Curated OER
The Jacket: Journal Templates Teacher's Guide
Explore this story involving prejudice and racism to enhance learners' comprehension skills. The story The Jacket by Andrew Clements involves an African American boy who is falsely accused of stealing someone's jacket. This teacher's...
Curated OER
The Anxiety Workbook For Teens
Teens often face a great deal of worry in their lives, and can be at a loss with how to anticipate and handle their emotions. This workbook is an exceptional resource for both educators and students alike as a way of supporting...
Curated OER
British Royalty Tours the U.S.
Students share their knowledge of England, then read a news article about Prince Charles's anticipated visit to the U.S. In this current events lesson (written prior to Prince Charles's visit), the teacher introduces the article with a...
Curated OER
The Gingerbread Man
Students complete a variety of activities related to the Jan Brett version of the book "The Gingerbread Man." They compare and contrast two versions of the story, prepare and eat gingerbread cookies, describe their gingerbread man...
Power Show
Out of the Dust: Book Introduction
Introduce young readers to historical fiction with Karen Hesse's novel, Out of the Dust. They'll view photos taken during the Dust Bowl years, meet the author, and even hear an excerpt from the book. A plot summary and three book talks...
Curated OER
21st Century Book Club
After reading a self-selected book, young reviewers plan, draft, revise, edit and polish a book review as their report on the book. Reviewers record and edit their report which is then placed in the digital library for others to enjoy.
Curated OER
Supporting Opinions: Handling the End of a Friendship
Four thought-provoking questions encourage readers to develop and support their opinions about strategies to end a friendship after exploring excerpts from a New York Times article. The reading is brief so this could be a lead-in to...
Curated OER
Book Club Discussion: Things Fall Apart
Students read and discuss Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart. Students are guided to analyze the text through consideration of the author's use of 6 literary devices. Students also evaluate the text according to their personal...
Curated OER
Author's Purpose
Fifth graders determine the meaning of author's purpose. In this author's purpose lesson, 5th graders apply the PIE (persuade, inform, entertain) strategy to determine why an author wrote a piece of writing. They examine passages and...
Open Oregon Educational Resources
Oregon Writes Open Writing Text
Are some resource books more confusing than helpful? The creator of Oregon Writes Open Writing Text thinks so. That is why the text remains a living document with input from teachers, librarians, and scholars. The eBook begins with...
Curated OER
The Mystery of Machu Picchu
Make the exploration of Machu Picchu a real adventure with these innovative lessons.
Reed Novel Studies
Out of My Mind: Novel Study
Have you ever felt trapped in your own body? That is likely how Melody in Sharon M. Draper's Out of My Mind feels. As scholars read to find out how Melody finally expresses herself, they complete sentences with new words, describe...
Poetry4kids
How to Write an Apology Poem
Put a silly spin on making amends with an apology poem. Budding poets think of a time they were made to apologize although they didn't mean it. They then turn their experience into a poem that offers details and ends with an explanation...
EngageNY
Author’s Craft: Poetry and Prose
During a drama circle, scholars closely examine the play created in the play A Midsummer Night's Dream. The pupils read Act 3 Scene 1 and turn and talk to their partners about the scene. They then complete a handout and discuss the...
Curated OER
Put the NEW in NEWBERY
Students read Newbery award books. In this Newbery book instructional activity, students look online to find all the books that have received this award and look through online reviews to find one they would like to read. After finishing...
Curated OER
Esperanza Rising - Literature Circles and Review (Day 3)
Kids love working with their peers. Get your class into small literature circles and have them complete weekly assignments. Before beginning this week's activity, have each learner write a letter from Esperanza in California to Abuelita...
Curated OER
How To Start Your Own Book Club: Artichoke's Heart
Students read the book Artichoke's Heart and complete discussion questions about it. In this Artichoke's Heart lesson plan, students discuss the book with the class in a book club format.
Curated OER
Beatrix Potter: Author Study
Students are introduced to the life and works of Beatrix Potter. Individually, they use the site to read about one character in her books and print out a picture. They create a report and share their information with the class.
Curated OER
Introducing 'Communication Talent' with "Casey at the Bat"
Students listen to the poem "Casey at the Bat". They use their Forecasting Skill to answer questions and discuss the poem.
Curated OER
Lesson Three: Prepositions
Learning prepositions can be tricky in any language, and English is no exception! Try out the activities described here to help your English language learners grasp the difference between in and on and through and by. After a game of...
Tompson Solutions
Be a Reporter (The 5 W's and an H)
Teach your class how to investigate research sources. You can start out with this presentation, which lays out a easy strategy for asking questions and taking down answers that cover the important information.
Curated OER
The Life And Times Of The Apple
Students engage in a study about the biology of apples that includes growth and reproduction. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students write a description of an apple brought to class by answering several questions....
Curated OER
Author Study (Chris Van Allsburg)
Third graders study a list of books written and illustrated by the author. They examine facts about the author's life. They take a survey of Allsburg's books read by the students using the Excel spreadsheet.
Curated OER
Poetry
Tenth graders write a poem. In this poetry instructional activity, 10th graders read the poem The Road Not Taken written by Robert Frost, answer discussion questions, add new stanzas to the poem and share them with the class.