Curated OER
Thumbs Up For Expert Readers!
Students use the cross check strategy to increase reading comprehension in this instructional activity. They listen as the teacher reads "Where the Wild Things Are." The teacher purposely reads some words wrong so that the story does...
Curated OER
Let's Be Emotion Detectors!
Students observe and demonstrate how to read with expression. They discuss the types of emotions and expressions to use while reading, and identify the appropriate punctuation for a variety of sentences. Students then write a sentence...
Curated OER
The Main Man
Students explore visualizing stories by completing a graphic organizer. In this reading strategy lesson, students read the story Pecos Bill by Steven Kellog and identify the setting, main characters and their interpretations. Students...
Curated OER
Science Fiction Literature
Students identify the elements of science fiction literature. They write and illustrate a science fiction story using real and exaggerated science. In addition, they read their stories aloud in small groups.
Curated OER
Self-Monitoring Strategies and Vocabulary Games
Teachers model self-monitering strategies for their high schoolers. They participate in games and artwork that help them increase their vocabulary. They also complete a crossword puzzle.
Historical Thinking Matters
Spanish-American War: 3 Day Lesson
Why did the United States choose to invade Cuba in 1898? As part of a 3-day lesson, your young historians will first develop working hypotheses to answer this question, then work with a variety of historical primary source documents that...
Special Olympics
A World of Difference
Kids engage in a series of activities that ask them to consider differences and similarities in characteristics, both visible and invisible. With this new understanding, the class investigates the Special Olympics program and develops...
Curated OER
Hoot: List-Group-Label
Word association is a great way to explore vocabulary and new ideas. In a unit about Carl Hiassen's Hoot, kids think about the word environmentalist and come up with additional words that they associate with environmentalism on...
Education Center
Star Rules
Why are rules so important? Just ask the main characters in the children's book Officer Buckle and Gloria. After a class read aloud, compare and contrast the safety tips mentioned in the story with your classroom rules, noting any...
Scholastic
Perfect Postcards: Illinois
Connect the geography and history of Illinois using an art-centered instructional activity on the railroads. The railroad connected once-distant places, particularly in the Midwest. Using research, class members create postcards of...
Curated OER
I Think I Forgot Something!
Students examine human health by reading a children's book in class. In this breakfast lesson, students identify the importance of starting the day with a good, nutritious meal. Students read the book I Think I Forgot Something and...
Curated OER
Spring-Aloud Read
Students study the season of spring and create stories about the season. In this spring season instructional activity, students read books about spring and discuss the season. Students then color and create a mini-book about Spring.
Curated OER
The No Thanksgiving Read Aloud
First graders investigate a story with the theme of The Thanksgiving holiday. The teacher reads the story to the class. The story is meant to help students to think of things they are thankful for. Students share the ideas in either...
Curated OER
Adjectives in Poetry
Students read selected poems from the book Beast Feast, by Douglas Florian. They identify at least two to three keyword facts about each beast highlighted in the poems.
Curated OER
Shaking Things Up In Summarization
Students practice several techniques and strategies to become better at summarizing a piece of writing. They emphasize the five "W's: who, what, where, when and why. A book of Earthquakes is read and then summarized by each of the students.
Curated OER
Patterns in Poetry: Part 2 -- Sound
Students understand a variety of poems listening for sound letter correspondence, rhyme scheme, assonance, and alliteration. In this language arts instructional activity, students practice listening and reading skills to complete...
Curated OER
Fiction Elements in Hatchet
Students read or listen to Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, identify elements of fiction, develop writing, thinking, and organizing skills, and create PowerPoint slides based on the story.
Curated OER
Read, Recognize & Graph Integers
Students explore negative and positive integers on a number line. They review a newspaper to determine careers that use positive and negative integers. In groups, they read and answer questions on "Lifestyles of the Rich and...
Curated OER
Guided Reading using Gail Gibbon's book Frogs
Students read to locate information about the stages of a frog's life and organize on a chart.
Curated OER
What Do You Think?
Third graders listen to the story, "The pain and the Great One", which is written from two different points of view. They read statements made by the characters in the book and identify from which character's point of view the statement...
Curated OER
Robotics Reading Hour - Robot Dog
High schoolers create a robotic dog for story time. In this story lesson, high school students bring a robotic dog to an elementary school. They read the story Robot Dog by Mark Oliver and then show their robotic dog.
Curated OER
I Want to Believe: Astrologers and Sceptics in King Lear
Students examine two conflicting writings on solar eclipse that occurred on Black Monday and discuss them in the context of Shakespeare's King Lear. In this Shakespeare lesson, students discuss astrology and read the speeches made in Act...
Curated OER
Grandma Thinks It's Cake Baking Weather
Second graders listen to a read aloud of Patricia Polacco's book "Thunder Cake" to explain how daily life has changed over the past 150 years.
Curated OER
Reading and Writing Poetry: Seeing Many Facets of Fresh Water
Students create an original poem about water. In this Robert Frost and water lesson, students read examples of Robert Frost's poetry, write an interpretation, and look for imagery that appeals to the senses. Students use a...