Who wouldn't love to get a letter from a blue bird? Elementary art enthusiasts analyze the social and historical context of Ason Yellowhair's Navajo piece, Bird and Cornstalk Rug. They examine the construction and images on the rug...

Students investigate acting and performing arts by portraying a story in class. In this pantomiming lesson, students read the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and discuss the characters amongst themselves. Students portray the 4...

Fifth graders examine the impact of World War II on South Carolina. In this American history lesson, 5th graders analyze primary documents that include political cartoons and advertisements that were published in South Carolina during...

Twelfth graders examine the characteristics of transcendentalism. In this transcendentalism lesson, 12th graders determine what this type of writing entails before reading a passage from, Ray Bradbury's, Dandelion Wine. They cite three...

We take a steady shower stream and clean drinking water for granted, but in many countries around the world, the lack of water or a clean water supply is responsible for higher sickness and death rates. Taking a closer look at the water...

First graders compare fictional and real pigs. In this pig comparison instructional activity, 1st graders read a fiction text then a non-fiction text on pigs. Students complete a K-W-L chart  and fill out a Venn Diagram. 

Left-to-right, left-to-right, that's the way we read and write! Watch this short video clip and teach your young learners this chant before they start writing! 

Eighth graders identify figurative language and poetry in this literary analysis lesson. Using Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll and a YouTube video for "The Walrus and the Carpenter," young readers complete a literary device...

Young scholars explore English by completing an interactive language history activity. In this word recognition instructional activity, students discuss word formations and the phonetic relationship between letters. Young scholars...

Students explore acrostic poems. In this interactive poetry lesson, students visit the ReadWriteThink.org website to view characteristics and samples of acrostic poems. Students develop acrostic poems by using the interactive site.

Explore nonfiction writing with your class. They will identify elements in nonfiction by reviewing elements of fiction. Then they use biographies, memoirs, menus, Time for Kids, and text books to identify elements of nonfiction. They...

Using the poems "First Snow" by Ted Kooser and "Eating Alone" by Yi-Young Lee (or other suggested poems by Robert Frost or Sara Teasdale), middle schoolers search for examples of figurative language. Guide your learners by discussing...

Young scholars investigate art by observing historical sculptures from New Guinea. In this art history lesson, students observe pictures of the "Orator's Stool"from Papua New Guinea, while identifying the small details that make it...

Identify literary elements in fiction. In this reading comprehension lesson, learners read the book Pigsty and record literary elements onto a graphic organizer. They specifically discuss the main characters and events in the text.

Imagine the surprise when small groups present their Evidence Charts to the class and discover that each group has studied a different version of the Cinderella story. Irish, Ojibwa, Egyptian, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Mexican, and...

Students explore language arts by participating an on-line grammar activity. In this letter U lesson, students discuss the uses for the letter U in the English language and the different sounds that can be made from the vowel. Students...

Second graders compose friendly letters. In this writing lesson, 2nd graders read the text Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez and discuss the rights of farm workers. Students brainstorm things at school they would like to change...

Learners practice classifying objects while utilizing candy. In this sorting activity, students observe an assortment of M&M's and analyze the candy based on color. Learners create a color chart based on the number of different...

Students compare versions of Cinderella and draw conclusions based on the story elements identified. In this literacy comprehension and story elements instructional activity, students read several versions of Cinderella, complete a...

Students demonstrate their self discipline and motivation by brainstorming their own personal self discipline goals. In this self discipline instructional activity, students analyze examples of self discipline and self control by...

Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this South Carolina history instructional activity, 8th graders examine sources that require them to examine the life of William Ellison, a...

Students explore language arts by reading Dr. Seuss stories in class. In this word play lesson plan, students identify the rhymes in both Dr. Seuss and Nursery Rhyme stories. Students utilize flash cards with rhymes written on them to...

High schoolers discover the story of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. In this American Civil War lesson, students study the life of Robert Gould Shaw and the regiment he led. High schoolers research primary and secondary sources to learn...

Learners explore the immigration wave that hit the United States in 19th century. In this immigration lesson, students examine primary and secondary sources to determine what the immigration experience was like for new citizens. Learners...