By engaging in an arts-based activity, 2nd graders explore peace in the classroom. They listen to the story The Rainbow Fish, then create their own fish to hang in the classroom. They write three things that make them happy on...

Students hear the story, "The Sand Castle" and answer a given set of questions. They discuss their answers and then perform a skit of the story, "The Sand Castle." Students practice and sing a new song about sharing and caring.

Mem Fox’s Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge provides the labels for a graphing activity. Class members create an illustration of a memory item brought from home, and place their illustration in the proper column of a graph. When the...

Students participate in a global art project in which students from around the world share their art. They explore different cultures and languages as they view different types of art.

Students compare and contrast likenesses and differences to others by creating a life-size picture of themselves. In this character building lesson plan, students dictate a sentence about comments on sharing and display them with their...

Students read the book "Every Living Thing." They read one story at a time, and participate in various activities. Some of these activities include the following ideas: Students write about a time when they were in a similar situation as...

Students write an acrostic poem and analyze a work of art. In this art lesson plan, students look at a picture and answer questions about it, write a poem, write about the setting in the painting they saw, and answer short questions...

Students investigate ways to protect themselves against AIDS while learning compassion for the those with the disease. In this HIV/AIDs lesson, students discuss ways to protect themselves against contacting the disease. Students discuss...

Learners discuss whether honesty really is the best policy with a activity on "The Empty Pot," a Chinese fable about integrity. After reading the story, class members answer several comprehension and reflection questions about what...

Students explore kind behavior. In this values development and literacy lesson, students listen to The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, then generate a class list of ways the tree helped the boy and ways in which the boy helped the tree....

Students interview senior citizens. For this communications lesson, students read the book Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge and discuss how to be sensitive to people of a different generation. Students develop interview questions and...

Students define a community need and explain a purposeful act of kindness. In this community kindness instructional activity, students identify a community need before making a quilt that depicts acts of kindness that can be extended to...

Explore ancient Rome through reading The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare. Readers activate prior knowledge by examining objects that relate to the story and predict the significance of the items. Their curiosity is aroused...

Learners investigate storytelling by creating their own dialogue. In this writing development instructional activity, students read the story Jeremy Thatch, Dragon Hatcher in class and discuss their own magical object they wish to write...

Students share the value of helping others through reading and art activities. In this Clifford and the Big Storm lesson plan, students read the story, discuss courage, and create a gallery of heroes.

Students investigate Native American tribes through their stories.  In this cultural lesson, students read stories of the Inuit tribe and discuss the themes, people, and customs.  Students illustrate a picture of the Inuit...

Students explore philanthropy through literature. In this service learning lesson, students consider character traits as they read Seedfolks. Students record their notes regarding the characters in the story of a community garden in...

Students explore the meaning of the word philanthropy and identify examples of philanthropy in their home, school and community. They design a poster to communicate the meaning and impact of philanthropy.

Learners identify endangered species. In this animal science lesson, students research endangered animals and create a fundraiser to "adopt" an endangered species.

Students create a sextant. Using their sextant, students measure the height of tall objects. Students explore how sailors used sextants to identify their location on the ocean. They research how sextants are created.

Second graders write books about friends starting with page starters that are provided.