Curriculum Corner
ELA Common Core Checklists for K-6
In the hustle and bustle of life in the classroom, it's easy for teachers to lose track of the standards they have taught, and those that still need to be addressed. This Common Core checklist provides educators with an easy-to-use...
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Class Tales
Students improve their reading comprehension by role-playing a bear hunt story. In this reading comprehension lesson, students pretend to go on a bear hunt and complete an art project for the story.
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Missing Toy Writing Activity
Students listen to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, by Mo Willems. In this listening and writing lesson, students listen to the story and create a poster for their favorite toy if it were to go missing. They work independently to...
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The Apple Pie Tree
Young scholars read The Apple Pie Tree and discuss the story and talk about what was living in the tree. In this life comprehension lesson, students write the main idea of the book in a few sentences.
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Clara Caterpillar
Students read the story Clara Caterpillar about the changes of a caterpillar and make butterflies. In this reading lesson plan, students make the butterflies out of colored coffee filters.
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Can We Switch Genders of Story Characters?
Students read and review the main elements of a story. In this language arts lesson, students predict what the story read to them would have been like if the genders of the characters had been different. Students write a new...
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The Gingerbread Man
First graders read a story from sentence strips and charts. Student pairs are called on to read their answer and move that strip to the top of the chart. One line of students moves down, giving each student a new partner. The activity...
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The Three Billy Goats Gruff
First graders read key sentences from the story on sentence strips. They read the story with a partner and act out the story, taking turns acting the parts of the various characters.
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"Angel Child, Dragon Child"
Learners read and analyze the book "Angel Child, Dragon Child" by Michele Maria Surat. They chart the main story elements on a graphic organizer, and write three sentences about themselves and draw a self-portrait. Students then create...
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The Missing Word
Young scholars, after reading a short story, predict possible missing words by utilizing context clues and graphophonic clues. A picture book with several words covered up sets the scene for this lesson. They share their predictions in...
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Readers Theatre: The Three Snow Bears
Students dramatize the story, Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett. In this readers theatre lesson, students read the story and then dramatize the events during readers theatre. There is an included script.
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I've Felt the Same Way
Students recognize various differences between their lives and the lives of
people living in the 19th century Chicago area. They hear stories from people living in four different historical time periods and match the stories
to their...
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The Gingerbread Person
Students discuss gender bias and stereotyping. In this social science lesson plan, students read the book "The Gingerbread Boy" and discuss why it is a boy. Students then write their own story changing it to a gingerbread girl and a...
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The Adventures of Mr. Toss
Students practice with the underhand toss in a fun culminating activity. First, 4-5 students make a circle. All circles should be close enough to the instructor to easily hear the story. Explain that each group be given an object to toss.
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A Teeth Changing Experience
Students research human health by reading an educational story in class. In this oral health lesson, students identify the importance of brushing their teeth and consuming calcium. Students read the book A Teeth Changing Experience...
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The Only Boy in the Ballet Class
Students discuss kindness and how to treat others. In this kindness lesson, students listen to the story The Only Boy in the Ballet Class by Denise Gruska. The teacher draws the main character and every time that he receives a put down...
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Watching Wheatstacks
Students explore basic shapes in Monet's paintings Wheatstacks, Snow Effect and Morning. They study about light and shadows through reading and experimenting with three-dimensional models and flashlights.
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Rosa Parks Changed the Rules
Students listen to a story about Rosa Parks and examine the bus seating rules of the 1950s. In this civil rights movement lesson, the teacher reads students a book about Rosa Parks, then students complete a worksheet with a diagram of...
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Arthur's Halloween
Students read a story and respond. In this caring and helping others instructional activity, students read Arthur's Halloween making predictions as they go. Students write a report on caring, create a caring journal where...
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Dalai Lama Tibetan Mandala Lesson
Students explore world history by reading a children's story in class. In this Tibetan culture lesson, students identify the Dalai Lama and his contributions to both Western and Tibetan society. Students read the story The Mountains of...
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How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun
Students explore U.S. history by reading a Native American tale in class. In this cultural storytelling lesson, students read the story How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun and discuss the characters and themes of the Native American...
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Everything Grows
First graders read about the growth of living things. In this similiarities and differences activity, 1st graders list things that are similiar and different about growing plants. Students then use a graphic organizer to list the...
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Graphic Organizer Lesson
Students investigate how to use graphic organizers. In this literary elements lesson, students are introduced to several types of graphic organizers and their purpose. Students read a book of their choice and complete a graphic organizer...