Curated OER
Evaluate Problem-Solving in the Context of Culture and Time-frame
Young scholars examine literary elements in non-fiction literature. In this problem solving lesson, students read Rosa Parks, My Story and Beyond the Limits. Young scholars make oral presentations based on the causes and effects,...
Curated OER
What's the Weather Forecast?
Students create a radio announcement based on the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. In this radio announcement lesson plan, students discuss the type of language used in other announcements and create their own.
Curated OER
Step-by-Step to the Final Destination
Learners write their own radio plays. In this writing process lesson, students script their own scary radio plays based on the radio plays they read in class in previous lessons. Learners also perform the plays for their classmates.
EngageNY
Developing Reading Fluency: Criteria for Reading Aloud
Third graders develop their reading superpowers in a lesson plan on fluency. After first listening to an audio recording or teacher read aloud, the class works together identifying criteria for fluent reading, focusing on phrasing, rate,...
Curated OER
Native American Literature: A Paradigm Shift
Students explore Native American literature. In this cultural diversity lesson, students read selected Native American books and analyze the themes of the books and familiarize themselves with the vocabulary used in the books.
Curated OER
Write a Story
Here is a great way to explore narrative writing! Learners review a previously constructed story map and identify the characters, setting, and main events in the book Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock retold by Eric A. Kimmel. They...
Curated OER
Heroes Or Role Models?
Students recognize that "heroes" and "role models" are not synonymous terms.  By analyzing heroes of other cultures and periods, they determine that many heroic figures, mythic or historical, rather than providing a model of a societal...
National Endowment for the Humanities
In Emily Dickinson's Own Words: Letters and Poems
Analyze the depth and beauty of American Literature by reading Emily Dickinson's letters and poems. The class analyzes Dickinson's poetic style and discusses Thomas Wentworth Higginson's editorial relationship with Dickinson. They pay...
Curated OER
Discussion Questions for Shakespeare's Julius Caeser
Do not let Julius Caesar be Greek to your pupils. Rather, make the play a dish fit for hungry minds. Encourage your class members to lend their ears to a series of rich discussion questions so that they can become masters of the play, as...
Curated OER
The Amazing Inch and Measuring Up!
Fifth graders study the metric and customary systems of measuring length with rulers, meter / yardsticks, and tape measures.  They determine area of polygons and surface area and volume of three-dimensional shapes.  They list as many...
Curated OER
HOLES UNIT
Students participate in the unit based on the Newbery Medal-winning novel by Louis Sachar and the Walt Disney Movie "Holes". They use the layered curriculum model of assessment and activities.
Curated OER
The Cay
Fifth graders read The Cay as a shared literature experience. This lesson plan has many good activities across the curriculum to keep your students actively engaged in the story. They will do math, art, music, science and geography...
Curated OER
Story Elements/Characterization
Students investigate language arts by analyzing a book with their classmates. In this children's literature instructional activity, students read the story Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant and discuss the setting and characters. Students...
Curated OER
Exploring Sensory Details in Fiction and Nonfiction Text
Second graders analyze storytelling devices by examining sensory details in literature. In this descriptive writing lesson, 2nd graders define the 5 senses and practice using descriptive vocabulary words in their writing. Students read...
Curated OER
Problem/solution
Young scholars examine presentations of problems and reaching solutions in literature. In this writing skills lesson, students read "The Three Little Pigs," and respond to several discussion questions about plot, characters, setting,...
Curated OER
Recognizing Text Features of Fiction, Poetry, and Drama
Students start reading the book The Sign of the Beaver and create a book mark glossary to define vocabulary for the book. In this reading lesson plan, students also respond to the text by completing a journal entry.
Curated OER
Life Is a Journey
Students consider the literal and figurative definitions of the word journey. In this metaphor instructional activity, students discuss life journeys and their diversity. 
Curated OER
Journey to Understanding Vocabulary
Students examine word parts. In this word study lesson, students practice breaking words into parts and using their knowledge of Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes determine the words' meanings.
Curated OER
Let's Make Cornbread
Students read and discuss the book Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett. In this author study lesson, students read the text and discuss the events in the story. Students make a connection to the text by baking cornbread, using the...
Curated OER
Using Text Features
Fourth graders read a nonfiction story that is presented to them with graphic features, and presented to them with only the text.  In this text features lesson, 4th graders decide what the benefits of text organizers are and create...
Curated OER
Neighborhoods
Students examine homes around the world. In this multicultural instructional activity, students read the book A World of Homes and Homes Around the World. Students compare and contrast the homes in the books to their own homes. Students...
Curated OER
Mexico: Introduction to History and Literature
Young scholars study the geography of Mexico (i.e. major cities, surrounding countries and bodies of water, mountain ranges, rivers, volcanoes), They   take turns reading aloud information provided (xerox copies) about Mexico. After each...
Curated OER
Latin Culture Through Art and Literature
Eleventh graders participate in a lecture on the history of Latin Americans and the role of Latin-American women writers.  As a class, they read a story together and identify what lessons the narrator gained throughout the story.  In...
Curated OER
The Language of Our World
High schoolers make inferences about characters in poetry. In this literature lesson, students read poetry and prose to determine how characters handle conflict in each of the genres.