English Language Arts — Grade 1

Tacky the Penguin

After reading the story, Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, the students will write their own Tacky story. The students will brainstorm ideas before getting started. Next each student will write a rough draft. After the rough draft, the students will proofread and edit their work. Then the students will type their story and illustrate the pictures.

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

By Tonya Williams.

Walter the Baker

This lesson is divided into 2 parts. During the first part you will read and discuss Walter the Baker by Eric Carle. The second part of the lesson will be a personal response writing and a picture of what the student wants to be when he/she grows up.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Teresa Bennett.

The Alphabet Tree

After reading The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni to students, the students will retell the events on a flow map. Then using Kid Pix software, each child will choose an event, illustrate it, and write a caption for it. The students will then put their events in order in a Kid Pix Slide Show they can present to the class.

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

By Jody Shaughnessy.

An American hero: Harriet Tubman

In this lesson, the school librarian and classroom teacher should work together to teach students about the life of Harriet Tubman in recognition of African-American History and Cultural Heritage Month.

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

By Floanna Long.

Arctic Animals

This is a whole language lesson for Speech Language Pathologists incorporating listening comprehension, categorizing, following verbal directions, and basic vocabulary and language concepts for First grade students.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts)

By Susan Ayers.

The Emperor's Prize Egg

This lesson will introduce students to the life of a penguin. They will explore penguins' habitats, eating habits, and other unique adaptations that they use to survive in Antarctica.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Information Skills, English Language Arts, Computer Technology Skills, and Science)

By Betty Burleson.

First class butterflies

This is an integrated unit on raising and releasing Painted Lady butterflies. Students will learn that technology is very useful in obtaining and sharing information about butterflies via the internet.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Information Skills, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Computer Technology Skills, Mathematics, and Science)

By Brenda Murray.

Healthy foods = super kids

This lesson focuses on how the foods we eat affect our bodies in both beneficial and harmful ways. Students will learn that grains provide energy; vegetables are needed for healthy skin, hair and eyes; fruits help the body heal, milk builds strong bones and teeth; meat builds muscle and gives strength; and sweets, fats, and oils are high in calories and give few vitamins and minerals and do little to help our bodies grow.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts, Healthful Living Education, and English Language Development)

By Phyllis Bass and Rubetta Carr.

How Much is that Doggy in the Window?

Using internet sources, students will explore information associated with owning a dog. Students will access a controlled collection of websites regarding owning a dog within the scavenger hunt.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Information Skills, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Computer Technology Skills, and Science)

By Kathy Beck.

Is it living?

Students will identify living and nonliving things.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts, Computer Technology Skills, and Science)

By Genita Powell.

The Little Yellow Chicken

The students will be following an integrated unit on "Helping." They will use reading, math, social studies, science, technology, and other areas of study. Students will read, as a group, the book The Little Yellow Chicken by Joy Cowley. The students will be incorporating prediction, prior knowledge, comprehension skills, and language skills for the word family "-ook", the vowel sound "e", and the exclamation mark. The technology to be utilized by the students consists of use of the HyperStudio for math review, Math Software, Graph Club to create a graph of favorite party foods, Inspiration to guide and create graphic organizers for writing, and the Ultimate Writing Machine to create their own version of The Little Yellow Chicken. They will also incorporate color words to practice the Spanish Language.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts, Computer Technology Skills, Mathematics, and )

By diane williams.

Lucky Ladybug Doubles

This lesson will involve students in using symmetry and doubling of numbers 1 through 7 to make ladybugs.

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

By Alta Allen.

Snakes are cool

This lesson begins with a reading of Verdi by Janell Cannon. It integrates science with language arts as the students learn about snakes and write about their findings.

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

By Marcia Reich.

"Three Cool Kids"

After reading "Three Cool Kids", by Rebecca Emberley, students will discuss literary elements: characters, setting, problem and solution. The teacher will record using the Inspiration software what students say, making a web that shows the different elements of the story.

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

By Genevieve Kiser.

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

This lesson plan focuses on a English Language Arts objectives: similarity and difference. Students compare the story The Three Little Pigs and The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas. Students will work collaboratively in small heterogeneous groups to apply strategies for comprehension and vocabulary.

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

By Betty Coleman-Canty and Michelle Swain.

What's Happening Now?

This comprehension and writing lesson helps the student develop skills in predicting what will happen next and sequencing. It also develops the ability to answer what, where, when, and how questions. It can also include a writing activity that teaches writing in a newspaper format by answering the "W" questions and creating a class newspaper book.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1 English Language Arts)

By Nancy McGowan.

Lesson plans on the web

Catching the bug for reading through interactive read-alouds

Helps students learn reading strategies and how to prevent the spread of germs in their classroom. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Healthful Living Education)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Comparing fiction and nonfiction with "Little Red Riding Hood" text sets

In this lesson, students explore similarities and differences among various versions of “Little Red Riding Hood.” (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Comparing Tales through Performance

Students identify the similarities and differences between a traditional and a contemporary version of The Three Little Pigs. (Learn more)

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

Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Creating class rules: A beginning to creating community

Students are led through a discussion designed to establish goals and needs for the classroom. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE