Curated OER
Introducing Biographies - Getting to Know You
Students explore several different types of biographies to determine their area of interest, choose one notable person they would like to explore, complete online tutorial on biographies, and use written and Internet resources to...
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Selective Underlining Taking Notes
It is so important for learners to become selective and strategic readers. This slide show provides examples and practice exercises that encourage them to read informational text and selectively underline key points or information. Great...
Monterey Bay Aquarium
What's in a Name?
Combine art and word analysis in a lesson about genus and species. Elementary children sleuth out the meaning of scientific names for a number of shark species using a prefix and suffix definition chart. They then draw an image of the...
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Natural Disaster Acrostic Poems
Fourth graders will conduct research to locate facts about natural disasters. Using a cross-curricular approach they will create acrostic poems with technology. The emphasis will be upon establishing skills for using powerpoint media.
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Caldecott Medal Winners
Second graders identify Caldecott Medal winners. In this library media lesson, 2nd graders view an overhead transparency of Caldecott Medal winners from 1987-2004 and answer questions based on the data that is displayed.
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Flight Formation: The V's Have It!
Read, revisit, and reflect. Older elementary students summarize main idea 6using key details. They consider the V formation that birds fly in, summarize an informational text, and write critical thinking questions.
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Summing the Disaster
Students assume the role of a newspaper editor during the time of the Titanic disaster. They must search out the accurate answers to the questions: What? When? Where? Who? and Why? students then write their own newspaper article...
National First Ladies' Library
Writing (and Rewriting!) History
Middle schoolers differentiate between fiction and non-fiction, discuss historical fiction, which combines both genres, choose historical novel from list and read independently, and write original short stories that combine elements of...
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Jane Goodall, Renowned Naturalist and Champion of Chimpanzees
Learners study the life of Jane Goodall and how she made an impact studying chimpanzees. In this endangered species lesson students write in their journals.
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Myth-try Cards Activity
Students read creation myths to learn various cultural explanations for natural phenomena. They select sharks and write myths to explain physical structures, behaviors or roles in ecosystems. They research the animals to provide...
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Underground Railroad
Students explore the Underground Railroad. In this U.S. history and technology lesson, students research an assigned topic related to the Underground Railroad, such as "abolitionist," "conductor," or "station houses." Students design a...
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PowerPoint Postcards
Third graders use the internet to research three facts about a country, state or habitat of their choice. Using this information, they create slides in PowerPoint to connect the information. They share their slides with the class and...
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Creature Feature
Students research an animal, and create a video to share their information and pictures with the class.
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Travel Brochures
Third graders divide into teams and select a country to research. They read and review "Notetaking Skills" and begin their research. Next, they work together and share the information they have located. Each team fills in a template with...
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Where the Red Fern Grows: A 4th Grade Literary Focus Unit
Fourth graders explore the human and animal connection along with the idea that death is a part of the life cycle. They read "Where the Red Fern Grows." Students examine the feelings and emotions surrounding death and they discover the...
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The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Students read The Tale of Peter Rabbit and make predictions through a picture walk before they read. In this reading lesson plan, students also color the pages of the booklet and put it in the correct order.
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Kinder-Pictionary
Students create their own dictionary. In this spelling lesson, students make a dictionary with just words and pictures. They use these dictionaries when they are writing to remember how to spell words.
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Ancient Egypt: Connecting Literature and Geography
Young scholars brainstorm prior knowledge of Ancient Egypt, locate Egypt on map of Africa and on world map, watch King Tut film, discuss term biography, and map geographical information mentioned in stories and documentaries about...
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Give Credit to Sources
Third graders practice referencing material. In this giving credit to sources lesson, 3rd graders explore ownership of words and images by drawing and labeling a picture then problem solving how to identify the author.
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A View of Yourself Through Famous Writers
Students research famous quotes and discover one that describes themselves. They consider topics such as family and hobbies that will help others understand them. They present their information to the class.
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Comprehension Game for Guided Reading
Learners play reading comprehension games. In this guided reading lesson plan, students play a comprehension game made by the teacher. Learners may play the game before or after reading the story.
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Pizzeria (reading Encouragement)
Students create a pizzeria atmosphere in the classroom with Italian music, pizza menus and checkered table cloths. They compare their different tastes in pizza toppings to different tastes in reading. Then they use a reading menu to...