Help young readers learn to read and interpret complex text independently. Teach young children to ask interpretive questions and use the text itself to answer them. Use art, word play and drama to provide a deeper understanding of...

After reading chapter six of Ordinary People with your class, conduct this activity with your class. Turn the lights down, put on your softest voice, and have them try to imagine that they lost a close friend. Then, encourage them to...

Students participate in several activities using a reading partner. They plan and organize reading meetings with their partner, and then review story elements by retelling the stories orally. The partners question each other and make...

Students use the cross check strategy to increase reading comprehension in this instructional activity. They listen as the teacher reads "Where the Wild Things Are." The teacher purposely reads some words wrong so that the story does...

Students learn about safe summertime play and responsibility. In this Clifford-themed lesson plan, students read Clifford Keeps Cool, use a time line to discuss the story, and participate in a summertime picnic activity.

Here is a wonderful way to introduce your learners to the Fifth Amendment of the Bill of Rights. There are 16 questions designed to generate thinking and discussion questions about the Fifth Amendment. This lesson is extremely...

Learners explore expressive reading. In this literature lesson, students read the book The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and interpret key themes. Learners perform a different version of the text.

First graders listen to the book, Sheep in a Shop, that leads them to think about making financial decisions, trading, and the barter system. After the book is read aloud, a discussion ensues about some of the things that the sheep...

Explore communication by completing argument related worksheets. Learners discuss appropriate ways to communicate with someone they are having a disagreement with and what techniques are not polite. Students read example arguments and...

While examining slavery's impact on women, historians compare and contrast the perspectives of a plantation mistress and an enslaved woman, both reflecting on the system of forced prostitution. Text analysis and written responses create...

Students role play different situations. In this respect activity, students read Mr. Lincoln's Way, identify the story elements and answer comprehension questions. Students discuss how they can always treat others with respect and role...

The danger of mob mentality is on display in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Get your class thinking with some challenging quickwrite questions, then assign characters from the play to be read aloud altogether. Links to worksheets...

Students work as partners to study Dr. Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech. In this African American history lesson, students work with their cross-grade partner to study, understand, and memorize the speech. Students meet with...

Students practice their reading comprehension while investigating vegetables.  In this children's literature lesson, students are read The Tale of Peter Rabbit in class and analyze the concept and themes.  Students complete...

Students discuss the fable, The Crow and the Pitcher. In this literature lesson, students read the fable and create a crow sock puppet. Students use their puppets to dramatize the fable.

Students present a play based on The Lorax.In this environmental issues lesson plan, students read and discuss literature and complete activities pertaining to environmental stewardship.

Fourth graders examine the role of money. In this money lesson, 4th graders read a chapter from Judy Blume's, Double Fudge, to see how money is made and how people make money. They finish a worksheet, and play a game about money.

Students research links concerning early factory labor, child labor in today's world, and diseases on young laborers. They work on a loom, analyze a mill bell schedule, read a mill girl's diary, and write a poem or song exhibiting empathy.

Students listen to a read aloud of Janell Cannon's, Stellaluna as they examine how bats use their sense of smell. They examine the sense of smell by role playing as mother bats as identify different scents. They study bat facts at an...

Students compare and contrast versions of The Three Little Pigs. In this fairy tale lesson, students read 3 versions of the fairy tale and dramatize them in order to analyze the similarities and differences.

Students discover books about planting enormous things. In this reading lesson plan, students experience several books centered around growing enormous plants. Cross curricular activities are included

Learners practice memorizing the seven days of the week and keeping them in order.  For this calendar lesson, students read aloud the book Today is Monday by Eric Carle, and create their own calendar style book using...

First graders write "I Can" statements to tell what they can do to help their community. They write the statements on a train car that has a number written on it. They share their statements in order of the number of their train car...

Young scholars explore the role of women as soldiers during the Civil War period. They read about a young Brooklyn woman who concealed her identity to join the army and imagine how her family or fellow soldiers responded. They role play...