Identifying the theme or central idea of a text is a skill many young readers struggle with. It is also the second standard for reading literature in the Common Core. This resource, one from a series of Common Core lessons, can provide...

From catching stars developed by African pygmy tribes to chop stix pick-up or the Hanukkah dreidel, use this list of diverse multicultural activities to help your learners draw connections to unique cultures of the...

Looking to introduce some text-based questions into your ELA lessons? Practice the kinds of skills the Common Core demands with the seven text-based questions and the essay prompt provided here. Designed to be a three-day lesson, day one...

In this newspaper writing in various genres worksheet, students create 8 newspaper articles in different genres (list provided), following the examples given, with grading rubric included.

First graders study their teacher. In this first day of school activity, 1st graders listen to a book created by the teacher that details the characteristics of the teacher (likes, dislikes, who he/she is, where he/she lives, etc). They...

Students perform creative movement to music, sing and improvise using the Solfege syllables do, me, so, and la, and recognize beat vs. no beat in this instructional activity for the Kindergarten General Music class. Emphasis is on a...

Students recognize beat vs. no beat, sing and improvise on do, me, so, and la, and perform creative movement to music in this Kindergarten Music instructional activity. Emphasis is placed upon the Wiggy Wiggy Wiggles CD and creative...

Second graders analyze the dangers of using tobacco products. In this health lesson plan, 2nd graders learn about the dangers of tobacco products as they watch a teacher-led puppet show and sing a new song.

Students train themselves to recognize the good in others. For this character traits lesson, students discover what put-ups are as their teacher models giving put-ups to others. Students then discuss how to recognize the good in their...

In this synonym learning exercise, students use context to help identify a synonym in a short passage for a word that has been highlighted, 6 passages total.

In this adjectives worksheet, students complete sentences with the correct adjective, circle the adjective in the sentences, and circle nouns. Students complete 13 problems total.

In this figurative language worksheet, students identify figurative language in the sentences and explain their answers. Students complete 10 problems.

In this seven-stanza poem, the poet writes about the experience of reading her poetry to the blind. She grows increasingly uncomfortable as they cannot see the images in her words, yet they are courteous to a fault and smile and applaud...

In "Empty Voices", students will participate in a poem in many voices. Adapted from the poem by Linda J. Knaus in Miles of Smiles, students will dramatize a poem that describes all of the crazy things that they have seen.

This lesson plan examines the use of personification in the "great poets." Included in the lesson plan is an overview, practice, objectives, resources, preparation, and more.

In "My New Pet," students will participate in a poem in two voices. Adapted from the poem by Bruce Lansky in Miles of Smiles, students will dramatize a poem about a child tries to make a choice about which pet to buy.

A scanned copy of the 1852 publication of Smiles and Frowns for Good and Bad Little Children by Sarah Schoonmaker Baker, a book of poetry for children.

Discover the American poet Robert Penn Warren, recipient of three Pulitzer Prizes for his poems and plays. This profile features the poem "Lullaby: Smile in Sleep."

Celebrated WWI poet Wilfred Owen's life is summed up here, along with the text of 24 of his poems.