Curated OER
Shhhhh, She is Sleeping
The sheep on the ship was shocked by the Fish on the Shore! Can you guess which digraph we're studying? Take a look at the /sh/ sound with your young readers. Have them write words with the target sound in letter boxes, and then small...
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Me and My Job Shadow, Part 3
Third graders write a paper summarizing their previous job shadow experience. They describe both the positive and negative aspects of the job they observed and discuss one skill used on the job. Students write thank you letters to the...
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A South African Storm
Students explore racial prejudice in South Africa through the reading of "A South African Storm" by Allison Howard. In this cultural and geography lesson, students discuss ethnicity and prejudices and cite examples from the letter....
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Polar Bears and Ice
Students explore the Arctic food chain. They examine the needs of the polar bear and the threat that global warming poses to them. Students write a letter to a local political representative explaining what they have studied and...
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My Tooth is Loose
Elementary learners study the /th/ sound as a whole class. First they hear the sound and learn a tongue twister. After practicing together, they write the digraph on their practice paper. Then, to study the words in context, the class...
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Lights, Camera...Ticket...2
Students research the pros and cons of traffic light cameras that generate tickets and interview local city officials to see if they have considered this for the community. Students then prepare a panel to present the advantages and...
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"The Three Billy Goats Gruff:" Retelling the Story
Youngsters retell the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. They write a sentence for speech bubbles for a character in the story, identify the phrases that can be used for retelling a story, and in small groups write a sentence for the...
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Old Ladies Say A?
The letter a produces so many sounds! Increase your class's awareness of concepts related to reading and spelling. They identify the digraphs /ea/ and /ai/ in spoken language and spelling as a long vowel sound. After a brief discussion,...
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Slim Pig
Beginning readers study the short /i/ sound. First they determine how the mouth moves when they say the target words in a tongue twister. They complete letterbox activities by making words with the short /i/ before reading What Is It and...
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/sh/ Sound Work
What letters create the /sh/ sound? Have your elementary learners study the sound, write different words that use the sound in their letter boxes, and read One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish! After this mini-lesson, can your...
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Fish Tales
Have your class learn about marine life. Learners write a story about a fish, create an art project, and share their work with the class. This experience could be enhanced by having them conduct Internet research to discover some of the...
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A Look At Rocks
Students write letters to organizations, such as United States Geological Society, to find out more about rocks. Students write about a pretend time they found a magic pebble. Students calculate distances to travel to see various...
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Lily's Crossing
Students listen to a story, "Lily's Crossing," about life during a World War. After completing worksheets, they compare and contrast characters in the story. Using math skills, students develop a time line of the war, calculate the...
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Making Connection, Using Metaphor
Chief Seatle's "Letter to President Pierce, 1855" provides the text for a skills exercise that asks readers to consider how writers use metaphors to contribute to the meaning and impact of a work. Participants then apply what they have...
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Spanish Through History - Web de Anza
Learners examine the history, economics, and geography of the Anza era. They read primary source journals, diaries, and letters, conduct Internet research, and write a research report.
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LAND USE DEBATE / TOWN MEETING
Ninth graders research, analyze, and orally defend an issue related to the use of geologic resources. They defend their position in written form by composing a letter to an appropriate source.
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Chad's Choo Choooo
Choo, choo! Do your youngsters like trains? After studying the target sound, have your learners read A Peach for Chad. Do a class read and an independent read to increase fluency. At the lesson's close, consider creating a ch train where...
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Skeeterville
Students explore insect life by participating in a role-playing activity. In this mosquito life instructional activity, students listen to a role-play scenario in which they must protect a town from mosquitoes by creating a field guide...
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The Gathering and Analysis of Data
Young mathematicians gather data on a topic, graph it in various forms, interpret the information, and write a summary of the data. They present their data and graphs to the class.
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Indians Are Coming!
Help your class increase their awareness of concepts related to reading and spelling. They identify the digraph /oa/ in spoken language and spelling. After a brief discussion, they read A Toad on the Road, listening for the target sound....
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The Creaky Door Says "ehhhh"
Study the long vowel sound /e/, as in a creaky door noise. Children repeat the sound and learn a chant. They use letters in letterboxes to make words with the /e/ sound before reading a book and writing a message about their favorite...
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Rotation in Office
Eleventh graders explore the concept of the spoils system. In this presidential history lesson, 11th graders examine Andrew Jackson's Inaugural Address as well as a letter to him from Mary Barney in order to gain an understanding of the...
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Scribbleboy
Fifth graders are introduced to the text, SCRIBBLEBOY, discussing the cover page for clues to the genre. They discuss the ordinary surroundings contrasted by the graffiti and the words and phrases used to provide information about the...
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Identifying author's purpose
Why is it important to know an author's purpose? After reviewing the three main purposes of writing, seventh graders write a persuasive letter to convince why summer school is better than taking the summer off. They can then join in a...