Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: I Hate To Be Sick

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Engaged in a read aloud, kids use the story to define new vocabulary words, raising their hands when they hear new words in the story. Additionally, individuals refer to the text to show how the word was used in context....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unlocking New Words: Partner Presentations

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Following extensive modeling about how to apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to learn new words, partner teams create brief word presentations to teach new vocabulary to the class. Preselect words from upcoming social studies,...
Unit Plan
Learning to Give

Teaching Playwriting in Schools

For Teachers 1st - 12th Standards
The world is a stage, and so is your classroom! Hone the skills of the next generation of Tony® award winners with a set of exercises, reference pages, writing prompts, and excerpts from famous plays.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Amigo (Baylor)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Amigo by Byrd Baylor gives learners a chance to practice with unknown words and context clues. Choose several vocabulary words to focus on as you read the picture book, or use the ones provided here (the book is in English...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner (Schwartz)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Give beginning readers a chance to practice with unknown words and context clues using the pictuer book Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner. Choose several vocabulary words to focus on as you read the picture book, or use the ones provided...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Frida (Winter)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Combine vocabulary in context with art history using Jonah Winter's colorful biography Frida. Although there are quite a few words you could teach from this text, four are listed here with connecting questions: ill, imitate,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: A Picture Book of Helen Keller (Adler)

For Teachers K - 3rd
The story of Helen Keller is a fascinating one for young scholars; use it to practice reading comprehension and new vocabulary as learners listen to you read David Adler's picture book (hint: this strategy can be applied to any book)....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Animal Action ABC (Pandell)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Get your kinesthetic learners engaged in a vocabulary study using Karen Pandell's book, Animal Action ABC. They move around as you read, and raise their hands whenever they hear one of the words you are learning. Pre-teach the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Black Bear Cub (Lind)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Kids love reading stories! There are many opportunities to learn new words in context as budding readers listen to Alan Lind's story Black Bear Cub. They focus on seven nature-related vocabulary terms: cub, den, forage, lure,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Blueberries for Sal (McCloskey)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Take your budding readers on a literary trip to pick blueberries as they learn vocabulary from Robert McClosky's book, Blueberries for Sal. By pre-teaching the words pupils are prepared to raise their hands when they hear...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Chrysanthemum (Henkes)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Kevin Henkes' sweet story Chrysanthemum is the perfect way to teach vocabulary to budding readers in context. Present the new terms they will hear so pupils are ready to raise their hands when they come up in the story....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Clouds (Bauer)

For Teachers K - 3rd
What type of cloud is that? Explore meteorological vocabulary using Marion Bauer's book, Clouds (although these strategies could be used for any fiction or nonfiction text). Pre-teach the new words before reading the story...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Countdown to Kindergarten (McGhee)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Budding readers will relate to Allison McGhee's story Countdown to Kindergarten in which a young girl is worried about not being able to tie her shoes once she gets to school. This is a fun way to teach vocabulary in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Everybody Cooks Rice (Dooley)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Use Norah Dooley's culturally inspiring book Everybody Cooks Rice to explore delicious new vocabulary in context with beginning readers. The recommended words here are: delicious, grumbling, and gulp; pre-teach them...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Firefighters (Mitten)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Your budding readers know what it's like to get to a word and think, "What does that mean?" Expand their vocabulary in context using Christopher Mitten's nonfiction picture book Firefighters. Get them ready by pre-teaching the new...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Froggy Goes to School (London)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Just like your budding readers may have felt, Froggy is nervous on his first day of school. Use Johnathan London's book Froggy Goes to School to practice vocabulary in context. Prior to reading the story aloud, pre-teach the new words...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: George's Store at the Shore (Bassede)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Combine counting and vocabulary using Francine Bassede's book George's Store at the Shore, which has learners exploring new words and numbers 1-10. Suggested words for this text are: arrange, assortment, customers,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: "I Can't," Said the Ant (Cameron)

For Teachers K - 3rd
With both rhyme and a fun storyline, Polly Cameron's story "I Can't," Said the Ant is a useful resource for vocabulary in context. Emerging readers focus on five key words: cooperate, mend, nimble,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: I Love You the Purplest (Joosse)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Use Barbara Joosse's heartwarming story I Love You the Purplest (which can be found on YouTube if you don't have it) to practice vocabulary in context with emerging readers. This sensory text is an excellent opportunity to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse (Henkes)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Familiarize budding readers with new vocabulary in context as they listen you read Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, which can be found on YouTube if you don't have in on hand. Recommended focus words here are: considerate, creative,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Madeline's Rescue (Behelmans)

For Teachers K - 3rd
What new adventure is Madeline on now? Emerging readers expand their vocabulary in Ludwig Behelmans' story Madeline's Rescue. Although there are many words you could focus on here, five have been furnished with comprehension...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Mama, Do You Love Me? (Joosse)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Barbara Joosse approaches an age-old question through an equally traditional culture in her story Mama, Do You Love Me?, which helps budding readers explore Native American vocabulary in context. Here you'll find...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Matthew's Dream (Lionni)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Explore vocabulary in context with emerging readers using Leo Lionni's whimsical story Matthew's Dream, which you can find on YouTube if you don't have it. Kids expand their word base as you pre-teach the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Moonbear's Bargain (Asch)

For Teachers K - 3rd
If you are reading Frank Asch's book Moonbear's Bargain, here is an excellent way to practice vocabulary in context with budding readers. Although you could include others, the recommended words for this text are: blossom,...