Students make connections with the book Because of Winn-Dixie through writing.  In this writing lesson, students pretend to be the main character and write a letter to her mother, using very descriptive language.  Students also...

Students read the book Wilfred Gordon McDonald Patridge and discuss how we can help others. In this Wilfred Gordon McDonald Patridge lesson plan, students read about helping elderly people, discuss it, and then interview their...

Rainbow Fish is on the move again and kids will enjoy these activities designed to accompany a reading of Marcus Pfister's Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea. A great packet to add to your curriculum library.

Here is a nice set of activities and discussion questions to accompany your class reading of No Pretty Pictures, a memoir of a young girl's experiences and struggle for survival during the Holocaust.

Middle schoolers complete a survey to explore the popularity of Harry Potter books.  In this literature and controversy lesson, students examine why certain books are controversial or popular. Middle schoolers write original plays...

Second graders complete a KWL chart about libraries. They create a book using writing patterns of a particular author. Students decide criteria for awarding the Second Grade Librarian Award to books in the classroom library, and use a...

Young scholars practice creating graphs in Microsoft Excel. In this technology lesson, students conduct a random survey and collect data. Young scholars use the Microsoft Excel program to create a bar graph of the data.

Learners identify the characteristics of a bridge and build with junk materials.  In this bridge building lesson, students use cereal boxes, paper towel or toilet paper tubes and tape to create their bridges.  Bridges must...

Students explore their five senses and what makes them special and unique. They listen to books about their senses and participate in a taste and smell experiment. Students also create a senses journal, and create an "I'm Special" book...

Learners read Night by Elie Wiesel, examine importance of survivor testimonials like Wiesel's in preventing future Holocausts, research biographical information online about Wiesel, and create author brochure including vital statistics,...

Learners discover the man behind the Nobel Peace Prize. In this philanthropy lesson, students research Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Peace Prize and create personal banners including works they would like to be remembered for.

Students construct a book banquet to help us to recall and enjoy food eaten in Korea during the 1940's. The class is to read When My Name Was Keoko and then create a book banquet that the students invite their parents to. Students cook...

Students interview each other and their parents to examine why and when writers write and where published authors get their ideas. They complete a class T-chart, fill-out an interview worksheet, and read and discuss a variety of book...

Students find that still life's are a great way to jump-start art. In this early childhood art lesson, students examine famous still life paintings, discuss still life art, and create their own still life piece.

Students research famous inventors and what they invented. In this technology lesson, students gather facts about a specific invention and create a PowerPoint slideshow about it. Students practice adding in animation and color to the...

Students examine where water is found in the world, how we use it, and the various forms it takes. They observe the refraction of light through a prism, record the day and night sky over a week's time, and create a topographic model of...

Students research the pilgrims in terms of why they left England, their voyage to America, the challenges they faced when they arrived, and their relationship with the American Indians. To conclude this unit, the students have a...

Students explore the world of insects and discover what it might be like to live like one. They create an insect with physical characteristics and demonstrate how it moves. Students also compare and contrast insects to spiders and how...

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," from The Jungle Book, offers young readers a chance to examine how Rudyard Kipling uses setting and personification to bring to life the brave mongoose who battles cobras to protect his family. Class members...

Students research the states, gathering information and creating questions and answers. They play a form of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? using the student-generated questions and answers.

Students determine the story elements of typical mystery stories including characters and plot structure. They look at vocabulary that is common to mystery stories before reading and responding to mystery chapter books. Working in guided...

Students examine the writing process of Kate DiCamillo, the author of "Because of Winn-Dixie." They read author's comments, watch a slideshow narrated by the author, complete a free-write activity, and discuss Kate DiCamillo's top five...

Students explore, analyze and study about fire fighters and fire safety. They listen to a book, list what they already know about firefighters and fire safety rules and compare/contrast types of firefighters. Each student then writes a...

Students construct a rainstick. In this music lesson plan, students investigate the history of the rainstick by reading the book Bringing the Rain to the Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema. Students express their feelings about the rain and...