Elementary learners identify the main elements of story structure and form questions to summarize their reading. They listen as the teacher reads a story and then write questions to determine (1) main characters, (2) setting, (3)...

This was written for ESOL learners, but could work for any elementary class. Learners read about the American dance style known as Square Dancing. They explore its use in literature, write a friendly letter about it, and then use their...

What makes a good speaker? Upper elementary learners practice oral fluency by working with a partner to read nonfiction books. While reading, they practice using correct tone of voice, making eye contact, and speaking clearly.

Use the Peace Corps to explore a different place and different perspectives. Your class reads the personal narrative "Cross-Cultural Dialogue" by Roz Wollmering, completing an attached story frame sheet in preparation for a class...

Students find ways to share their favorite books. In this reading strategies lesson, students advertise books, create a top ten countdown, give a video book talk, simmer story stew, make book medals, play name that book, design a...

Teaching about fiction genres can  be challenging. The lesson here, designed for library media specialists, offers a fun way to do it. In the lesson, learners visit the library and learn about the different types of fiction...

Pop, pop, pop! Can you hear the sound popcorn makes when it's being made? Start the day by reading The Popcorn Book. Youngsters will love stringing together popcorn necklaces and learning about popcorn. There are separate prompts and...

Explore universal themes in literature with a literacy and multicultural awareness lesson. Elementary and middle schoolers make real world connections between themes in books from several cultures. They make inferences and locate text...

Travel through Europe with ten-year-old Teddy Roosevelt in this writing activity, which uses the picture book My Tour of Europe: by Teddy Roosevelt, by Ellen Jackson. After reading the book, readers compare it to passages from The...

Study historical events by combining the study of historical fiction and non-fiction. Learners read about true past events in historical fiction novels and then research non-fiction accounts of the same events. What are some differences...

Do figures of speech enhance a play or story? In small groups, learners locate and describe figures of speech they find while reading a reader's theater play. After making predictions, they describe how the figures of speech make the...

Students write short books teaching a mathematical concept. They may work in teams, with one student being the author and one student being the illustrator. They view examples of studenT books that deal with math concepts before beginning.

Students read books about dinosaurs for book club groups and then participate in focused writing. In this reading and writing lesson, students work together over the course of three days to produce a group story about a dinosaur.

In this book report worksheet, learners tell others why they should read a book. Students write a short essay on their favorite part of the book.

First graders create a diagram of a story by using the computer program Kidspiration. For this diagramming lesson plan, 1st graders will pick a book to write about. They then will plug in story elements of the book into the computer...

Learners make a book about kindness.  In this character lesson, students read a story about kindness and discuss how it applies to life.  Learners complete a kindness counts page and then assemble them into a book. ...

A reading paragraph to correct, and nine questions related to possessive pronouns awaits your budding grammarians. This two-part worksheet includes a page for the class and one for the teacher. Don't you just love teacher notes?

Using context clues is an effective way to define unfamiliar words. Encourage elementary learners to look at the sentences around the word in question, with a short informative slideshow presentation.

Thanksgiving is a cherished tradition in the United States and Canada. Introduce the beginnings of the Thanksgiving celebration with a resource that features reading comprehension activities, vocabulary exercises, and a short...

Elementary kids read and color the story of Willy Wetsworth, a drop of water, as he describes the journey that he and his friends take to provide fresh water to houses. He tells his story to Martha Merriweather, a little girl, and...

Elementary schoolers create their very own multiplication book, which should help them to memorize their multiplication facts. Each pupil creates an addition and a multiplication sentence, such as: "Tommy goes to the store and bought...

Students create a career exploration experience for elementary students. In this career exploration instructional activity, students select a career field d to read about to elementary children. Students then present the Career...

Students listen and take part as teacher and classmates give a definition and examples of responsibility, then brainstorm what Arthur needs to do to prepare for his puppy's arrival. The story be read as a total group and then talked about.

Young scholars watch a "Reading Rainbow" video including the short book reviews that are always shown during each video. They read a book fo their choice and do an oral book report similar to those from Reading Rainbow.