Lakeshore Learning - Search Results for student

Making Mountains: An Erosion Lesson

4th Grade

Objective Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation. Materials Needed Erosion: Changing Earth’s Surface by Robin Koontz or Cracking Up: A Story About Erosion by Jacqui Bailey Observation sheet Rocks, gravel and sand Plastic or metal trays (one for each group) One-liter bottles of water (one for each group) Rulers or tape measures (one for each group) Introduction Read aloud Erosion: Changing Earth’s Surface by Robin Koontz or Cracking Up: A Story About Erosion by Jacqui Bailey to introduce students to the process of erosion and how it affects Earth and its landforms.

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Jelly Bean Fractions

3rd Grade

Objective Students will recognize and name fractions. Materials Needed Jar of jelly beans (four pink and four green) Jelly Bean Fractions reproducible Jelly beans template Scissors Glue Crayons Introduction Set out a glass jar with eight jelly beans—four pink and four green. Pull out three pink ones and one green one, and ask, “Out of these four jelly beans, how many are pink? That’s right—three.” Then explain, “To express this in the form of a fraction, we would write three-fourths.” Write 3/4 on the board. Point to each number as you reinforce what it means, saying, “The fraction three-fourths shows that three out of the four jelly beans are pink.” Ask, “Can anyone tell me how many of these four jelly beans are green? That’s right—one.” Then ask, “How do you think we could express that in the form of a fraction?” Invite volunteers to offer answers until someone explains that one-fourth shows that one out of the four jelly beans is green.

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Character Study and Story Elements Comparison

3rd Grade - 4th Grade

Objectives CCSS Reading/Literature & Writing RL.3.9: Compare and contrast the themes, settings and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters (e.g., in books from a series). W.3.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details and clear event sequences. Materials Needed Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes Lilly’s Big Day by Kevin Henkes Character Analysis chart Story Elements chart Paper and pencils Introduction Read aloud Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse and Lilly’s Big Day by Kevin Henkes. Encourage students to discuss Lilly’s character traits in both stories, and have them help you fill in the Character Analysis chart.

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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!

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4th Grade

Objectives Students will understand Newton’s First Law of Motion. Students will understand friction’s effect on moving objects. Materials Needed “What Is Friction?” information page and experiment sheet Books Sandpaper (one strip, approximately 4" - 5" long, for each group) Tape measure (one for each group) Toy cars (one heavier car and one lighter car for each group) 2" x 4" wood boards (each approximately 6" long for each group) Introduction Explain to students that Newton’s First Law of Motion states that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object moving in a straight line will continue to move in that direction unless an outside force interferes. Demonstrate this by setting a toy car down on a table. Ask, “Is the car moving?” (no) Reinforce that it will not move until an outside force moves it. Then push the car gently with your finger to make it roll forward, and ask students to explain what happened. (The car rolled forward because it was pushed.) Point out that the car eventually stopped rolling because it encountered friction. Tell students that friction occurs when two surfaces rub against each other. In this case, the wheels of the car rubbing against the surface of the table eventually slowed the car’s movement and caused the car to stop. In addition, heavier objects, or objects with more mass, create more friction when they come in contact with another object or surface.

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Exploring Nonfiction Text

4th Grade

Objectives CCSS Reading: Reading Informational Text RI.1.7: Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas. RI.2.7: Explain how specific images (e.g., a diagram showing how a machine works) contribute to and clarify a text. Materials Needed Ah, Music! by Aliki Selection of one or two fiction read-alouds “The Venus Flytrap” reading selection Chart paper Introduction Ask students to tell you what the difference is between fiction and nonfiction text. (Help students understand that fiction is not real or not a true story that happened in real life, and nonfiction is factual or real.) Show students a sample of fiction (e.g., a fiction read-aloud, such as Corduroy by Don Freeman; The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister; or Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst). Ask, “When we read a fiction story like this one, what do the pictures show us?” (Encourage students to share their responses, guiding them to understand that the illustrations usually give a snapshot or visual image of what is happening in the story.) Then hold up the book Ah, Music! by Aliki, and tell students, “In nonfiction texts, you might find pictures, too! These pictures will help us understand what the words are telling us. There might also be a diagram that shows us more details about the information.”

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Winter Bear Warm-Up

Pre-K - Kindergarten

Objectives Reading: Foundational Skills Demonstrating understanding of the organization and basic features of print Following words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page Language Spelling simple words phonetically Materials Needed Winter Clothing Word Cards Winter Bear Warm-Up template Winter clothing cut-aparts Crayons Scissors Glue sticks Pencil Introduction Before you begin, print the downloadable Winter Clothing Word Cards. Ask students to think of clothing that people wear when it’s cold in winter. Tell them you are going to show them pictures of winter clothing, and you would like them to name the item in each picture. As volunteers name the items, point to the written word on the card and repeat it. Then place the word card in a pocket chart or attach it to a bulletin board for reference.

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2nd Grade

Objective CCSS Math/Measurement and Data: 2.MD.8 Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do you have? Materials Needed The Coin Counting Book by Rozanne Lanczak Williams or The Penny Pot by Stuart J. Murphy Coin counting chart Money problem-solving cards and mat Money problem-solving answer key Plastic coins (pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters) and dollar bills, or paper coins and dollar bills Race to the Bank spinner game mats Paper Pencils and paper clips Introduction Give pairs or small groups (three or four) of students coins with at least 25 pennies, 20 nickels, 15 dimes and four quarters to use as manipulatives. Read aloud The Coin Counting Book by Rozanne Lanczak Williams or The Penny Pot by Stuart J. Murphy, pausing to encourage students to count out the appropriate coins in the book and add them together as you read.

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Good Citizenship

Pre-K - 1st Grade

Objectives Understand that being a good citizen involves acting in certain ways. Learn examples of honesty, courage, determination, individual responsibility, and patriotism in American and world history from stories and folklore. Know beliefs and related behaviors of characters in stories from times past and understand the consequences of the characters’ actions. Materials Needed John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith Whiteboard or chart paper Good Citizenship reproducible Crayons and pencils Introduction Ask students if they have any ideas about what it means to be a good citizen at school or in your community. Write students’ suggestions on a whiteboard or chart paper and guide students toward understanding that good citizenship is demonstrated through our actions toward other people and our environment. Give a short explanation of different character traits such as honesty, responsibility, respect, courage, determination, trustworthiness and so on. Have students match a couple of these words to the examples they gave of good citizenship.

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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?

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Our Wonderful Water Cycle

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives Students will identify and explain the stages of the water cycle. Students will understand evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Materials Needed Slow cooker with lid Water Posterboard or chart paper Marker Water Cycle Spinner Crayons Scissors Metal fasteners Introduction Set up a slow cooker in the front of the room (out of reach of students) and pour water into it. Set the temperature on high and ask students to observe what happens when the water heats up. (They will see steam rising.) Next, place a lid over the top and ask them what they think will happen to the water that is rising. (It will gather together on the lid.) Finally, ask students to predict what will happen to the water droplets on the inside of the lid when you lift the lid off of the pot. (They will drip downward.) Tell students that you have just demonstrated a process called the water cycle.

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Place Value Practice

4th Grade

Objectives Number & Operations in Base Ten Reading and writing multi-digit whole numbers in number, name, and expanded form Comparing two multi-digit numbers based on meanings of the digits in each place, using >, =, and < Materials Needed Large number cards Place Value Playoff game mat Place Value Playoff number tiles Construction paper Scissors Chart paper (optional) Preparation: Print out the large number cards, photocopy them onto construction paper and cut them out. You will need two or three copies of each number. Introduction/Review Write 347 and 453 on the board. Ask students to tell you which number is greater. Then ask, “Which place value did you compare to know that this is true? Why?” Guide students to understand that they compared the hundreds place because it is the highest place value in both numbers. (For older students, bring up the level by writing 3,470 and 4,532 or 34,705 and 45,320.) Reinforce the concept by underlining the hundreds place in each number and telling students that four hundreds is greater than three hundreds. Now ask, “What if the numerals in the hundreds place are the same? Which number is bigger, 347 or 353?” Guide students to understand that they should compare the next highest place value—the tens place.

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Poems for Peace

5th Grade

Objectives Students will listen to an oral reading about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students will identify key words that describe his work and values. Students will create their own poems that promote peace in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Materials Needed Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport Chart paper or chalkboard Markers or chalk Martin Luther King Jr. poem Peace Poem template Introduction Show students the picture of Martin Luther King Jr. on the front cover of the book and ask them to identify him. Explain that Dr. King’s birthday is celebrated as a national holiday in the United States to honor him and his contribution to society. Read aloud Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport.

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Long Vowel Combinations

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives CCSS Reading: Foundational Skills RF.1.3b: Decode regularly spelled one-syllable words. RF.1.3c: Know final -e and common vowel team conventions for representing long vowel sounds. RF.2.3b: Know spelling-sound correspondences for additional common vowel teams. Materials Needed Chart paper, overhead projector or interactive whiteboard Long Vowel Words building board Long vowel picture cards and letter tiles Word Ladder activity pages Three-In-A-Row game components (game board, spinner and word list) Small scraps of paper or game markers (e.g., coins, chips, etc.) Classroom Pencils Paper clips Introduction Write the following words on chart paper: tap hop fin Ask a volunteer to read each word aloud. Point out that the vowel sound in each word is a short vowel (as in “apple,” “object” and “igloo”). Next, write an “e” at the end of each word to form the words “tape,” “hope” and “fine.” Tell students that this final -e (sometimes called a “magic e”) changes the vowel sound from short to long.

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Playing with Push and Pull

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives Students will define force as the push or pull on an object. Students will identify whether the force being exerted on an object is pushing or pulling. Students will understand and demonstrate that an object at rest tends to stay at rest. Materials Needed Small washers or coins Strip of paper Chart paper Playground equipment Masking tape Variety of small objects (e.g., pencils, pennies, balls, toy cars, etc.) Measuring tape Push/Pull recording sheet Introduction Place a stack of three or four washers or coins on top of a strip of paper on a table or flat desktop surface, making sure that most of the paper is hanging off the surface. Ask students to predict what will happen if you quickly pull the strip of paper off the table. After they have made their guesses, grab the paper and swiftly pull it out from under the washers or coins in a downward motion. (The objects should stay on the table.) Explain how the coins or washers resisted movement even though the paper below them was moved away.

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Animal Adaptations

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objective Explore the relationship between a bird’s beak and its ability to find food and survive. Materials Needed “Awesome Adaptations” and “A Beak for Every Job” information cards “Why Do Birds Have Different Beaks?” activity card Easy-Grip Safety Tweezers - Set of 12 Spoons Super-Safe Eyedroppers - Set of 12 Plastic fish and plastic worms (or other small objects to represent fish and worms) Plastic tray Water Introduction Ask students, “Have you ever wondered why a turtle has a hard shell? Or why a chameleon can change colors to match its surroundings?” Explain that these are two examples of animal adaptations, or ways that animals change in order to survive in their environment.

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First Day, Last Day Friendly Letter

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives Students will identify the parts of a letter. Students will write a friendly letter. Materials Needed The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg Letter template Chart paper and marker Preparation: Using the template below, write a letter to yourself on chart paper. Sign your name at the bottom and fold the piece of chart paper in thirds. August ____, _________ Dear ___________________________, I am so excited about teaching _____ grade this year. The students in my class are great! I can’t wait to teach them ______________________________________________________. It is going to be a fantastic year! Sincerely, _________________________ Introduction Read aloud The Jolly Postman. Be sure to read all the hidden letters in the book. Ask students if they have ever written a letter. Who did they write to? What was the occasion? (Was it a thank-you note, an invitation or a friendly letter to a distant relative?)

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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.

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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.

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Butterfly Life Cycle

Pre-K

Objective Students will identify and describe the stages of the butterfly life cycle. Materials Needed The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Life Cycle Wheel template Crayons Scissors Brass fasteners Life Cycle of the Butterfly sequencing strip Life Cycle Picture Cards Number Spinner Paper clips Pencils Introduction Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Explain to students that they can see the life cycle of a butterfly in the story. Turn back to the beginning of the book and point to the pictures that show each stage—egg, caterpillar, cocoon and butterfly. Explain to students that a butterfly cocoon is called a chrysalis.

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"How Many Bones Long?" Math Measurement

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives CCSS Math/Measurement & Data 1.MD.A.1: Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object. 1.MD.A.2: Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps. 2.MD.A.1: Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes. Materials Needed How Big Is a Foot? by Rolf Myller Area Tiles 12-inch ruler Measuring Bones template “How Many Bones Long?” record sheet “Big Fish” file folder game Introduction Read aloud How Big Is a Foot? by Rolf Myller. Point out that in the story, they measured “feet” to find out what size to make the bed for the queen. Explain that there is a difference between the length of one person’s foot and a foot-long standard unit of measurement. Hold up a 12-inch ruler and say, “In standard measurement, a foot is the same as 12 inches. Do you think your foot is longer or shorter than this ruler?” Invite a few students to compare their feet to the ruler so that they can see that the ruler is longer. Explain that unlike a foot in standard measurement, people’s feet are different sizes. This is why the king had trouble getting a bed that was the correct size for the queen. Finally, tell students that they are going to practice measuring things using nonstandard units of measurement.

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Alphabet Name Game

Pre-K - Kindergarten

Objectives Students will identify the letters of the alphabet. Students will understand that letters are combined to form words. Students will spell their own names. Materials Needed Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault Large magnetic whiteboard Magnetic Letters Coconut Tree template Construction Paper - 9" x 12" (green, brown and white) Safety Scissors Help-Yourself Glue Tubes Alphabet stickers or alphabet stamps and ink Preparation: Draw large coconut trees on a magnetic whiteboard. Place magnetic letters on the board as though they are hanging from the palm fronds. Put the letters in alphabetical order. Introduction Read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to your class. After reading, ask children, “What did you notice about the order of the letters in the story?” (The letters are in ABC order.) Then invite students to recite the alphabet as you point to each letter on the board.

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Eating Right: Healthy Choices

Pre-K

Objectives Identifying healthy foods and unhealthy foods Sorting and classifying a variety of foods into the appropriate food groups Materials Needed The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Chart paper or whiteboard MyPlate graphic organizer Food pictures Nutrition puzzles Best-Buy Scissors Lakeshore Glue Sticks Introduction Read aloud The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Have students identify which foods in the book are healthy and which are not. Chart their responses on chart paper or on a whiteboard.

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Point-Of-View Study

3rd Grade - 4th Grade

Objective CCSS Reading/Literature: RL.3.6 Distinguish their own point of view from that of the character or those of the characters. Materials Needed Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin Points-Of-View Compare/Contrast Chart Diary of a ________ page Introduction Read aloud (or allow students to silently read) Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin.

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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!

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Reading for Details

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives CCSS Reading/Informational Text: Key Ideas and Details (RI.1.1, RI.1.2, RI.2.1, RI.2.2) Ask and answer questions about key details in a text. Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text. Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text. Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (RI.1.7, RI.2.7) Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas. Explain how specific images (e.g., a diagram showing how a machine works) contribute to and clarify a text. Materials Needed “Animal Homes” reading passage Reading for Details graphic organizer Document camera or whiteboard (optional) “Our Closest Star” reading passage Question frames Scissors Highlighters Introduction Explain to students that as they read about the ways animals build their homes, they can be “reading detectives” who discover the main topic and important details! To do this, they must read carefully, examine the text and pay close attention to illustrations that will help them find the answer to the following important questions: Where? When? How? Why?

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Pumpkin Seed Count and Compare

1st Grade - 2nd Grade

Objectives Students will estimate how many seeds are in a pumpkin and compare their estimates to the actual results. Students will count by twos, fives, and tens. Students will use the greater than, less than and equal symbols to compare numbers. Materials Needed How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara Pumpkin Knife (for teacher use only) Newspaper 3 index cards Comparing Seeds reproducible Preparation: Purchase a pumpkin from a local grocery store or pumpkin patch. Bring it to school, along with a sharp knife and some old newspaper. Spread out the newspaper to protect your workspace. Then cut out the top of the pumpkin. Leave the top on until instructed to remove it during the lesson. Finally, take the index cards and write the greater than symbol on the first card, the less than symbol on the second card, and the equal sign on the third card. Introduction Display the pumpkin and ask students to tell you what’s inside (seeds). Ask students if they can estimate, or guess, how many seeds there are. Write their guesses on the board or on chart paper. Tell students that you are going to read a story about a class that does the same activity that you will do with students today. Ask students to listen for ideas on how to count the pumpkin seeds. Then read aloud How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? When you have finished reading, ask students to share their observations about the book, including ways to count the pumpkin seeds.

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Close Reading and Text Features

3rd Grade - 4th Grade

Objectives CCSS Reading: Informational Text RI.3.7: Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur). RI.4.7: Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears. Materials Needed “Three Cheers for Engineers!” reading passage Paper and pencils Introduction Provide students with a copy of the “Three Cheers for Engineers!” reading passage. Tell students, “Today we are going to read a passage titled, “Three Cheers for Engineers!” One practice of good readers is that they pay close attention to the text. As we read, I want you to think about the meaning of the text, the words that are used and other features on the page that are used to help interpret the text.”

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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.)

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Autumn Owls Beginning Addition

Pre-K - Kindergarten

Objectives Counting & Cardinality Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted. Operations & Algebraic Thinking Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem. Materials Needed Large number cards Autumn owl Autumn Owls Addition worksheet Construction paper Scissors Chart paper or whiteboard Bulletin board (optional) Stapler (optional) For the Extension Activity: Autumn Owls Partner Game Scissors Paper clips Pencils Zip-close bag Introduction Hold up the large number cards one at a time, going in order from 0 to 10. Prompt students to say each number aloud with you. Then mix up the cards and have students practice identifying the numbers out of order.

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Introduction to Idioms and Multiple Meanings

1st Grade

Objectives Students will discuss and decode the meaning of idioms and figures of speech from the book Amelia Bedelia. Students will demonstrate an understanding of figures of speech by interpreting their meanings. Materials Needed The book Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish Whiteboard and dry-erase marker (or chalkboard and chalk) Interpreting Idioms Reproducible Scissors Box or hat Introduction Ask students if they have ever heard a joke that made them laugh their heads off! Ask volunteers to share the joke with the class. Then ask students, “When we say ‘I laughed my head off,’ do we really mean that we laughed so hard that our heads fall off our bodies?” Once students have responded—and giggled a little—tell them that this kind of expression is called an idiom, or a common phrase that means something different than what it says. Hold up the book Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish. Explain that Amelia Bedelia is a character who often gets confused by idioms or words that have more than one meaning. Before you begin reading the story aloud, tell students to listen for Amelia’s misunderstandings and try to figure out what Amelia Bedelia should really be doing.

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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.

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Making Sense of Multiplication

3rd Grade - 4th Grade

Objective Generating a number or shape pattern that follows a given rule Identifying arithmetic patterns and explaining them using properties of operations Materials Needed Anno’s Magic Seeds by Mitsumasa Anno Chart paper or document camera Paper and pencils Perplexing Patterns reproducible and answer key 3-In-A-Row! multiplication cards Two different-colored highlighters for each pair of students in your class Paper clips Introduction Begin reading aloud Anno’s Magic Seeds by Mitsumasa Anno. (You may want to preread the story and place a sticky note on the specific pages the lesson highlights.) When you reach the part in the story where Jack decides to bury two seeds in the ground instead of only one, pause and ask students to predict what might happen the following fall. How many seeds do they think the buried seeds will produce? Ask them to explain why. Then continue reading to find out the answer. Continue reading the story, asking for predictions for the next year and then comparing the students’ predictions to the results in the story.

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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.

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Get to 10: Equation Fun

2nd Grade

Objectives Students will express the same number multiple ways. Students will solve simple addition and subtraction problems. Materials Needed Chalkboard and chalk (or whiteboard and marker) Pocket chart Number cards and equation strips “Get to 10!” activity sheet Number tiles reproducible Scissors

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Parts of a Whole

2nd Grade

Objectives Students will understand that fractions are equal parts of a whole. Students will identify the numerator and denominator of a fraction. Students will match fractions to shaded parts of a circle. Materials Needed Apple Fractions by Jerry Pallotta Apple Knife Fraction match-up puzzles Fiskars Classroom Scissors Introduction Read aloud Apple Fractions by Jerry Pallotta to introduce fractions as parts of a whole.

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Teddy Bear Parade

Pre-K

Objectives Students will listen to a story and make connections to their own experiences. Students will orally express an idea to the class. Students will write their names and dictate sentences. Materials Needed Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber Parent letter Name Badge template Yarn or string Lakeshore Crayon Packs Hole punch Preparation: A week prior to the activity, send home the parent letter, which explains the activity and encourages students to participate by bringing a special stuffed animal. Introduction Have students sit in a circle on the floor. Invite them to bring their stuffed animals with them. Read aloud Ira Sleeps Over. After you have read the story, ask students, “Why do you think Ira decides to return to his house to get his teddy bear?” (His teddy bear helps him feel safe and secure. When he sees that his friend sleeps with a teddy bear, he is not embarrassed to have his own.) Explain that when we are in a new place (like a new classroom) or have a new experience (like attending the first week of the new school year), it helps to have a friend with us. A special teddy bear or other stuffed animal can help us to feel less nervous and less alone.

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Parts of a Plant

Kindergarten

Objectives Students will identify the parts of a plant and how plants grow. Students will determine what plants need to survive. Materials Needed Package of carrot seeds The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss Parts of a Plant Diagram Parts of a Plant Activity Sheet Scissors Crayons Glue Introduction Gather children together for circle time and give one carrot seed to each child. (Don’t tell them what kind of seed it is!) Ask them to share their thoughts on what the seed will turn into after it is planted. Encourage them to make as many guesses as they want to. Tell students you are going to read a story about a boy who has the same kind of seed they are holding. Invite them to pay close attention to how the seed changes throughout the story and what the boy does to help it grow. Encourage students to listen carefully as you read to find out what kind of seed it is!

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