Michigan State University
Friend or Foe?
What one person thinks is a pest may not be a pest to someone else. Here, scholars examine the characteristics of living things and pests through grand conversation and a variety of activities. Class members play a game of pest or not a...
Science Matters
Earthquake Building/Shaking Contest
Japan is one of only a handful of countries that constructs buildings that are almost earthquake proof. The 13th lesson in the 20-part series challenges scholars to build structures to test against earthquakes. With limited materials and...
The Holler
Conflict Resolution
Does your class understand the importance of peaceful conflict resolution? Middle schoolers share conflict stories, then collaborate to resolve simulated conflicts during an engaging activity. The teacher's guide contains implementation...
Great Books Foundation
Discussion Guide for Little Women
Start with the question in mind with a discussion activity on Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. With four focus questions, note-taking prompts, and discussion points, readers practice answering thematic questions based on textual evidence.
Curated OER
The Greatest Generation: Capturing Their Stories with Digital Images
Students interview a family member of a different generation. After brainstorming story topic ideas, they choose a topic about which to write focused interview questions. Using their notes from the interviews, students write and essay...
Curated OER
Gingerbread Baby Student Books #3
Students are read the story "Gingerbread Baby". They create a mold of a gingerbread out of paper. They decorate one side of the paper and write their own story on the back.
Curated OER
Green is Beautiful
Students explore the need to care for the environment and the ways in which their actions can impact their surroundings. They play a board game to illustrate the need to protect the environment.
Curated OER
Time to Sleep
Students develop vocabulary and retell a story that they have just listened to.
Curated OER
What will you be for Halloween?
First graders construct a story sticking to the topic with 2-4 sentences.
Curated OER
Creating A Different Point Of View
High schoolers explore Indian marriage customs and culture.They connect and compare their own experiences with the experiences of characters from the short story Diamond Dust and rewrite a scene from the story from another point of view.
Curated OER
The Magic in Writing
Students watch a portion of a familiar film and write responses to a series of questions. They apply their observations to short stories.
Curated OER
Let's Help the E Out!
Students explore the short /e/ sound. They practice making the sound, noticing how their mouths move to make the sound. They use letterboxes to spell and write 'e' words. They listen for the /e/ sound in a story and then write their own...
Curated OER
Introduction to Dr. Seuss
First graders look at slides on the SMART Board of different facts about Dr. Seuss and then create a class bar graph of their favorite Dr. Seuss books. In this Dr. Seuss lesson plan, 1st graders review and list facts that they learned...
Curated OER
Letter Slide
Learners are taught how to blend sounds into words. They share experiences about sliding boards. They keep a list of the words they have made and use the words to create sentences or experience stories.
Curated OER
Gator Pie, Anyone?
First graders listen to a story, manipulate flannel board figures, and cut soft cookies and paper plates into equal parts.
Curated OER
Inuit Culture: The Family
Students examine the attributes of Inuit families. In this cultural practices lesson, students read "Saqiyuq: Stories for the Lives of Three Inuit Women," and respond to 10 comprehension and critical thinking questions about the...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Frida
Students explore language arts by reading a non-fiction story in class. In this three tiered vocabulary lesson, students read the book Frida and discuss the real life Frida and her story. Students identify vocabulary terms in the...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Students explore language arts by reading a children's book in class. In this story vocabulary lesson, students read the book The Itsy Bitsy Spider and identify the use of specific vocabulary words. Students define the selected vocab...
Curated OER
Reading Paintings, Drawing Words
Young scholars consider an art exhibit comprised of words that tell stories and create their own original pieces of art.
Curated OER
Characteristics of Caribbean Islands
Learners decide and record their stand on possible predictions of characteristics of Caribbean islands on a prediction guide. After the reading of the story, Isla, individual students record the correct true or false answer.
Curated OER
The Great American Fire Drill
Students read a story about fire safety and create their own ending to the story in order to learn about fire escape plans and to demonstrate their writing skills. In this fire safety lesson, students discuss the parts of a story, read...
Curated OER
Tell a Tale
Students create a class story using picture cards. Each student picks a card, tapes it to the board, and retells the story in sequential order using the words then and next.
Curated OER
Drawing Into the Imagination
Sixth graders create a non linear story with multiple possibilities and endings. In this non linear story lesson plan, 6th graders research non linear stories, create their own, and illustrate it.
Curated OER
Living the Dream?
Young scholars consider the stories of two immigrants and translate their past, present and future into original pieces of writing or artwork.