Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing a Character Sketch

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Combining descriptive and expository writing skills, middle schoolers create a character sketch about someone they know well. They use a graphic organizer to help them discuss a model character sketch and organize/write one of their own....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lights Out on Broadway

For Teachers 6th - 10th
How do you write arguments that articulate the views of opposing sides? Through concentrated research, investigation, and critical analysis, leaners become more knowledgable on the opposing argument. The class fills in a KWL graphic...
Organizer
Lawrence Virtual School

Context Clues

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Considering a lesson on using context clues to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words? This packet includes a brief reading passage about strategies readers can use and 12 very different graphic organizers, including a template for a...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Planning Writing: Making Notes for the Accessing Books Around the World Informative Paragraph

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Encourage your young writers to thoughtfully plan and organize their work. First, model how this is done and vocalize your thought process as you work. Next, create a class list of strategies that they can use during independent writing...
PPT
Lake Middle School

Cornell Notetaking

For Teachers 6th - 10th
The beauty of this colorful presentation about Cornell notes is that it begins with a very powerful statistic: "Those who take organized notes and do something with them remember 90-100% of the material indefinitely!" Zounds! Now there's...
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Drawing Diatoms like Ernst Haeckel

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Why do scientists rely on drawings rather than just photographs of their research studies? The lesson introduces drawings of microscopic organisms and the importance of accuracy. Young artists draw organisms and learn why focus and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Descriptive Writing Using the Book Rumpelstiltskin

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
Use the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin to teach your third grade class about descriptive writing. Following a teacher read-aloud of the story, the class brainstorms a list of adjectives describing the main character. Students use this list...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

During Reading Strategies

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
"How important is freedom to you and your family?" The guiding question becomes much more powerful after your class reads and responds to a passage from a historical novel. While reading the passage, they complete a graphic organizer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: A Pocket for Corduroy (Freeman)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Who doesn't love this book? A Pocket for Corduroy provides excellent vocabulary practice in context for budding readers (although this strategy could be used with any text). Before reading it aloud, go over the new...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Alphabears: An ABC Book (Hague)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learn new words in the context of Kathleen Hague's whimsical alphabet book, Alphabears: An ABC Book (note: you can use these strategies for any text). Get pupils ready by introducing the new words they will...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Clifford the Big Red Dog (Bridwell)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Clifford the Big Red Dog is here to introduce some new vocabulary terms in context to young readers. Although this activity is designed around Norman Bridwell's picture book, the strategies are applicable for any text. Introduce the new...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Cows Can't Fly (Milgrim)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Cows can't fly, can they? David Milgrim's whimsical story makes vocabulary fun! Although this strategy can be used with any text, using Cows Can't Fly will be a breeze with this outline. Pupils are ready to raise their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Doctor DeSoto (Steig)

For Teachers K - 3rd
William Steig's story of a witty mouse couple will have scholars intrigued as they listen for new vocabulary words and context clues. Doctor DeSoto can be found on YouTube in case you don't have it. Emerging readers expand...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (O'Connor)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Although this vocabulary-in-context activity could be used with any text, it's a piece of cake if you're reading Jane O'Connor's Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy. What new words will pupils learn here? Find comprehension questions for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Fly Away Home (Bunting)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Approach a difficult subject with budding readers through Eve Bunting's story Fly Away Home, a child's perspective on homelessness. Focus on vocabulary in context, going over the terms learners will hear before reading...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Franklin Goes to School (Bourgeois)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Join Franklin the turtle at school as youngsters learn new vocabulary in the context of Paulette Bourgeois' story (or apply this strategy to any book). Scholars are acquainted with new words before reading and raise hands when...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Grandfather's Journey (Say)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Read Allen Say's classic tale Grandfather's Journey as scholars expand their vocabulary in context (note: this strategy could be done with any text). Wondering what words they will learn here? Although you could easily include...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? (Yolen and Teague)

For Teachers K - 3rd
If you are reading Jane Yolen's fun story How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, use these strategies to enhance the experience for budding readers. What new words will they learn? Find detailed comprehension questions for these...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Into the A, B, Sea (Rose)

For Teachers K - 3rd
As budding readers learn about the ocean, they'll get practice with the alphabet and new vocabulary words (cling, nab, prey, slumber, and thrive) in context. Read Deborah Rose's book Into the A, B, Sea, which includes a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Julius, the Baby of the World (Henkes)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Lilly is jealous when her new little brother is born; explore vocabulary in context through Kenvin Kenkes' story Julius the Baby of the World. Suggested words for this text are: constantly, disguise, disgusting,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Make Way for Ducklings (McCloskey)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Use the Caldecott Award-winning book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (which can be found on YouTube if you don't have it) to guide budding readers through vocabulary in context. Although the...
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: Miss Bindergarten Stays Home (Slate)

For Teachers K - 3rd
What is Miss Bindergarten up to now? Joseph Slate's story Miss Bindergarten Stays Home is an excellent resource for budding readers to practice five vocabulary words in context: advise, lesson, lovely,...

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