near and Far
After reading Pat Hutchins’ Rosie’s Walk, have your young cartographers create a map of Rosie’s walk. Then lead them on a walk around the school. When you return class members sequence the walk by making a list of how the class got from...
Curated OER
Global Story Book
Learners work with a school in another country to produce a Global Story Book. They write stories and design pictures that describe both cultures.
Curated OER
Character Map
In this literature response worksheet, students examine a character from a book they have read. Students write the name of one character in the octagon, then write one character trait in each of the ovals. Finally, the students write one...
Jackson Public Schools
Summer Reading Activities
Provide parents with the tools they need to bridge the summer learning gap with this collection of fun activities. Whether it's creating an alphabet poster with illustrations for each letter, playing a game of sight word concentration,...
Museum of Disability
Looking Out for Sarah
Perry the dog is Sarah's best friend and her guide to the visual world. Young readers learn about guide dogs and communication with Looking Out for Sarah by Glenna Lang, through a series of discussion questions and activities.
Curated OER
Let's Learn About Plants!
After listening to From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons, learners take a walk around their school looking for plants. They use digital cameras to photograph the plants, then construct a class book which has the identities of the plants,...
Curated OER
Story Map 1
In this literature response worksheet, students create a story map to display the important elements in a book they have read. On this graphic organizer chart, students record setting, time, place, characters, problem, events (plot) and...
Curated OER
Character Development Story Map
In this character development story map activity, students complete a flow chart about a character in a book. Students fill in the name of the character and write how the character feels and acts before and after a character change in...
Curated OER
Miss Nelson Is Missing
Learners practice identifying story elements and using vocabulary words from newly read books. In this reading comprehension lesson, students read the book Miss Nelson is Missing, and complete several worksheets and a story map...
Curated OER
Arthur's Nose
Students read a story and complete a story map. In this diversity and acceptance lesson, students read Arthur's Nose, make a story map, research Aardvarks, complete a Venn Diagram comparing Arthur's nose to other animals in the...
Curated OER
Reading Study Guide: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Meant for use with Maya Angelou's first autobiographical volume I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the materials here are designed for a homeschool setting, but they'd suit any classroom or text. Graphic organizers, chapter summary...
McGraw Hill
Study Guide for Bridge to Terabithia
Bridge to Terabithia is a story about friendship that brings magic into ordinary life. Study guides may not be magical, but the guided questions, graphic organizers, extension activities, vocabulary, and discussion questions help...
Curated OER
Non-Fiction Text Features
Distinguish between textual features of non-fiction in the book The Lewis and Clark Expedition and in the non-fiction story "Ta-Na-e-Ka." Third graders create posters and participate in group discussions to show their...
Curated OER
Can a Mouse Lift an Elephant?
Read Just a Little Bit, by Ann Tompert as an introduction to levers. Discuss playground seesaws and then turn learners loose to experiment with the placement of a fulcrum. Their goal is to determine where to place it in order to lift ten...
Teacherfiles
Basic Story Map
Here’s an all-purpose story map template that readers can use to keep track of books read for class, of independent reading, and even for stories planned. Users identify the title, author, major characters, setting, and events from the...
Curated OER
Picky Eater - Part 2
Second graders complete two graphic organizers after listening to a story. For this story map and beginning/ending graphic organizer lesson, 2nd graders listen to Picky Mrs. Pickle. They complete the two graphic organizers telling how...
Curated OER
Story Quilt Project
Students investigate how quilt making was a family and community activity. They read and discuss books, complete various handouts, and create a paper quilt celebrating philanthropic activities.