English Language Arts — Grade 1

Lesson plans on the web

Choosing one word: Summarizing Shel Silverstein's “Sick”

This lesson uses Shel Silverstein's poem “Sick” to challenge emergent readers to select the most important word in a text and to justify their selection. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Connect with low-literate families: A three-tiered approach

This ReadWriteThink lesson involves giving children from low-literate families stories to read at home to enhance the home-school connection. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

From stop signs to the golden arches: Environmental print

Students will help collect examples of environmental print, sort and classify these examples for inclusion in class books, and spend time reading the books as individuals, in pairs, or in groups. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Is this the right book for me? Strategies for beginning readers

In this lesson, students learn to identify purposes for reading and are given strategies to evaluate if the reading level and length of a book is appropriate. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Learning centers: From shared to independent practice

Provides a framework for using a shared reading experience to introduce independent literacy learning centers. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Literature circles with primary students using self-selected reading

Presents a structured guideline for helping students learn to think about the books they read, and to ask questions about books shared by other students. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Mail time! An integrated postcard and geography study

Provides motivation for writing and reading and provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about maps as students discover where their family members and friends live. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Mathematics)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Pioneer America: Legendary westerners

Students study legendary westerners during the period of westward expansion in U.S. history. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–4 English Language Arts)

Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Play with words: Rhyme & verse

Students will listen to poems and rhymes, clap out syllables, and sing along with familiar tunes. They will also use puppets and crafts to help recall and retell favorite poems. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts)

Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities

Reading everywhere with Dr. Seuss

Students see places where they can read and enjoy books, such as on a trip to Grandma's, at the pool, or at the doctor's office. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts and Computer Technology Skills)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Reading informational texts using the 3-2-1 strategy

In this lesson, students in grades K–2 learn to use the 3-2-1 strategy, which involves writing about three things they discovered, two things they found interesting, and one question they still have. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Shared poetry reading: Teaching print concepts, rhyme, and vocabulary

This lesson teaches the acquisition of vocabulary, one-to-one matching, left-to-right directionality, and awareness of rhyme. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Weather: A journey in nonfiction

This research project is designed for primary students to engage in nonfiction text. Students formulate questions and research information on a subject. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Science)

Provider: IRA/NCTE