Fifth graders identify strategies to assist in choosing a book. In this book selection lesson, 5th graders discuss ways to determine if a book is the right reading level or on a topic of interest. Students preview several books and...

Students write a report about infectious diseases where they demonstrate their understanding of new terminology. In this writing lesson, students analyze the effect of disease in their lives and and make scientific inquiry about the...

Second graders use resources such as dictionaries and glossaries correctly to build word meaning and to practice all uses of their references; students also practice alphabetical order while locating information.

Learners utilize a web site to search for a dinosaur related word that begins with a specific letter. The words and their definitions are placed into a dictionary page which is then compiled into a class book.

Studnets utilize the web site "Little Explorers" to research the solar system. A solar system dictionary is created using the information gleaned from assorted book marked sites.

Students explore the use of flow charts and cyclical diagrams. They discuss how to read the charts. Students produce a simple flow chart or diagram to explain a process. They investigate various methods used to present text.

Fourth graders use two separate sources to learn about index, glossary, and table of contents usage. In this library lesson, 4th graders use two books, Learning About Weather with Graphic Organizers, and The World Almanac for Kids, to...

Students study ways to communicate via a telephone. They discuss and define what an emergency is and how to use 911 for emergency situations. They role-play conversations subsituting various emergency situations and take turns playing...

Using words can create a power struggle! Using antonyms and synonyms can create a Power Words game! Check out this lesson that teachers your class the difference between the two and how to use a thesaurus.

Activate the prior knowledge of young scholars as they expand their vocabulary with this language arts activity. Given a deck of cards containing new vocabulary words, learners sort them into four categories, from Don't know the meaning...

Support third graders with developing their language skills using this Common Core checklist. With each standard written as an I can statement, children are given clear learning goals to work toward throughout the year.

Shoo fly. Scholars read DDT Spray Scares Mosquitoes Away, Study Finds and You Think You Have It Tough? to complete a mid-unit assessment. The learners compare and contrast author presentation and conduct a credibility check on each...

Students explore the basis of Iago's persuasive power by analyzing his astonishing command of rhetoric and figurative language. The diverse set of activities below include short group performances, writing exercises and the guided use of...

Fourth graders recognize the need to sustain crops in the rainforest. In this rainforest lesson, 4th graders consider the use of products from the rainforest.  Students discuss how people of different points of view decide what...

What is a root word? What is a prefix? Suffix? Use these questions to spark a discussion amongst your language art learners. Then, start by writing the word irresistible on the board and have teams of learners attempt to create new words...

Discover the differences in dialect. Inquisitive minds read poems and discuss how words or phrases are different in standard English and other dialects. Using a dictionary, class members locate the definition of each word, find...

Use literacy tools to select precise vocabulary. High schoolers respond to discussion questions that require them to consider the denotation and connotation of words. They then read non-fiction passages and identify words in the passages...

Locating and synthesizing information is an essential part of the research process but can be overwhelming for many young writers. Eliminate some of the stress and confusion, this resource suggests, by separating these steps. To focus...

Using the book Swamp Monsters by Mary Blount Christian, young readers discuss key vocabulary terms and make predictions about swamp monsters. They complete a Cloze activity, explore past-tense verbs, and categorize vocabulary words.

This learning exercise helps to understand when to use commonly confused words. It includes definitions, writing exercises, and questions that require paraphrasing the meaning of sentences. A good exercise for middle schoolers, or review...

Hobbits, dwarfs, wizards, trolls, and goblins. Readers track these fantastic creatures through J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit noting passages of character description and habitats. Using specific passages from the novel, class...

Second graders work with a partner. For this library skills lesson, 2nd graders watch a demonstration on how to find a word in a dictionary. Students practice finding words in the dictionary with a partner.

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. 

In this analogy worksheet, students answer seven questions using their problem solving skills and vocabulary skills to discover how words are related to each other. Students are encouraged to use dictionaries.