Curated OER
American Revolution
While just an outline for an exploration of the American Revolution, this lesson plan could be augmented to provide a richer experience. The activity calls for learners to discuss the Declaration of Independence, study Paul Revere's...
Curated OER
Daniel's Story Study Guide
Students explore the concept of prejudice. In this World War II lesson, students read Daniel's Story by Carol Matas. Students complete the provided study guide as they read the novel and discuss the Holocaust.
Curated OER
Dictionary Skills
Students use a dictionary to review their spelling words. They discover how to use guide words in the dicotionary to find the words. They must write their spelling word and the page and guide words found on the page where the word is found.
Curated OER
Spice Up the Basal
Fifth graders study English reading and writing skills as they participate in exciting interdisciplinary hands-on activities using a basal reading series.
Curated OER
Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes
Students read the novel "Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. They Reaearch Japanese Culture and design a presentation based on information from the Sadako Peace Club link.
Curated OER
Revision Lesson
Students, through a series of 4 lessons, explore what it means to revise their written work. They revise a bland story together and then practice revising their own papers by identifying the main action and "exploding" that moment into...
Curated OER
PowerPoint Homophones
Student identify homophones. Students, in pairs, work together to create a PowerPoint presentation using pictures to show the difference between the words. The PowerPoint can then be used by all the students in lower grade levels.
Curated OER
The Twelve Months: A Slavic Cinderella Variant
Students locate Slavic countries and identify a few characteristics of those countries. They read and/or listen to the Slavic tale, "The Twelve Months," and compare this version with another Cinderella story.
Curated OER
Fall Similes and Metaphors
Young scholars interpret what a similies and metaphors are. They give examples of similies and metaphors. Pupils write different similies and metaphors using fall or autumn descriptive words. Students base their comparisons on facts,...
Curated OER
Informational Writing
Fifth graders study Paul Revere. In this writing lesson, 5th graders discuss the elements of writing that help a reader be engage. They read about Paul Revere's life, taking notes about what made his life seem heroic, and write about...
Curated OER
Hoosier Artists
Young scholars examine the paintings of various Indiana artists. Using the internet, they relate the landscapes shown to the history of the state and how it affected Native Americans. Using the information they gathered, they write story...
Curated OER
Understanding Cloud Formation
Students explore air and clouds by watching demonstration. They perform an experiment to measure air pressure changes.
Curated OER
Biographies in a Box Come to Life
Students use the Internet to research someone's biography.
Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation: Dream in Color: Resource Guide for Elem School Teachers [Pdf]
Explore a wealth of poems, lesson plans, and classroom activities to help elementary school students discover the diversity in African-American poets and create their own voice in poetry. PDF (requires Adobe Reader).
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Compiling Poetry Collections and a Working Definition of Poetry
Contains plans for eight lessons in a poetry unit that asks students to write poetry in various forms after reading models. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as...
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Poetry for the Elementary Classroom
Site contains a narrative and three lesson plans. These plans are designed to assist students with various aspects of poetry. This site discusses strategies which enable students to effectively, memorize, recite, and correctly pronounce...
Utah State University
A Mini Unit of Gwendolyn Brooks
Nice lesson plan for grades 5-6 that explores poetry and personal expression through the work of Gwendolyn Brooks. Has lots of activities but could easily be modified for time. Has nearly everything you need to do the lesson!
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Garden Lesson Plans: Japanese Garden Vocabulary: Haiku [Pdf]
A mini-unit on haiku where students learn about and write haiku inspired by Japanese gardens. This activity is intended to be done in conjunction with a visit to a Japanese garden, but this is not essential.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Presidential Inaugurations
This resource provides step-by-step lesson plans that detail the Presidential Inauguration. It offers links to superb primary sources (photos, poems, audio, etc.) that catalog past inaugurations. This resource will certainly help...
Read Works
Read Works: Voice 3rd Grade Unit
[Free Registration/Login Required] A series of two lesson plans designed to teach young scholars to recognize words and phrases that support the author's voice in poetry. Lessons are based on the books Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel...
PBS
Pbs: The Statue of Liberty
A detailed unit plan on liberty and the role the Statue of Liberty has played in America. Six lessons are completely described including making a classroom model of the statue, creating a timeline, and analyzing a poem.
Lin and Don Donn
Lin and Don Donn: Language Lessons: Native American Lit.
Relevant resource links and ideas for lessons to teach Native American Literature also come with information on specific units, suggested lists of books, and Native American Poetry.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Shel Silverstein Classroom Activity
As part of a unit on Shel Silverstein and his poetry (specifically "Where the Sidewalk Ends"), this classroom activity provides a brief classroom project and includes lesson plan ideas, web links, and additional texts.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Poet Emily Dickinson
As part of a unit on Emily Dickinson and her poetry, this classroom activity provides a brief classroom project and includes lesson plan ideas, web links, and additional texts.