English Language Arts — Grade 1

Oh, the places I will go!

Students will listen to the story by Dr. Seuss Oh, the Places You'll Go! The students will brainstorm a list of places they would like to go. Places such as nouns and proper nouns will be separated during the listing process. The students will write a response to: "Oh, the places I will go! I will go____________." and illustrate their responses. Each student response will be collected for a class book entitled "Oh, the Places We Will Go!"

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts)

My favorite women: My Great Aunt Arizona

These three (or four) 45-minute lessons will introduce kindergarteners and first graders to Women's History Month. The students listen to the story of author Gloria Houston's great-aunt, Arizona Houston Hughes. During and following the listening and viewing experiences, the students will discuss their experiences with women in their own history who are helping them become good citizens and grow up well.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts and Information Skills)

By Floanna Long.

Features of print

In this lesson, the teacher introduces the concept of gathering information from chapter headings, bold type and other organizational features of print (such as tables of contents) in non-fiction texts in print and online.

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

By Gail Goodling, Susan Lovett, and Sue Versenyi.

Resources on the web

What's the difference? Beginning writers compare e-mail with letter writing

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students explore the differences between e-mail and letter writing by contrasting and identifying different forms, and experimenting with their own e-mail and letter compositions. This lesson incorporates an “E-Mail... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Weather: A journey in nonfiction

This ReadWriteThink research project is designed for primary students to engage in nonfiction text, in both print and digital format. Students begin by formulating questions on a subject (in this case, weather). They then classify questions into topic areas.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Under the deep blue sea

In this lesson, students have the opportunity to explore oceans and ocean life. Through creative writing and research projects, students will learn about the ocean and the creatures that live there. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: EDSITEment

Shhh! Bear's sleeping: learning about nonfiction and fiction using read-alouds

The teacher introduces students to many different genres of literature in this lesson that explores the differences between fiction and nonfiction. After reading “Big Paws,” the teacher engages students in a discussion about bears and creates... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Play with words: Rhyme & verse

Children of all ages enjoy listening to bouncy rhythms and reciting catchy rhymes. In this lesson, students will use their senses to experience poetry. Students will listen to poems and rhymes, clap out syllables, and sing along with familiar tunes. They... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ESITEment

Our community: Creating ABC books as assessment

Students study the theme of community and collect vocabulary words and key concepts from areas they study in class. Using this information, they create alphabet books that relate each letter of the alphabet with a fact, keyword, or phrase from the unit... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Note writing in the primary classroom

This lesson from ReadWriteThink invites students to write short everyday notes, to remind, plan, request, or compliment, providing many natural opportunities for meaningful writing and lots of practice in encoding/decoding written text. Note writing is... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

The meaning behind the mask

Students explore the cultural significance of masks, discuss the use of masks in stories, and then investigate the role masks play in ceremonies and on special occasions in various African cultures. After students have studied these masks, they are then... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ESITEment

Masks and Aesop's fables

This ARTSEDGE lesson is based on a study of Aesop's Fables. Although Aesop's fables are over 2,600 years old, the stories—and their morals—are still relevant today. In this lesson, students learn a fable, make simple masks, and retell the fable... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–4 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Theater Arts Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Martin Luther King, Jr. and me: Identifying with a hero

This lesson from ReadWriteThink explores ways to help students make connections to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities that not only provide a glimpse into Dr. King's life, but empower students to help... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Making a rainstick

In this lesson from ARTSEDGE, students learn about the history of the musical instrument called a rainstick. They experience rain and create a poem about their feelings and thoughts in the rain. Next, they read a story involving rainsticks, derived from... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Visual Arts Education and English Language Arts)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Mail time! An integrated postcard and geography study

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students write to friends and family asking them to send picture postcards. This activity provides motivation for writing and reading and provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about maps as students discover where... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Let's build a snowman

This ReadWriteThink lesson suggests building a snowman as one way to provide food for birds and animals during the winter. Students read fiction and nonfiction books and access the Internet to gain information about how animals survive during the winter.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Learning centers: From shared to independent practice

To become proficient at any skill, hands-on practice is necessary. This ReadWriteThink lesson provides a framework for using a shared reading experience to introduce independent literacy learning centers. Teaching students to work independently is critical... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Junie B. Jones introduces literacy mystery boxes

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, the teacher reads aloud the Junie B. Jones selection Junie B., First Grader (at last!). Students discuss the text with a partner, and then individually record key events from the story. Each student also... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Investigating animals: Using nonfiction for inquiry-based research

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students research animals with nonfiction and informational material. Through their research they will learn how to document their discoveries. They will work together to question, research, investigate, and share their findings.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Have Journal...Will Travel: Promoting Family Involvement in Literacy

This lesson from ReadWriteThink is designed to engage families in shared literacy activities. The students take turns taking home a book bag that includes a stuffed toy, a book, art supplies, a topic to discuss with their families, and a journal to share... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink