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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A History of Journal Writing

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers articulate their prior knowledge concerning the purposes of journal writing. They explore what function journal writing has fulfilled for various cultures and peoples. Students read and analyze various journal entries by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Post-Reading Strategies

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students practice post-reading strategies. In this reading comprehension lesson plan, students review pre-reading strategies, then read a handout entitled "Thirteen Reasons Our Ancestors Migrated." Students complete a post-reading...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summarize This!

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students explore how to summarize a reading passage. They read non-fiction books. Students use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the two animals they read about. They write a summary using the information in their Venn Diagram.
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Lesson Plan
Penguin Books

An Educator’s Guide to Chraisma by Jeanne Ryan

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Often, science fiction makes a lot of connections to real life. An educator's guide for the novel Charisma by Jeanne Ryan, has readers discuss many of the real-life issues that come in the text. A brief summary helps garner interest in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Berlioz the Bear

For Teachers K - 1st
Young children read the story, Berlioz the Bear and complete various reading and writing activities. They learn about fiction and non-fiction, and complete graphing and writing activities for the story. Youngsters draw the bear and use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Buying the Writes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore the connections between non-fiction and fiction best-seller lists and current events that are shaping readers' lives and choices.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life Cycle of the Butterfly

For Teachers 1st
First graders, after listening to fictional and non-fictional literature about caterpillars, and observing caterpillars from egg to butterfly, write a "biography" of a caterpillar using appropriate vocabulary and time lines.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Christmas Carol Exploration

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the history of Christmas by researching classic literature. In this holiday lesson, 7th graders read the story A Christmas Carol and discuss the tone of Charles Dickens' classic literary work. Students answer...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Under the Sea

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students imagine and describe fictitious sea animals that might live in the ocean. After reading an article, they reflect on new discoveries found in the ocean recently. Using the internet, they research the interdependence of animals...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journaling and Diaries

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students create a record of their own journal and demonstrate the use of a journal/diary. They explore the purposes and benefits of journaling for themselves personally as well as for us in today's world (emotionally and historically).
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Putting the Truth in Writing

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students define "nonfiction" and describe what they view as the best pieces of nonfiction writing. They determine criteria to evaluate whether or not a piece of nonfiction writing is good, and list categories of nonfiction writing.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prince Ibrahima

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders read and utilize the facts from the story "Abd al-Rahmen Ibrahima" by Walter Dean Myers to analyze the main character's life which is ruined by conflict, jealousy, and greed. Journal entries are created in response to the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Novel Guide for My Brother Sam is Dead

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the effects of war. In this American Revolution lesson, 5th graders read My Brother Sam is Dead and complete the provided comprehension, characterization, and vocabulary activities
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arthropods at Home- Spider, Isopod, or Any Arthropod

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students design a habitat for an arthropod. In this organisms lesson plan, students read the book, A House is a House For Me. Students find an arthropod and create a terrarium.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Bartering

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders create items to barter. In this Native American bartering instructional activity, 5th graders read a book, design and make items, and barter with their peers. Students reflect on the experience through journal writing.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Zoo Animal Experts

For Teachers K
As part of an exploration of zoo animals, kindergarteners conduct research on their favorite animal and compile their information. Learners write about their animal in a journal and create a trading card. The culminating activity is a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Migration

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore human migration, refugees and human rights. They read articles about immigration, create a migration journal, and participate in a mock human rights commission meeting. After collecting information about immigration,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Primate Primer

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the different branches of the primate family tree. They create fact cards about various species of non-human primates and then write fictional skits about interactions among the different primates.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Change of a River

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore changes in the Missouri River. In this Missouri River lesson, students discover that changes in the atmosphere cause changes in the river. Learners search the Internet for information about the Missouri River and its...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do Fish Clean the Ocean?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students analyze a reading selection. In this ocean lesson, students read a story about the ocean, ocean animals and coral reefs. Students have the option to complete internet research on coral reefs. Students write in their journals...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Enrichment Activities - "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH." They discuss the various characters in the book, and the different types of conflict that take place within the book. They also research owls and rats to make comparisons...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seashore Sweep

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students gather information about sea animals. In this ocean lesson, students read a story about the ocean and seashore. They discuss the needs of seashore animals and create a Mystery Ocean Animal riddle book. Students also discuss...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

E.T. Write Home

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read the book, The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System, and discuss the planets visited by the characters in the book. They write journal entries from the viewpoint of E.T., writing letters home describing his travels in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Language Arts: Survival Diaries

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners are able to compose a dialectical journal entry which analyzes information presented in a text. They are able to compose a creative journal entry which develops characters, presents events in logical order, and includes sensory...