Curated OER
Animal Body Coverings
First graders compare and contrast animals according to their various body coverings, (fur, scales, shells). Students discuss the different body coverings they have seen on animals. They conduct a sensory experiment in which they feel...
Curated OER
Shhh, Be Quiet, We're Trying to Read
Students practice spelling, sounding out, and identifying the "sh" digraph. Students listen as the teacher reads a tongue twister emphasizing words with the "sh" sound. Students listen to the story "Is Joe Home?" and identify the words...
Curated OER
Beginning Reading Lesson: Aaa-aaa-aaa-choo!!
Students study the letter sound recognition for the /a/ by recognizing the sound one makes when they sneeze. They use a chart with a tongue twister on it and work with letterboxes and manipulative letters that focus on words with the...
Curated OER
Emergent Literacy: Open Up and Say Aaaah!
Students, through modeling, explore how to make the short /o/ sound. They practice /o/ sound tongue twisters and recognize the sound in written form as the letter 'a'. They practice writing the letter 'a'. They pick out the /o/ sound...
Curated OER
Cajun Critters Lesson Plan
Students identify animals of Louisiana. They compare and contrast animals. Students work in groups. They write descriptive paragraphs using proper grammatical structure. Students pick an animal within their groups, they research...
Curated OER
Drumming from the Heart
Students complete a craft activity using recyclable containers and read a story to a younger child. In this service instructional activity, students read the story 'The Drum' and do a service project retelling the story and making a drum...
Curated OER
The Model of Fitness
Young scholars measure their physical abilities. In this lesson on staying active, students record their physical abilities and try to improve upon their own results.
Curated OER
Spider Webs
Students create spider webs. In this spider webs activity, students research various types of spider webs then write a report about a spider of their choice. Students also make their own web similar to an orb spider.
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Looking Critically at Picture Books
This site describes several ideas and activities to use with picture books and intermediate/middle school age students. Specific title to use are also given.
Princeton University
Cotsen Children's Library: Creepy Crawlies: Insects in Picture Books
Learn about how insects are used in children's books in this image gallery with descriptions of multiple examples from popular children's literature.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Arty Smarty: Exploring Various Mediums in Picture Books
Discuss different types of mediums used for illustrations then have each student create a sample paper using the mediums available.
Other
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Learn all about the role of the illustrator and picture books by visiting this museum site. Founded by and named for renowned author and illustrator Eric Carle, this site includes a variety of information for learners, teachers, and...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Pictures and Text Work Together Too!
The class will read the informational text "Together They Were Better". As the teacher reads the book aloud, she/he will use the illustrations from each page to give students clues as to the text on the page, helping them to see the...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Who Writes the Story? Who Does the Illustrations?
Students will learn to identify the author and illustrator on the cover of the book and orally define their role. Pictures and video of the activity in action are included.
Other
Nsw Department of Education and Training: Picture This [Pdf]
Reading unit plan focusing on picture books. It contains ten days worth of teaching suggestions that use a variety of reading strategies including modeled as well as independent reading and writing. Also includes five printable...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Serendipitous Crazy Illustrations
In this instructional activity, Flotsam, written by David Wiesner, is used as a mentor text. Students will analyze the author's use of crazy illustrations and word choices. Students will then use a game on this web site where they will...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin Books: Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg
This comprehensive teacher's guide for the book "Zathura" by Chris Van Allsburg provides us with an opportunity to examine how writers blend scientific information with a fictional story.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Teaching Art With Picture Books
Lesson where students learn about Eric Carle, create an online Project Poster about him, and create a collage using his style of illustrations. Students will discuss their art in small groups using vocabulary learned during the lesson.
Harold D. Underdown
Review: Illustrating Children's Books: Creating Pictures
A book review of "Illustrating Children's Books: Creating Pictures for Publication," including critical contents and comments. Also provides information about who would benefit from reading this book review. A good resource for those...
Harold D. Underdown
The Purple Crayon Review: Writing With Pictures
A book review of "Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books." Includes critical information, contents and comments, as well as a link to the book's Amazon.com page. A good resource for anyone interested in...
New Zealand Ministry of Education
Nz Ministry of Education: Verbals on Visuals
This task is to produce a picture book based on relationships. This will aim to combine verbal and visual features to produce a text for a year 7/8 class. Assessment will involve the identification and use of the illustrations, use of...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Pictures Can Tell the Story
The students will develop independent reading skills by using the illustrations. The teacher will read a selection of books and ask students to tell what they see in the book. Comments will lead to the conclusion that pictures tell us...
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Jumanji
This site on the book "Jumanji" by Chris Van Allsburg, includes a review of the book, a listing of things to notice and talk about, activities related to the book, other related books, and links to other resources.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Libraries: Picturing Words: The Power of Book Illustration
This interactive site focuses on the power of illustration in books. It discusses illustrations that inspire, inform, influence, and show a process; it provides examples and book references that use each.