Young scholars research thunderstorms using the Internet, science book, or another reference book. Then, they can take a specific aspect of thunderstorms such as lightning, thunder, hail, rain, or something else that occurs during a...

Students listen to stories about kindness and discuss kindness in their lives. Students then complete Kindness Counts page, illustrating and telling story, and turn in completed page to teacher to be laminated and assembled.

Students listen to excerpts from an autobiography about the first blind man to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. They discuss Erik Weihenmayer's life, and write a bio-poem using a bio-poem formula.

Students explain how geographic/cultural setting influences identity by comparing/contrasting Esmeralda's Puerto Rican self with her American self. They closely read text to pinpoint when Esmeralda was no longer Puerto Rican. Students...

Eighth graders analyze what makes poetry reading interesting to an audience. They read five short poems. Student free write their interpretations of those five poems. With the help of one line from their free writing, 8th graders start...

The young scholars will participate in a read-a-loud with the teacher by reading the book "Biscuit." The students will learn about taking care of a puppy. Young scholars will also create text to self comparisons by using sentence...

[Free Registration/Login Required] This SMART Notebook resource can be used as a warm-up activity. Each slide will stimulate verbal responses on ways to begin sentences. Students will then start their own sentences with nouns, verbs,...

In this lesson, Teaching Grammar in Context by Constance Weaver provides foundational information for this lesson. Brave Irene, written by William Steig, is used as the mentor text of this lesson. Students will develop sentences with...

In this instructional activity, Eileen Christelow's picture book, Five Little Monkeys Go Shopping, is used as the mentor text for its use of adverbial phrases. After several exposures to the mentor text, students will use click the...

In this lesson plan, Hooway for Wodney Watby, written by Helen Lester, is used as the mentor text for its use of adverbial phrases. After several exposures to the mentor text, students will use click the buttons with the words "Who",...

In this lesson plan, Hoops, written by Robert Burleigh, is used as the mentor text for its use of adverbial phrases. After several exposures to the mentor text, students will use click the buttons with the words "Who", "What", "When",...

In this lesson, Brooke Bessesen's picture book, Look Who Lives in the Desert!: Bouncing and Pouncing, Hiding and Gliding, Sleeping and Creeping, is used as the mentor text for its use of adverbial phrases. After several exposures to the...

In this lesson plan, Dr. Seuss' book, If I Ran the Zoo, is used as the mentor text for its use of adverbial phrases. After reading the mentor text, students will use click the buttons with the words "Who", "What", "When", and "Where"...

In this lesson, students will click a button that will help them generate ideas for story development. Students can click several times, if needed, until one of the ideas is interesting to them. [Requires Adobe Reader.]

A wonderful collection of downloadable PDF story starters ("workshop pages") for young children. Each worksheet includes a colorful image, fun prompt and writing lines. Students can also submit their stories for publication on the site.

Being able to speak English fluently does not guarantee that a student will be able to use language effectively in academic settings. Fluency must be combined with higher order thinking skills to create an "academic language," which...

In this instructional activity, the teacher reads a story aloud and students work with a partner to retell the story using sentence starters. Includes downloadable poster.

This resource explains how to listen carefully to someone to identify the points they are trying to make and how to use those points to add additional information to the discussion. Includes sentence starters to help frame what you want...

In this lesson, Roni Schotter's picture book entitled The Boy Who Loved Words is used as the mentor text. This Language Arts Common Core Standards-aligned lesson pre-writing task engages students in writing a collection of ideas of story...