TeachersFirst Elementary Language Arts Lessons

Elementary Language Arts Lessons

Updated: April 8, 2002

Note - Grade level groupings are approximate. Check listings of Middle School Lessons for additional selections.

African-American Folktales and their Use in an Integrated Curriculum - by Joyce Patton - Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Language Arts/Interdisciplinary - Grades 2-5 - This unit approaches the art of African-American storytelling as a springboard to an understanding of the history, heritage, and development of this culture. With an emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, this series of lessons can be effectively used in conjunction with the Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Treasury of Literature text.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - Grades K-2 - Depending on the amount of detail you want to get into, this lesson plan can be modified to take anywhere from one class period to one week. In the story, a boy who is having a bad day thinks he should move to Australia. After reading this book aloud to your class, ask them why they think Alexander chose Australia. Make a list of what they know about Australia, then make a list of things they would like to learn about Australia. This lesson plan meets Georgia’s Quality Core Curriculum standards.

Beauty is More Than Skin Deep: Examining the Positive and Negative Depictions of Physical Appearance in Children’s Films - by Karen F. Carazo, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Language Arts, Psychology, Social Studies, Grade 3-5 - Using a variety of children’s films (especially Disney productions) and literature, students examine positive and negative depictions of physical appearance and develop an awareness of how these characteristics influence their own perceptions of certain characters. An excellent unit to enhance self-esteem, social awareness, and foster a more positive self-concept in young children.

Beware the Fish! - Grades 4-5 - This lesson can be completed in one class period. After reading the book, students complete two activities that involve themes in the book. The first has them think about the inventions in the book, then come up with an invention of their own. They should draw a picture of it and write a paragraph about the invention as well. Next, have them think about what they would do if someone tried to destroy their favorite place. After they write a paragraph describing their favorite place, they should think of three things they could do to save it. This lesson plan meets Georgia’s Quality Core Curriculum standards.

Beyond R. L. Stine: Read-Aloud Books and Group Activities for Fifth Graders by Teresa Matthews, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Reading: Grade 5 - This eight-book unit for reading aloud is sure to "hook" fifth graders into new and different books.

Blue Monday and Friends: Traditional Jewish Holidays Come Alive Through The Art of Story-Telling by Geraldine Martin, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Reading/Language Arts: Grade 1 - This unit uses puppetry and story-telling to investigate children’s literature in greater depth and learn about Jewish culture.

The Buffalo Jump - Grades K-4 - This lesson plan should take approximately one week. You will need craft materials for some of the activities. The book is about Native Americans, so every class period will include a craft and a discussion of the differences between modern and Native American things. One activity has the class making a model of a teepee, and discussing Native American homes compared to our homes today. This lesson plan meets Georgia’s Quality Core Curriculum standards.

Celebrate A People! by Waltrina Kirkland-Mullins, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Social Studies and Language Arts: Grades K-2 - Develop your students’ social and language arts skills through reading Afrocentric picture books.

Choose Your Path - by Mary-Alice Howley, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Art/Language Arts/Interdisciplinary - Grades 5-6 - This unit, based on versions of the popular fairy tales "Little Red Riding Hood," "Cinderella," and "Jack and the Beanstalk," helps students develop skills in critical thinking, writing, and public speaking. The central theme focuses on fairy tale heroes who use their intellect to seize opportunities for happiness and survival. Students read, analyze, compare/contrast, and ultimately create their own fairy tales which are presented to the class in the spirit of the oral tradition.

Cultural Understanding Through Folklore - by Christine Y. House, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Social Studies/Interdisciplinary- Grade 3 - Students explore folktales from a variety of cultures, learn about different nations and traditions, and gain an understanding of the common man’s universal hopes, dreams, and fears. Using the folktale genre as a tool, students are encouraged to glean information about the personal, everyday lives of people throughout history.

Developing Thinking and Reasoning Skills in Primary Learners Using Detective Fiction by June Pellegrini, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Language Arts - Grades 1-3 (Reading levels: 1.6 - 3.0) - Use detective fiction to address critical and creative thinking skills with early elementary students. The Private Eyes Club Mysteries, Nate the Great, and the Cam Jansen series form the basis for this unit that progresses from basic recall of information to more complex problem-solving activities.

Examining African-American Culture Through the Use of Children’s Literature by Karen E. Carazo, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Language Arts/ Social Studies( Interdisciplinary Unit): Grades 2-4 - Explore African-American poetry and fiction in this study using a wide gamut of language arts skills integrated with social studies themes about community, family, and culture.

Fingerplays for Children - Grades K-3 - This is a simple collection of finger movements associated with poems and short stories for the very young. This single page includes more than a dozen different rhymes - easy to print and use with students just starting out.

Folktales Through African Art - by Eileen M. DeMaio, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Art/Language Arts - Grades 3-5 - The cultural and religious beliefs inherent in traditional African society are explored in this unit that exposes students to the sculpture and stories of three different African cultures. By examining artwork with an understanding of the people who created it, students develop a more authentic impression of this ethnic group. A variety of art-related activities are included in this eight-week unit.

Friday Funtastic and Friends: The Art of Story-Telling Through Film by Geraldine Martin, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Reading/Language Arts/Social Studies - Grade 1 - Puppetry and art are combined in this unit that helps young children approach film and literature in a more critical manner. Active participation is emphasized as students practice skills in illustration, writing, oral reading, acting, and narration. Lessons center around the films Heidi, Dumbo, and The Secret Garden.

Help! I’m Trapped in my Teacher’s Body - Grades 4-5 - This lesson takes only one class period. Students will first draw a picture of the machine that transformed the boy into his teacher. Then, they should think about what it would be like to be an adult for one week. Have them write a story about the experience – including who they would be and why, what they would do, and how they were transformed. This lesson plan meets Georgia’s Quality Core Curriculum standards.

I've Got the Blues - Interdisciplinary - Grade 2 - This 1-2 week unit offers an interdisciplinary collection of activities for students who are hearing and reading a series of books which involve "blue themes."

Language Arts Lesson Plans - These are collections of language arts lesson plans from the Columbia Education Center, Portland, Oregon. They are grouped by grade level, with very brief descriptions for each plan. Most plans were submitted by teachers from the Pacific Northwest. There are three collections: Elementary Plans, Middle School Plans, and High School Plans.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Webquest - Grade 5 - Here's a webquest based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's books and characters. The lesson focuses on developing writing and critical analysis skills using student reactions to a selection of material from the web. This lesson was a winner in the 1998 TeachersFirst lesson plans contest. A TeachersFirst exclusive, it includes a ready-to-print Adobe Acrobat lesson sheet.

Houghton Mifflin Lessons & Activities - Grades 1-8 - Houghton Mifflin Publishing has collected a set of theme-based lessons and activities, most of which have been developed by classroom teachers. Each plan is a page or two long, and can easily be printed for later use. The themes available are:

Adventure
Ancient Civilizations
Bugs and Other Creatures
Disasters
Challenges
Community
Environment
Family
Food
Friends
Going Places
Here Come the Bears
I Can Do Anything
Imagination
Just for Fun
Mystery
Observation
Oceans
Pets
Playful Pets
School
Survival
Tales and Legends
Tell Me a Story
Travel
USA
Weather
Wildlife
Viewpoints

I Am the Words and Pictures - Grade 4 - Created by a veteran city school teacher, this TeachersFirst lesson combines writing, artistic expression, and peer review to help students respond to elements of their life, their school, or their neighborhood.

Literature of the U.S. Civil War by Thomas E. Holmes, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Language Arts/U.S. History (interdisciplinary): Grades 4-5 - This unit investigates the Civil War through children’s literature, using multiple approaches to learning including reading, writing, dramatization, and music.

Literature and Art Through Our Eyes: The African American Children by Patrice Flynn, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Language Arts, Social Studies - Grade 3 - Increase students’ awareness of African American culture through a study of books and art that integrates the elementary curriculum. Cultural traditions, extended family relationships, and life in urban America are the predominant themes highlighted in the selected readings and art works.

Math-Writing and Thinking - Source: NCTE - Language Arts/Math: Grades 4-6 - Develop student writing skills and strengthen knowledge of math concepts by trying this method of writing letters to peers to explain new material. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has encouraged this approach of writing about math.

Page by Page - Grades 3-8 - Depending on how you choose to use it, this site - from the National Library of Canada - about how a children's picture book was created could be a great addition to your reading or literature studies. Geared for use by children, the site interviews the author and illustrator, showing students how ideas turn into words and pictures. This is a great one for readers - and young writers.

Pocahontas, From Fiction to Fact: Using Disney’s Film to Teach the True Story by Christine Y. House, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Interdisciplinary American History, Grade 5 - This unit uses the Disney movie and two other versions to discover the truth about Pocahontas, the Powhatans, their encounters with the English in 1607, and the geography and climate of Virginia.

Recognizing Stereotypical Images of African Americans in Television and Movies by Steven F. Gray, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Language Arts, Math (percentages and graphing), Grade 5 - This five-week unit will enable students to define stereotyping, identify how blacks have been portrayed in film and television, illustrate how these stereotypes have had damaging effects on society, and understand how to constructively deal with stereotyping in their personal lives.

Science Fiction Selections: Connecting Film to Literature for First and Second Graders by Kathleen Ayr, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Language Arts - Grade 1-2 - Using Frankenstein, The Wizard of Oz, and E.T., introduce young students to the genre of science fiction while enhancing their reading and writing skills. Students learn how to review films, recognize themes, compare/contrast films with literature, and role-play.

That’s Not Fair by Mary-Alice Howley, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Language Arts, Reading - Grade 5 - Students strengthen skills in process writing, creative thinking, inductive reasoning, and cooperative work by using detective fiction. After working together to solve a mysterious "murder" among the book stacks in the school library, students are introduced to a collection of children’s detective novels representing a wide range of reading levels and cultural settings. While class lessons apply to any and all selections, each student is assigned a book that reflects his/her individual reading level.

Thematic Units: Integrating the Curriculum - Source: NCTE - Target: Kindergarten - This site gives specific strategies and plans for thematic teaching. Thematic teaching is grounded in the notion that we learn best when things make sense. The information is centered around a topical collection of children's literature to be used in a kindergarten class.

Twice Told Tales - Source: NCTE - Target: Elementary - This site is one of the NCTE Teaching Ideas and Topics series. It presents ideas and strategies for using children’s literature to foster critical thinking skills.

Understanding Hispanic/Latino Culture and History Through the Use of Children’s Literature by Jean Sutherland, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Reading/Language Arts, Social Studies: Grades 3-5 Examine folk tales, use role-play, learn about holidays and food, and study culture in this integrated unit.

Using Children’s Literature to Understand Working Women and Children During World War II by Felicia R. McKinnon, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Integrated Unit: Language Arts, Writing, Creative Dramatics, History, Music, Art, Science, Math, and more: Grades 1-6 - This unit uses literature, films, periodicals, and more to help students understand the experience of war.

Using Film and Literature to Examine Uncle Remus: A Comparison and Analysis of the Film Song Of The South by Felicia R. McKinnon, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - History, Language Arts, Social Studies, Drama, Grades 6-8 - Through the use of films, recorded books, and literary readings, this unit exposes students to the oral tradition of storytelling, provides facts about African American contributions to this tradition, and offers a comprehensive approach to understanding African American folklore.

Using Film and Literature in the Elementary Classroom: The Jungle Book by Gretchen L. Gallagher, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Reading/Language Arts - Grade 3 - Originally designed as a culmination to a unit on the rainforest, this series of lessons uses films to "serve as models for a creative response to literature." Students learn to predict outcomes, draw conclusions, summarize, put events in sequential order, compare/contrast, and write reviews. Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, and the Walt Disney films based on this novel are explored as students discover how film can bring a narrative to life.

Willie Sunday: A Critical Analysis of Factual Information in Film - by Geraldine Martin, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Interdisciplinary (reading, language arts, math, social studies, science, music, art), Grades 1-3 - Integrate puppetry and art into a unit that will guide young students in analyzing what they experience in film and literature. This unit introduces classroom activities and techniques centering around the film Pocahontas and the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood.

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