Lakeshore Learning - Search Results for better than paper bulletin board

5th Grade

Objectives CCSS Language L.4.5.A: Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context. L.5.5.A: Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context. Materials Needed Stubborn as a Mule and Other Silly Similes by Nancy Loewen (or another book that contains a variety of similes) Whiteboard or chart paper Make Your Own Simile reproducible Super Similes instruction page and reproducible Super Similes answer key Preparation Print a copy of the Make Your Own Simile reproducible and Super Similes instruction page and reproducible for each student. Introduction Read aloud Stubborn as a Mule and Other Silly Similes by Nancy Loewen (or another book with a variety of similes).

View Lesson Plan

Rhyme Time: Word Families Lesson

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives Reading: Foundational Skills Orally producing single-syllable words by blending sounds, including consonant blends Decoding regularly spelled one-syllable words Knowing spelling-sound correspondences for additional common vowel teams Materials Needed Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss Word-building cards and answer key “Wonderful Word Families” reproducible Pocket chart Chart paper or whiteboard Scissors Marker Preparation Print the word-building cards and answer key. Cut out the title, word family and onset cards.

View Lesson Plan

It’s Time for…

Kindergarten

Objectives Students will identify what time of day certain activities take place. Students will correctly match time to the hour on a digital clock and analog clock. Materials Needed It’s About Time! by Stuart J. Murphy Chart paper/markers or chalkboard/chalk Lakeshore Magnetic Teaching Clock Time match-up card Time match-up game pieces Safety Scissors Introduction Read aloud It’s About Time! by Stuart J. Murphy and explain to students that we do different things at certain times of the day. For example, we might have breakfast at seven o’clock in the morning but get ready for bed at eight o’clock at night.

View Lesson Plan

Rainy-Day Writing

3rd Grade - 5th Grade

Objectives Writing Writing narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, descriptive details and clear event sequences Using narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations Using concrete words, phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely Materials Needed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett Chart paper or whiteboard Pre-writing graphic organizer Umbrella book reproducible Pencils Crayons or markers Stapler Introduction Read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs aloud.

View Lesson Plan

Character Building: Bullying

3rd Grade - 5th Grade

Objectives Students will listen and respond to literature read aloud by the teacher. Students will share interpretations of lessons in a story and learn to apply these lessons to their own lives. Materials Needed A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon Chalkboard, sentence strips or interactive whiteboard Notebook paper Introduction Ask students if they have a favorite food that might surprise others, like broccoli, spinach or beets! Invite volunteers to tell the class what this surprising food is. Tell students that you are going to read a story in which the main character has an odd choice for a favorite food. Ask students to pay special attention to what happens to this character, how her classmates react to her, and what she does to solve her problem. Read aloud A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon.

View Lesson Plan

Reading Strategies: Asking Questions

3rd Grade - 4th Grade

Objectives Reading Informational Text Asking and answering questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring to the text as the basis for the answers Referring to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says and when drawing inferences from it Materials Needed “Shooting to Win” reading passage “Ask Questions” graphic organizer Projector or document camera (optional) Introduction Tell students that good readers ask questions as they read. Explain that this helps readers interact with the text and process new information—so they understand what they are reading. Students can practice using this strategy to become better readers!

View Lesson Plan

The Science of Skin

5th Grade

Objectives

Understand that people are more alike than they are different.
Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

View Lesson Plan

3rd Grade

Objectives

Understand that people are more alike than they are different.
Celebrate and embrace people’s cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

View Lesson Plan

Place Value Riddles

2nd Grade

Objectives CCSS Math: Number & Operations in Base Ten 2.NBT.A.1: Understand that the three digits of a three-digit number represent amounts of hundreds, tens, and ones. 2.NBT.A.3: Read and write numbers to 1000 using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Materials Needed Whiteboard or chart paper Base 10 blocks (optional) Place Value Math Riddles reproducible and answer key Introduction Tell students you are going to write a number riddle and ask them to solve it. Try these riddles: “I am 200 + 30 + 6. What number am I?” (236) “I have 5 hundreds, 7 tens and 9 ones. What number am I?” (579) “I am 400 + 8. What number am I?” (408) “I have 3 tens, 4 hundreds and 1 one. What number am I?” (431) Note: Point out that the last two riddles were a bit tricky since one number didn’t have any tens, and the other one named the number of tens before naming the number of hundreds!

View Lesson Plan

Rolling for Number Sense: Even and Odd Numbers

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives Students will classify numbers as even or odd. Students will recognize that even numbers end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 and odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9. Students will add numbers with sums up to 12. Materials Needed Dice Manipulatives Paper and pencils “An Odd Valentine” reproducible Red and blue crayons (one of each for each student) Introduction Introduce the concept of odd and even numbers. Tell students that even numbers end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. Odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9. To help students understand the concept, explain that an even number of objects can be divided equally between two people. Say to students, “If there are four cookies on a plate, two friends can divide them equally—each child can have two cookies. Four is an even number! But if there are three cookies on the plate, the two friends cannot divide them equally. Each child can have one cookie, and they would have to break the third cookie in half. Three is not an even number.”

View Lesson Plan

Graph Your Heart Out

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives Operations & Algebraic Thinking Making estimates about the number of objects in a group and comparing the estimate to the actual amount Measurement & Data Organizing, representing, and interpreting data with up to three categories; asking and answering questions about the data points Drawing a picture graph and a bar graph to represent a data set with up to four categories; solving simple put-together, take-apart, and compare problems using information from a bar graph Materials Needed Read-aloud math picture book, such as Betcha! by Stuart J. Murphy or Math Curse by Jon Scieszka Small box of candy conversation hearts for each student Graph Your Heart Out worksheet Hearts Graph pencils Introduction Capture students’ interest in estimation, counting and thinking about math by reading aloud Betcha! by Stuart J. Murphy or Math Curse by Jon Scieszka. Ask students, “What is the difference between counting and estimating?” Guide them in understanding that estimating involves making a reasonable guess, and counting is reaching an exact answer. Explain that counting sometimes takes longer than estimating, but both methods can be used to help you figure out answers to math questions.

View Lesson Plan

Addition Strategies: "Make 10"

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objective Operations & Algebraic Thinking Using strategies to add and subtract fluently within 20 (e.g., counting on, making ten, decomposing or creating equivalent sums) Materials Needed “Make 10” frame Place Value Blocks Number line “Spin-To-Build” spinner “Build a Sum” record sheet Paper clips Pencils Introduction Pair students with partners, and give each pair 10 ones cubes and 1 tens rod from the Place Value Blocks set. Challenge students to see how many ways they can “make 10” in two minutes (e.g., 2 cubes + 8 cubes, 3 cubes + 7 cubes, etc.). Invite students to share their answers and compare. Provide the “Make 10” frame and have students complete it. Model the problem created in the frame. Ask, “How can I find out how to make 12? 14? 18? Can I start from 10? Is it faster?” Note: Use Place Value Blocks to show visual representations of two-digit numbers. For example, 14 is 1 tens rod and 4 ones cubes.

View Lesson Plan

Which Objects Are Magnetic?

Pre-K

Objective Compare and classify objects by observable physical properties. Materials Needed Mickey’s Magnet by Franklyn M. Branley and Eleanor K. Vaughan or What Makes a Magnet? by Franklyn M. Branley Magnets or Magnetic Wands Pipe Stems (cut into 1-or 2-inch pieces) Pom-Poms Variety of small magnetic objects (e.g., paper clips, nuts or bolts, etc.) Variety of small nonmagnetic objects (e.g., rubber bands, plastic counters, feathers, etc.) Clear, empty 2-liter plastic bottles (at least two) Several plastic shoe boxâ€“sized containers (one for each small group of students) Sand or dried beans Magnetic/Not Magnetic sorting mat Introduction Read aloud Mickey’s Magnet or What Makes a Magnet?

View Lesson Plan

Black History Hall of Fame

3rd Grade - 5th Grade

Objectives Reading and listening to a story about Harriet Tubman and her contributions to American history Researching and identifying an African American hero’s achievements and presenting this information to the class orally and in writing Materials Needed “A Woman Called Moses” Readers’ Theater Script “A Woman Called Moses” comprehension questions Chart paper (optional) Markers “Hall of Fame” frame Scissors Preparation Make a copy of the “A Woman Called Moses” Readers’ Theater Script for each student. Introduction Remind students that February is Black History Month, which celebrates the many positive contributions of African Americans throughout history. Tell students that you would like to share a story of one such person, Harriet Tubman.

View Lesson Plan

Exploring Nonfiction Text

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objective CCSS Reading: Informational Text RI.4.5: Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts or information in a text or part of a text. Materials Needed “Artful Architecture” nonfiction reading selection Construction Paper - 9" x 12" (cut into 9-inch squares) Safety Scissors Lakeshore Glue Sticks Pencils or markers Introduction Explain to students that they are going to learn about some different types of buildings and architecture by reading a nonfiction selection. Tell students, “Today we are going to see how the author uses the organizational strategy of comparing and contrasting.”

View Lesson Plan

Drawing Conclusions: Detecting Character Traits

3rd Grade - 4th Grade

Objectives Students will draw conclusions about a person’s character traits based on information in a reading passage. Students will identify character traits and provide evidence to support their conclusions. Materials Needed “Phone Plan” reading passage Chart paper Blue ribbon reproducible Novel or selection the class is currently reading

View Lesson Plan

Teaching Tangrams

2nd Grade

Objectives Students will identify and compare 2-D shapes. Students will understand the difference between congruent and similar shapes. Students will create and extend patterns. Students will combine shapes to create new shapes. Materials Needed Grandfather Tang’s Story: A Tale Told with Tangrams by Ann Tompert Tangrams template or Tangrams Tangram picture-matching cards or Tangram Picture Matching Cards Pattern blocks template or Pattern Blocks “Shapes Gallery” activity mat Scissors Paper & pencils Preparation: Print and copy the tangrams template, tangram picture-matching cards, pattern blocks template and “Shapes Gallery” activity mat. You will need one copy of each for each student. You can cut out the tangram shapes and pattern blocks in advance, or have students cut them out during the lesson. (You also can use the Pattern Blocks, Tangrams and Tangram Picture Matching Cards for this lesson.) Introduction Read aloud Grandfather Tang’s Story: A Tale Told with Tangrams. Show students the seven tangram shapes (two small triangles, two large triangles, one medium triangle, one square and one parallelogram). Tell students that tangrams originated in China. The story introduced only a few of the many shapes and figures that can be made with tangrams.

View Lesson Plan

Amazing Ocean Animals

3rd Grade

Objectives Understanding and explaining how blubber helps sea mammals adapt to cold temperatures in the ocean Identifying the mammals among a variety of ocean animals Materials Needed Ocean Animal Picture Cards Thin rubber gloves (one per student) Vegetable shortening Bowls of cold water Quart-size zip-close bag Pencils and paper Scissors Before You Begin Download, print and cut apart the set of Ocean Animal Picture Cards. Fill the zip-close bag with shortening. Introduction Hold up each ocean animal picture card, asking students to guess which animals are mammals (the whale, dolphin and walrus). Explain that whales, dolphins and walrus are not fish, but mammals that have adapted to live in the ocean. Tell students that mammals are warm-blooded and that their body temperatures must remain constant, even in the cold ocean environment. Explain that one important adaptation of ocean mammals is the blubber, or thick layer of fat, that these animals have beneath their skin.

View Lesson Plan

Familiar Storytelling

Kindergarten

Objectives CCSS Reading/Literature: RL.K.2, RL.K.3 With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details. With prompting and support, identify characters, settings and major events in a story. Materials Needed Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Caralyn Buehner or The Three Bears by Paul Galdone Retelling a Story chart Goldilocks and the Three Bears finger-puppet cutouts Goldilocks and the Three Bears storyboard page Tape Chart Paper and marker or document camera or whiteboard Safety Scissors Best-Buy Crayons Recycled gloves (with finger sections) and Glue (optional) Other fairy tales and folk tales Storytelling Glove and Three Bears Storytelling Puppets (optional) Introduction Read aloud Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Caralyn Buehner or The Three Bears by Paul Galdone. As you read aloud, stop during parts of the text and point out specific story elements and details—such as the setting, the sizes of the bears, the description of Goldilocks and so on.

View Lesson Plan

Fun in the Snow

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objective Students will recall and reference events in a story. Students will use oral and written language to describe winter activities. Students will draw a picture of their favorite winter activity and write a sentence about it. Materials Needed The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats Chalk or write & wipe marker Chalkboard or write & wipe board Fun in the Snow Worksheet Crayons or colored pencils Introduction Tell students that you are going to read them a story about a boy and what he does on a snowy winter day. Ask them if they have ever played in the snow. If so, have them share what they did. (If you live where it snows every winter, simply have your students share which snow activities they enjoy the most. If you have students who have rarely or never seen snow, ask them what snow activities they think might be fun.)

View Lesson Plan

Comparing and Ordering Fractions

4th Grade

Objective CCSS Math/Number and Operations-Fractions: 4.NF.2 Extend understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering. 2. Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators (e.g., by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing to a benchmark fraction such as 1/2). Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole. Record the results of comparisons with symbols >, = or <, and justify the conclusions (e.g., by using a visual fraction model). Materials Needed Pizza Fractions by Jerry Pallotta Chalkboard, whiteboard or document camera Fraction Pizza templates Comparing Fractions practice page and answer sheet Comparing Fractions activity card and recording sheet Comparing Fractions spinners and answer key Paper clips Pencils Pennies or other small objects (to use as game markers) Preparation Before teaching this lesson, you may want to introduce students to the concept of equivalent fractions. (Please visit Equivalent Fraction Activities for a sample lesson.) Introduction Read aloud Pizza Fractions by Jerry Pallotta to give students a visual representation of fractions.

View Lesson Plan

Beginning Sounds Mitten Match

Kindergarten

Objective CCSS Reading: Foundational Skills RF.K.3a: Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary sound or many of the most frequent sounds for each consonant. Materials Needed Beginning Sounds Mittens Mitten Match reproducible Clothesline and clothespins Fiskars classroom scissors Preparation: Print out the Beginning Sounds Mittens. Then cut out the mittens. (You may want to laminate them so you can use them again.) Hide the letter mittens in easy-to-find places around the classroom. Set aside the picture mittens for use during the lesson.

View Lesson Plan

Sight-Word Study

Pre-K - Kindergarten

Objective CCSS Language: Reading: Foundational Skills RF.K.3c: Read common high-frequency words by sight (e.g., the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are, do, does). Materials Needed Sight-word cards A New Pet Chalkboard or document camera Scissors Stapler Before You Begin Print out a copy of A New Pet for each student in your class. After printing them out, stack the full-page sheets in the following order, starting at the bottom of the stack: page 7/cover facedown page 1/page 6 faceup page 5/page 2 facedown page 3/page 4 faceup Then carefully fold the entire stack in half and make a crease. Keeping the pages together, unfold the stack and staple three staples along the length of the crease to make a spine. Be sure to staple through the top of the stack so that the tips of the staples are on the inside of the book. Introduction Display the sight-words can, have, I, not, that and you on a chalkboard or with a document camera. Explain to the class that there are many words you can “sound out” for the correct pronunciation, but there are some words that you should recognize by sight. These sight-words do not always follow the standard rules of letter sounds. As you point to each word, read the word aloud and have students repeat after you. Then point to each word again, calling on student volunteers to say the sight-word.

View Lesson Plan

My Awesome, Amazing, Very Good, Super-Great Day Story

3rd Grade - 4th Grade

Objectives Students will listen to, recall and interpret information from literature. Students will make connections to their personal experiences. Students will write a descriptive paragraph. Materials Needed Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst Graphic organizer Revising and Editing checklist Introduction Read aloud Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to your class. After you read, ask students to recall the things that happened to Alexander that added to his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Then ask students to think about what could have happened differently to turn Alexander’s day into an awesome, amazing, very good, super-great day. Invite volunteers to share their responses.

View Lesson Plan

Cause & Effect: Why Did the Pilgrims Come to the New World?

3rd Grade

Objectives Students will understand the relationship between cause and effect. Students will identify the effect when given a cause. Materials Needed …If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern “A Chain of Events” reproducible Cause & Effect Flip Book template Scissors Introduction Hold up the book …If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. Tell students that this story takes them back in time so they can understand the events that led the Pilgrims to travel across the sea in search of a new life. Ask students to listen carefully as you read aloud the passage titled “Where does the Pilgrim story begin?” Then invite children to share what they learned about why the Pilgrims decided to leave England and travel to America.

View Lesson Plan

Turnaround Addition Facts

1st Grade

Objective

Apply the commutative property of addition (e.g., if 6 + 4 = 10, then 4 + 6 = 10 is also known) when adding numbers together and solving for a sum.

View Lesson Plan

Everyday Learning Activities

4th Grade

Everyone’s a Critic After you read a book or watch a movie, invite your child to pretend to be a newspaper critic! Have your child summarize the book or movie and then analyze it. What did he or she like about it and why? Would he or she recommend it? Make sure your child uses examples from the book or movie to support his or her opinion.

View Lesson Plan

Counting Flowers

Pre-K

Objectives Students will count objects using one-to-one correspondence. Students will write numerals from 1 to 20 as an expression of quantity. Materials Needed Flowers and Showers: A Spring Counting Book by Rebecca Fjelland Davis Vase template Counting Flowers reproducible Flowers template Number cards template Cardstock Scissors Crayons Glue Preparation: Before the lesson, print out and cut apart the number cards template. Then print the flowers template and make four copies of the flowers with stems. Color the flowers and cut them out. Next print the vase template and copy it onto heavy cardstock. Cut along the dotted line at the top of the vase so that you can slide the stems through the slit as you add flowers to the vase. If desired, laminate these for repeated use. Introduction Read Flowers and Showers: A Spring Counting Book by Rebecca Fjelland Davis. Before reading the verse on each page, have students take turns identifying the number that is shown and counting the objects on the page. Then encourage students to listen as you read the verse that relates these objects to spring. Next teach children this simple counting song (to the tune of “Are You Sleeping?”). We love counting, We love counting, One, two, three, Four, five, six! Let’s count all the flowers In the pretty vases. Count with me, Count with me!

View Lesson Plan

What’s Next? Sequencing Story

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives Reading Literature Retelling stories and demonstrating understanding of the central message or lesson Describing characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details Understanding and identifying sequence words (e.g., “first,” “next,” “then,” “finally”) Materials Needed Lost in the Fog booklet reproducible Lost in the Fog sequencing mat Lost in the Fog picture and sentence cards Best-Buy Scissors Lakeshore Glue Sticks Pencils Preparation Make a copy of the Lost in the Fog booklet reproducible, sequencing mat, picture cards and sentence cards for each student. Follow the directions to assemble each booklet. Introduction Give each student a booklet and ask students to follow along as you read the story aloud. Explain that authors use words like “first,” “next,” “then” and “finally” to help readers follow the order of events in a story. Challenge students to listen for these words as you read aloud.

View Lesson Plan

Valentine Add & Solve

Pre-K - Kindergarten

Objective Operations & Algebraic Thinking Solving addition and subtraction word problems using objects or drawings Materials Needed “Valentine Add & Solve” mat Number tiles template Addition strips template Candy hearts, small red buttons or pom-poms (10 per student) Posterboard Pocket chart Tape Glue Scissors Preparation Print the “Valentine Add & Solve” mat, number tiles template and addition strips template. Make enough copies for yourself and each student in your class. Then cut out the number tiles and addition strips. Take one mat, one set of number tiles and one set of addition strips and mount them on posterboard so you can use them in a pocket chart.

View Lesson Plan

Fall Skip-Counting Fun

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives Using strategies to add and subtract fluently within 20 Skip-counting by 2s, 5s, 10s and 100s Understanding that skip-counting is a faster way to count objects in a group Materials Needed Christopher Counting by Valeri Gorbachev Acorn Number Cards Counting by 2s Number Line Pumpkin Number Cards Counting by 5s Number Line Lakeshore Glue Sticks Fall Skip-Counting Fun Addition Practice Pointer or yardstick Scissors Introduction Read Christopher Counting by Valeri Gorbachev. Talk to the students about how excited the main character is about counting. Ask, “What are some objects that Christopher counted?” Then ask, “What are some objects that you can count?” Point out that Christopher was counting by 1s. Explain that students can count objects faster by skip-counting.

View Lesson Plan

Pumpkin Measurement

3rd Grade

Objectives Students will listen to a story about pumpkins and learn more about them. Students will learn and understand measurement vocabulary words. Students will estimate—and then measure—the weight, height, circumference, radius and diameter of a pumpkin. Materials Needed Pumpkins by Ken Robbins Small- to medium-sized pumpkins (one for each small group of three to four students and one medium pumpkin for the class) Pumpkins should vary in size as much as possible. Scale Sharp knife (for teacher or adult use only) Rulers String or yarn Pencils Pumpkin Measurement Record Sheet Introduction Read aloud Pumpkins by Ken Robbins. Hold up a medium-sized pumpkin and ask students to estimate, or guess, how much the pumpkin weighs. (Students’ estimates will probably vary widely.) Explain to students that having a starting point of knowledge before estimating will help estimates be more accurate. For example, if students know how much the pumpkin in your hands weighs, this knowledge will help them estimate the weight of smaller or larger pumpkins. Weigh your pumpkin on a scale and tell students the weight. Explain that you’ll be using this measurement in the next activity.

View Lesson Plan

Beginning Sounds Hunt

Pre-K - Kindergarten

Objectives Students will recognize beginning sounds and identify the letters that represent the sounds. Students will write letters that represent beginning sounds. Materials Needed Items you might take to the beach (such as a hat, a towel, sunglasses and a beach ball) Beginning Sounds Picture Cards Beginning Sounds Letter Cards Pocket chart (or clear tape and a chalkboard or whiteboard) Cardstock or posterboard Scissors “Beginning Sounds” reproducible Preparation: Print the Beginning Sounds Picture Cards on heavy cardstock and cut the cards apart. (Or cut out the cards and glue them onto posterboard.) Then print and cut out two sets of the Beginning Sounds Letter Cards. Choose the letter sounds you wish to work on and display one set of those letter cards in a pocket chart and hide the second set of those letters around the classroom. Set the picture cards near the pocket chart so they are ready to display during the lesson. (If you do not have a pocket chart, simply tape the letter cards to a chalkboard or whiteboard. Place a loop of tape on the back of each picture card so they are ready to display during the lesson.) Introduction Display a few items you might bring to the beach, such as a hat, a towel, sunglasses and a beach ball. Take the hat and hold it up for students to see. Say the word “hat,” emphasizing the beginning sound. Ask a volunteer to name the letter that makes the beginning sound in “hat.” Repeat this exercise for the rest of the items. Make sure students understand that the first letter of each word represents its beginning sound.

View Lesson Plan

Reading and Responding: The Five Senses

Kindergarten

Objective CCSS Literacy/Reading Informational Text: RI.K.1. With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text. Materials Needed The Five Senses Lakeshore Nonfiction Sight-Word Reader Five Senses chart and answer key Five Senses picture cards My Five Senses writing frame Safety Scissors Stapler Introduction Explain to students that sometimes authors write books just to tell a story. Ask students to name a few of their favorite stories (e.g., Jack and the Beanstalk, Corduroy, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and so on). Then tell students that other times authors write books to tell us more about a topic or to give the reader more information. Explain that students are going to look at this type of informational book for the lesson.

View Lesson Plan

Alphabet Mitten Match

Pre-K - Kindergarten

Objectives Students will identify upper - and lowercase letters. Students will match uppercase letters to the corresponding lowercase letters. Materials Needed The Mitten by Jan Brett Alphabet Mittens template Mitten Match reproducible Clothesline and clothespins Preparation. Print out the Alphabet Mittens template. Then color and cut out the mittens. (You may want to laminate the mittens so you can use them over and over.) Hide the lowercase mittens in easy–to–find places around the classroom. Set aside the uppercase mittens for use during the lesson.

View Lesson Plan

What Makes a Shadow?

1st Grade

Objectives Understanding that shadows are formed when an object blocks a light source, such as the sun Explaining how their own shadows change shape and size Materials Needed Moonbear’s Shadow by Frank Asch What Makes a Shadow? reproducible Chalk Introduction Tell students that you are going to read a book about a bear and his shadow. Encourage them to pay close attention to what the bear’s shadow does in the story. Read aloud the book Moonbear’s Shadow by Frank Asch. Then ask students the following questions: What makes Moonbear’s shadow? Why does Moonbear want to get rid of his shadow? How does he try to get rid of his shadow? Why doesn’t it work? What happens to Moonbear’s shadow when he hides behind a tree? Why? Why does Moonbear’s shadow disappear when he buries it? Why does Moonbear’s shadow appear larger during certain times of the day and smaller during other times?

View Lesson Plan

Pre-K - Kindergarten

Objective CCSS Reading: Foundational Skills RF.K.2a: Recognize and produce rhyming words. Materials Needed Three plastic pails Rhyming Guide Picture Cards Rhyming Picture Cards Rhyming Sounds Match-Up Puzzle Cards Introduction Have students sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” aloud with you. Then ask students to sing the song aloud again and listen for words that rhyme, or sound the same at the end.

View Lesson Plan