Help learners discover more about their backgrounds. This family history activity includes links to sites about heraldry and family names. Begin by sharing your family history with the class and then allow students to do some internet...

Second graders compare and contrast gymnastics in 1859, 1900 and today. Students contrast differences in gymnastics for boys and girls today. Students pretend that they are interviewing a famous gymnast and write up their interview....

Students read the story, dividing it into chapters per day until complete. They respond to the ad, just as Sarah, Plain and Tall did and use the correct parts of a letter used including a return address, greeting, body, closing and...

After reading Pat Hutchins’ Rosie’s Walk, have your young cartographers create a map of Rosie’s walk. Then lead them on a walk around the school. When you return class members sequence the walk by making a list of how the class got from...

Young writers examine the world of diaries. They study the diary of the famous Samuel Pepy, and discuss why it's so important. Together, as a class, they create a diary that describes what happened in school on a certain day. The catch...

Students read Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the life of Abraham Lincoln, including, but not limited to, the Civil War. Included are reading, art, math,...

The lessons that come from reading the novel Buddy by Nigel Hinton might be masked by how much you have just enjoyed the story, but don’t let an opportunity for learning pass you by. Let this learning scheme bring clarity to the ideas...

Young scholars research the evolution of cultural and social issues in areas of Westward Expansion, Immigration, and Civil Rights. They practice writing clear details with supporting evidence and examples and evaluate ways of improving...

A nice lesson on recognizing and counting from one to nine is here for you. In it, learners hold up number cards which reflect the number of monkeys who are left during a reading of the story, "How Many Monkey's Left?" A simple lesson...

Students watch various interpretations of Shakespeare's Macbeth in film. In groups, they examine the setting, characters, music and sequence. They compare and contrast the various films and discuss the differences. They write an essay on...

Young scholars calculate the Fibonacci sequence of numbers. Through the use of Fibonacci numbers in flowers, leaves, fruits, vegetables, pine cones, and other forms of nature; students explore how Fibonacci numbers occur in nature. ...

Students complete multiple lessons to study various literature including poetry, fiction, tall tales, and phrases. In this literature lesson, students complete six lessons about poetry, fiction, and idioms.

Students explore lighthouses in literature. For this reading lesson, students read Keep the Lights Burning, Annie as well as Birdie's Lighthouse. Students participate in pair/share activities regarding plot and literary devices. Student...

Students study the speeches of Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, and Chief Joseph. Students write a story set during the Nineteenth Century Era. Students present their story to the class. Handouts and worksheets are included in the...

Young scholars examine the lunar phases by locating and graphing the Moon phase of their own birthdays. They listen to and discuss lunar myths and create their own Birthday Moon Stories.

Students listen to a variety of stories and identify rhyming words. They sequence events in the story and generate rhymes of their own. They sort words by rhyming families and write rhymes of their own.

Students are introduced to how to use a flow diagram. As a class, they brainstorm all of the steps to a specific task and discuss the importance of completing them in the correct sequence. They read books that have an alternate ending...

Fourth graders conduct a novel study of the book Freedom Train North. They identify the parts of a story that include beginning, middle, and end. Students also recognize the setting, plot, and theme after reading a part of the book daily.

Students explore creative writing. Students select pictures from old magazines. In groups, students receive a folder containing pictures. They create a story based upon the pictures given.

Fourth graders, while working in the classroom and the computer lab, utilizing supporting facts from previous lessons, write a creative story that imagines a world without forests. They write, type and print their stories and turn them...

Fourth graders investigate how all races and religions have contributed to US history by looking at the scientists Elizabeth Blackwell, Benjamin Banneker, Charles Drew, and Michael Faraday. They research these scientists individually and...

Students discuss the difference between primary and secondary sources and consider how an exhibit is researched. They design and create a montage that reflects themselves in a social and historical context.

Fifth graders use computer to correct mistakes in written sentences.

Use essential elements cards to help lesson plan! Each card contains an informational text common core standard for grade levels six through eight and suggestions for activities and supports. Cards address skills such as citing textual...