Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Dandelion (Freeman)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Dandelion the lion is dapper and elegant; young readers learn these and more vocabulary words as they read Don Freeman's story Dandelion (hint: this strategy can be applied to any book). Familiarize pupils with the new words...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Dinosaur Bones (Barner)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Dig into some prehistoric vocabulary in Bob Barner's informative book Dinosaur Bones. This works best if you introduce the primitive words before reading the story. These are the focus terms in the text: ancient, climate, extinct,...
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: 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: Fancy Nancy (O'Connor)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Get fancy with Jane O'Connor's story Fancy Nancy as scholars learn some elegant new words in context: accessories, chauffeur, plume, stupendous, and tiara. After introducing these new terms (do any scholars...
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: Happy Birthday, Moon (Asch)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Can you wish the moon a happy birthday? Beginning readers contemplate this as they listen to Frank Asch's book Happy Birthday, Moon, the context for a vocabulary study. There are three words outlined here: chat,...
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: "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: 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: Kindergarten Count to 100 (Rogers)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Combine counting and vocabulary in context using Jacqueline Rogers' Kindergarten Count to 100. Suggested words for this text are: first, fountain, salute, second, and third. By introducing the terms before reading the text,...
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: 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,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Miss Spider's Tea Party (Kirk)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learning new vocabulary words is best done in the context of an engaging story like David Kirk's Miss Spider's Tea Party. New readers (or almost-readers) focus on any of 12 new words: conceal, courtesy, demand, descend, dread,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: My Chinatown: One Year in Poems (Mak)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Beautiful illustrations and tender memories of cultural identity make Kam Mak's story My Chinatown an ideal resource for budding readers learning four vocabulary words in context: fortune, scraps,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: One Tiny Turtle (Davies)

For Teachers K - 3rd
The loggerhead turtle is a fascinating species, and budding readers learn all about it in Nicola Davies' account One Tiny Turtle. This informational narrative offers excellent vocabulary in context, and you'll...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Over in the Meadow (Keats)

For Teachers K - 3rd
If you're reading the classic story Over in the Meadow, consider this strategy to cover vocabulary in context with budding readers. After a brief introduction, listeners raise a hand when they hear each word (bask,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Pinkalicious (Kann)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Although the title of Elizabeth Kann's story Pinkalicious isn't a real word, the book is an excellent way to explore some new vocabulary in context: acute, mushy, rare, steady, and surrounded. Find the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Red Riding Hood (Marshall)

For Teachers K - 2nd
It's the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood retold by James Marshall; scholars listen for six new words as you read: bouquet, charming, escort, horrid, tarry, and wicked. Introduce the words before reading so they can...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Ruby the Copycat (Rathmann)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Have your scholars ever known someone who was a copycat? Approach this issue as you study vocabulary in context by reading Peggy Rathmann's book Ruby the Copycat. Proposed focus words are: recite, murmur,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Smoky Night (Bunting)

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Experience the Los Angeles Riots through the eyes of a child in Even Bunting's poignant story Smoky Night. Use this text as you teach vocabulary in context, using comprehension questions to help scholars make connections to outside...