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A Is for Ape Language Provide pictures of animals upon which are written the first letters of their names. Have... Read more

The Periodic Table

Cool Chemicals Science When studying the periodic chart that Dimitri Men-deleev developed in 1869 with only 63 known elements, challenge... Read more

Shapes and Geometry

Geometry Gone 3-D Math Use mini marshmallows and thin pretzels (or toothpicks) to make cubes, rectangular solids and pyramids as... Read more

Maps and Globes

Real-life Maps Geography In preparation for a mapping unit, get maps from a nearby airport, subway and bus station. If... Read more

Sentences and Paragraphs

Expandable Sentences Language Select a student to suggest a noun, then another to suggest a verb. Build a sentence together.... Read more

Back to School Fun

How You've Grown Math Have students trace their bodies on large sheets of paper on the first day of school... Read more

Venn Diagram Activities

Whose Shoes? Math Draw a graph with a shoe theme on the board. How many of your students are wearing... Read more

Working with Syllables

Silly Syllables Reading/Language Arts Make a set of word cards that have one word on each card. Provide three envelopes,... Read more

Visual and Auditory Lesson Plans

Simon Says Color Me Auditory/Visual Discrimination Give all the children the same picture and the same colors of crayons. Play... Read more

Compare and Contrast Lessons

The Same, But So Different Science Compare and contrast a raw egg with a hard-boiled egg. Make a simple chart... Read more

Working with Patterns

Pattern Play Fine Motor Coordination/Math Provide felt shapes and craft sticks. Model putting together a pattern, then pass an... Read more

Flowers

Flower Wash Pictures Art Wet the entire surface of a piece of paper with a sponge. Sprinkle very small... Read more

Adding and Subtracting

Plus and Minus Art/Math Use this art project to illustrate and develop the concepts of positive and negative, plus... Read more

Craters

Crazy Craters Science Begin a study of craters by providing a large box of wet sand and some rocks of... Read more

All About Graphs

Line Graphs Math Make a line graph by mounting a piece of graph paper on a corkboard and using yarn... Read more

Congruent Objects

Congruent Creations Math Place a sheet of white tissue paper on top of any picture or design. Trace the object... Read more

Rebus Writing

Reading the Rebus Reading Collect several rebus stories from children's magazines in your library. Read several to and with your... Read more

Sprouts!

Sprouting Seeds Science Prepare some clear plastic bags with a small amount of soil and have the children place two... Read more

Sorting Math Activities

Sports Sort Reading/Math/Fine Motor Coordination Purchase a bag of foam sports-ball decorations at a craft store. Ask students to separate... Read more

Understanding Advertising

Advertising Trends Math Get some old magazines from the library and have students make graphs depicting the amount of space... Read more

Crystal Art

Crystal Ornaments Science/Art Fill a one-quart wide mouth jar with hot water. Add one cup of Borax laundry booster and... Read more

Spelling Words Activities

Slippery Spelling Spelling/Reading Place a brightly-colored piece of construction paper on a table. Give students a bold marker with which... Read more

A Day Full of Chocolate!

Chocolate is America's favorite flavor. Celebrate Chocolate Day on July 7 by learning all about this food that so... Read more

Using an Almanac

Read An Almanac Month Reading/Social Studies Visit your local bookstore or library and get any one of the many almanacs... Read more

The Many Phases of the Moon

Moon Tracking Science/Art Check the phase of the moon in the daily newspaper and set up a chart for... Read more

Fireworks and Independence Day

Draw your own fireworks art in celebration of the Fourth of July. Compare our Fourth of July to Independence Day... Read more

Amelia Earhart and Aviation

Amelia Earhart's plane disappeared from radar July 2, 1937 and was never found. Have your students research Amelia Earhart and... Read more

Movement and Motions

A Myriad of Movements Science/Phys. Ed. Take a trip to the playground. Explain what kind of movement each piece of... Read more

Planets

Poor ol' Pluto Science/Math Read the new planet definition sheet from the International Astronomical Union at en.wikipedia.org. Discuss the changes,... Read more

The Right Snack

Summer Snacking We all love to munch between meals, but snacks don't have to be junk food to be delicious... Read more

Measuring the Rain

Rainy-Day Science Science Set up a scientific process for studying rainfall during a certain period of time. Always observe the... Read more

Math Card Games

Make a Deck Math Have each child or group of students design a set of playing cards. Designate four fruits,... Read more

Spelling Time

Bring Spelling to Life Spelling/Art Print the letters of a noun or spelling word in large, haphazard fashion on... Read more

Math For All Ages

Odds & Evens Math Place a "town mat" or "road mat" on the floor. Use houses from toy train villages... Read more

Celebrating with Eric Carle

Animal Moves Reading/Exercise Read aloud From Head to Toe by Eric Carle (HarperCollins, 1997) while the children act out the... Read more

More Bulletin Board Ideas

The Anti-Boredom Board Language Arts Title a bulletin board "The Anti-Boredom Board" and decorate it with smiley faces and hands... Read more

Bulletin Board Fun

Summer Magic Language Arts Make a summer bulletin board with sand, sun, surf, mountains, trees, etc. Give students colored construction... Read more

Storytelling

Colorful Stories Writing/Art Purchase a coloring book and remove its pages. Give one page to each child to color and... Read more

Anne Frank

Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany. Her diary, The Diary of Anne Frank is a... Read more

Summertime Crafts

Set Sail For Summer Art Step 1: On a piece of cardboard about 9" x 12" draw an equilateral... Read more

Our Flag

Folding Matters Social Studies Take some time to teach the class how to fold the flag of the United... Read more

A is for Alphabet

It's a Match Reading Hang a set of capital letters at eye level for the students. Provide lower case letters... Read more

Genres Types

Genres Reading When introducing genres, start with what students know by asking them for movie suggestions of mysteries, fantasies, etc.... Read more

End of the School Year Activities

Our Year Completed Social Studies/Math Set up a timeline for the school year that can be filled in by the... Read more

Geometry, Shapes, and Designs

Turn-Around Designs Math/Art During your geometry unit give each student a large sheet of white paper and a geometric... Read more

Fun and the Sun

Summer Suncatchers Art Bend a chenille stem into a desired shape (circle, diamond, star, etc.) then glue the ends together.... Read more

Counting Coins

Canister Coins Math Gather empty film canisters, label each one for a particular coin. Place a pile of coins in... Read more

Rhyming

Remembering Rhymes Language Often when it is important to remember something, rhyming can be a great help. Here is a... Read more

The History of Jazz

Feel The Beat Music May 29 is International Jazz Day. Have your students research in the library and online about... Read more

A Classroom Garden

Color My Garden Science/Nutrition Provide vegetable and fruit shapes all on white paper. Help students determine which grow above... Read more

Math Sets

Poetry Math Math/Poetry Read this poem to the children when working with sets of various kinds. Put it on the... Read more

Spelling Word Fun

Scrambled Spellers Language Make some flowers with a different letter in each petal. Have students identify the words. Use... Read more

The Settlement of Jamestown

Today's the Day Social Studies/History May 14, 1607, was the day the Jamestown settlement was established. Begin your day by... Read more

Memorial Day Lesson Plans

Saving Angels Reading/Phys. Ed. In preparation for Memorial Day, read together the picture book, Lisette's Angel by Amy Littlesugar (Dial,... Read more

The Seasons

Separating the Seasons Science Gather a collection of calendar or magazine pictures that illustrate the seasons in various settings: cities,... Read more

Sequencing — From Start to Finish

Bit by Bit the Flower Grows Science/Sequencing Have each student fold a piece of paper into four sections. Glue a... Read more

Writing Exercises

Learning From the Pros Writing Have each student bring in his or her favorite magazines. Ask each student to select... Read more

Maurice Sendak Lesson Plans

A Wild World Art In acknowledgment of Maurice Sendak's birthday on June 10, design an exhibit with vines, palm trees... Read more

Learning About Measurement

Measurement Madness Math/Computer Skills Take your math students to the following site for practicing measurement techniques at their own pace:... Read more

Mother’s Day Treats

Food Fractions Math/Health Find a couple of simple recipes for healthy snacks (like the one presented here, or for trail... Read more

Mother’s Day Cards and Gift Ideas

I Love You, Mom Reading/Writing At some point before Mother's Day share together, I Love You All Day Long by... Read more

Activities for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo Social Studies Research together the significance of May 5 to our Mexican neighbors. Find out how they... Read more

Stars and Constellations

Classroom Stars Science/Art Cover a bulletin board with black paper to represent the night sky. Have students make paper stars... Read more

Poetry and Paintings

Poems From Paintings Writing/Art Share Paint Me a Poem: Poems Inspired by Masterpieces of Art by Justine Rowden (Wordsong, 2005)... Read more

How Government Works

U.S. Government at Work Social Studies Currently one political party has the power of the White House while another major... Read more

Area, Volume, and Shape

My Work Area Math Reinforce the meaning of area by having students measure the area encompassed by their desk or... Read more

What’s a Perimeter?

Pretty Perimeters Math Help students grasp the idea of perimeters by making some that they can see. Measure the perimeter... Read more

Multicultural Meals

Dinner, Anyone? Social Studies Share the following poem with the class, then have students do library and online research to... Read more

Learning About Shapes

Shapely Sandwiches Math/Health Provide healthy geometric sandwiches as a culminating activity to your math unit. Use whole-wheat bread and cheese,... Read more

Arbor Day Activities

Celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree on the school grounds. Visit Paper U for more about trees and paper.... Read more

Round Numbers

Rounding Numbers Math For students with recurring difficulty in rounding numbers, make a cardboard trough with the numbers 1-4... Read more

Sundial Time

Springtime Sundials Science Students can experience firsthand the oldest known way for measuring time. Using a compass, make a... Read more

Stories and Illustrations

Parts to a Whole Reading/Art Separate a story into sections before the children have read it. Give one section to... Read more

Sentence Structure and Punctuation

Expandable Sentences Language Select a student to suggest a noun, then another to suggest a verb. Build a sentence together.... Read more

A Real Page Turner

On the Stands Reading Have each student bring in his or her favorite magazine, be it a teen girl magazine,... Read more

Keeping the Playground Safe

Playground Survey Math/health/Writing Do a survey and graph the results concerning students who have been injured on the playground this... Read more

Scents and Smells

Special Scents Science/Health Provide a fun smell activity for students by placing a few drops of ammonia, lemon juice, chocolate... Read more

More Earth Day Lesson Plans

Earth Day Picnic Social Studies To celebrate Earth Day on April 22 and reinforce lessons on recycling, reusing and reducing,... Read more

Earth Day Lesson Plans

Litter Lifters Community Awareness Provide each student with a paper grocery bag to decorate for Earth Day, then take the... Read more

Journals, Newspapers, and More

Journal Starters Writing Put a star at the top of the next blank page in each student's journal. That will... Read more

Saving the Planet

Earth Day Picnic Environmental Science To celebrate Earth Day and to reinforce lessons on recycling, reusing and reducing, have a... Read more

Humor, Laughter, Smiles, and Poetry

Classroom Chuckles Language Make a smiley face on an empty plastic container. As the children find jokes or humorous parts... Read more

Fun Poetry Activities

Everyday Poetry Reading/Writing Collect used greeting cards. Divide them by types of poetry and discuss if the poetry styles vary... Read more

How Our Muscles Work

Muscle Power Science Stretch and release a rubber band. Ask students to contribute ideas about what part of our bodies... Read more

Celebrating National Library Week

Integrated Research Social Studies/Research Work with your librarian to plan an in-depth research project during National Library Week, April 11-17.... Read more

Jokes and Foolish Fun

April Fool's Day Language/CountingTeach this finger play to your students. Then, ask them to draw pictures of different signs of... Read more

Celebrating Poetry Month

Happy Poetry Month Reading Assign your students days of the month on which they'll be responsible for reading a newly-discovered... Read more

More Spring Fun

Springtime Shapes Math/Poetry Read this poem, then take the children outside to identify other things with these shapes. Later have... Read more

Spring is Here Activities

Springtime Changes Perception/Reading/Writing What hints outdoors tell us that it is spring? Read the following poem and see if your... Read more

Action Words

Ready, Set, Action Language Provide the class with several sports pages from the newspaper and sports magazines for kids. Have... Read more

Watch Our Garden Grow

Sprouting Seeds Science Prepare some clear plastic bags with a small amount of soil and have the children place two... Read more

What’s the Angle?

Awesome Angles Math Place a five-foot-long piece of wide tape on the floor. Place a piece of colored tape... Read more

Pancake Fun!

Pancake History Social Studies Pancakes were first introduced in New York City on March 25, 1882. Use newly learned research... Read more

Letters of the Alphabet

Alphabet Popsicles Reading Attach several large letters each to a ruler or popsicle stick. Assemble these, letter end down,... Read more

More Egg Fun!

Matching Sounds Listening Open a dozen plastic eggs. Place a different material into six pairs of eggs. Materials might include... Read more

Eggs!

Matching Eggs Math/Art Provide each student with a plastic egg to decorate with stickers and permanent markers. Once the eggs... Read more

St. Patrick’s Day Fun

What Would St. Patrick Say? Social Studies Tell your students the legend of St. Patrick and then ask them to... Read more

Leprechauns and Shamrocks

Leapin' Leprechauns! Poetry/Math Read the following St. Patrick's Day poem to the children. Read it a second time and have... Read more

Analogies and Comparisons

Analogies Are Fun Read/Poetry Read the following poem to your students. See if they can create new analogies themselves. Toolbox... Read more

More Kite Fun

Let's Go Fly a Kite Art/Math Fold two sheets of colored 8 1/2" x 11" paper into quarters. Keeping... Read more

Fun with Kites

Kites of Spring Poetry/Art Get some paper kites or make some kites together. Then, on a nice windy spring day,... Read more

Wind

March Winds Science/Poetry Design a chart at the beginning of the month for documenting the speed and direction of the... Read more

Women in History

Awesome Women Social Studies/History This March, during National Women's History Month, send your students to the library and the computer... Read more

What is Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight Saving time begins on March 14, prepare your class to "Spring forward." Daylight Saving Time Science Most of the... Read more

Spring Music

A Month of Music Music During March, make time for singing in your class. Introduce a different song at the... Read more

Art in March

Youth Art Month Art Plan a celebration of the talents in your school this month by planning an art show... Read more

Learning to Eat Right

Eating Right Health/Nutrition March is National Nutrition Month, sponsored by the American Dietetic Association. Take your class to www.eatright.org and... Read more

Theodore Geisel a/k/a Dr. Seuss

Celebrate Theodore Geisel's birthday, who was born on March 2, 1904 and is better known as Dr. Seuss! Eating Green... Read more

Multiplication Lessons

Multiplying Cards Math Remove the face cards from a deck and lay the remaining cards face down. Players choose two... Read more

Feelings and Emotions

Words to Feelings Perception Ask your students to talk about how some stories make them feel. Identify a number of... Read more

Impressionist and their Works of Art

Sponge Strokes Art Display examples of impressionistic paintings and identify the artists. Have your students describe the paintings. Then have... Read more

Abbreviations

Shortened Forms Language Arts Review the meaning of abbreviation, provide examples. Create an activity sheet that contains a column of... Read more

The Sun

Out in Space Science Show the class pictures of the sun. Have your students write a description of the pictures... Read more

States and Capitals

Capital Game Social Studies One player shows a state name, and the other player shows the capital. Color code the... Read more

Sorting and Categorizing

Sort-a-Thon Math Give each child a bag of small items such as coins, erasers, buttons, paper clips, crayons, etc. Call... Read more

Honoring George Washington

As a Student Social Studies Celebrate George Washington's birthday, February 22. Display a picture of him, and distribute copies of... Read more

Solar Energy

A Raisin in the Sun Science Use solar energy to make raisins in your room. Let the students wash and... Read more

Your Teeth

Know Your Teeth Health Provide a diagram of the teeth in the adult human mouth. Ask students to record... Read more

More Rebus Activities

Listening Rebus Reading Tell a story about animals, assigning each child a particular animal. Whenever his or her animal is... Read more

Rebus Activities

Reading the Rebus Reading Collect several rebus stories from children's magazines in your library. Read several to and with your... Read more

Galileo

Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564 and passed away on January 8, 1642. Galileo was a physicist, astronomer... Read more

February is Library Lover’s Month

Library Lovers Unite Research What is it that people like most about their libraries? When and why do they go... Read more

More Pattern Activities

People Patterns Math/Social Studies Line up the students in some kind of a pattern known only to you. Ask the... Read more

Learning to Use Patterns

Perfect Patterns Math Provide each child with a crayon box upon which is depicted a row of crayons. Provide a... Read more

Another 100

100 Days Together Math/Writing On the 100th day of school, challenge students to show different ways of arranging their 100... Read more

Math from the Heart

Heart Fractions Math Give each student a small package of heart candies. Have them count the number of hearts... Read more

Activites for Valentine’s Day

Secret Admiration Reading/Art Read the book Little Bear's Valentine by Else Minarik (HarperCollins, 2003), which is about a secret... Read more

Valentine’s Day Poems

Valentine Analogies Reading/Writing Read the following poem together. Discuss the analogies and ask your students to come up with more... Read more

February is Wild Bird Feeding Month

Create a Bird Science/Art/Language Arts When working with a unit on birds, invite students to create a new bird. Their... Read more

100th Day of School

The 100th day of school usually occurs at some point in February. Here are some activities: That 100th Day Math... Read more

Reading Suggestions for Black History Month

A wonderful single-artist biography is the beautiful Romare Bearden: Collage of Memories, which recounts the life of this African-American artist... Read more

Activities for Black History Month

Black History Month Social Studies During February, divide the class into three groups to research and report on three separate... Read more

Snowflake Art

Snowflake Snowmen Art Fold three squares of brightly colored tissue paper into quarters and then into 45-degree or smaller... Read more

Me and My Shadow

Wake Up, Mr. Groundhog Art/Science/Social Studies Visit www.groundhog.org on February 2 to learn about the history of "Punxsutawney Phil" and... Read more

Music and Exercise

Musical Motivation Music/Exercise Invite your students to bring in music to do yoga by one day and music to dance... Read more

Action Verbs and More

Valuable Verbs Language Make placards with one action verb written on each. Attach them to a ruler. As students share... Read more

Storms!

Winter Camouflage Reading/Poetry/Art Share the following poem. What other weather phenomena covers everything in its path? Search online for images... Read more

Handwriting Activities

Be Proud of that Hand Handwriting Did you know that National Handwriting Day is January 23? It's observed on the... Read more

Honoring Dr. King

This year we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday on January 18. In his honor have your students read celebrated... Read more

All About Ben

Ben Franklin was born on January 17, 1706. Divide the class into teams. Each group will select a different career... Read more

Snow Pals

Snowman Studies Science/Math/Writing During or after a snowstorm take your class outside and make a snowman. Measure its height,... Read more

Weather Bears

Dress Me, Please Science/Health Provide a lovable bear and a box of various clothing. Write the name of each... Read more

Passport to Travel

Passport Privileges Research/Social Studies Passports have been used for centuries to insure safe passage for citizens of one country or... Read more

Starting a New Year

What are your New Year's resolutions for 2010? Set goals for the rest of the school year. Create a timeline... Read more

Last Minute Holiday Crafts

Use a Christmas card and craft sticks to make a Nativity Scene. Kwanzaa Drum This drum will look beautiful decorated... Read more

Christmas Poems and Stories from HighlightsKids.com

A Christmas Grace The Christmas Story What Dad Wanted Story Player Sam is certain he knows what Dad really wants... Read more

Wind Direction

Human Weather Vanes Science Discuss with your students how weather vanes function. Establish which ways the four directions are, then... Read more

Music and Art

Colorful Christmas Art/Math/Music A new variation on the familiar song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is created when the... Read more

Word Find

Jingle all the Way Reading Spread out a newspaper or magazine that you are finished reading. Have your students find... Read more

Compare and Contrast Lessons

Pretty Packages Science/Prediction/Math Wrap several packages of different sizes in holiday paper. Leave some boxes empty or fill with... Read more

Kwanzaa Activities and Crafts

Happy Kwanzaa Poetry/Math Check with your librarian for a Kwanzaa picture book to read to your class before doing the... Read more

One of a Kind—Snowflakes!

No Two Are Alike Reading/Language William "Snowflake" Bentley (1865-1931) was a famed photographer of these unique and beautiful ice... Read more

Creating Holiday Cards

Enhanced Greetings Art Collect greeting cards, beads, sequins, parts of old jewelry, glitter, glue and toothpicks. Use the toothpicks... Read more

Building a Snowman

Winter Friends Art/Writing Give students handouts depicting three overlapping circles on each that will serve as the body of... Read more

A Winter Phenomena

Winter Camouflage Reading/Poetry/Art Share the following poem. What other weather phenomena covers everything in its path? Search online for images... Read more

The Shapes of Winter

Winter Wonders Science/Art Share the following poem with the class: Jack Frost by Martin Shaw He turns most windows icy... Read more

Experiencing Winter

Winter Field Trips Social Studies You can take your students to a museum without ever leaving your school! Visit the... Read more

Exploring the Globe

Go Santa! Poetry/Geography Enjoy the following poem together, taking note of the rhythm, the rhyming and the geography included within... Read more

The Wright Brothers

Flying High Reading December 17 marks the anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wrights' flight at Kitty Hawk, NC. To celebrate... Read more

Teaching Directionality

Santa Says Directionality Cut a large Christmas tree shape from green poster board. Cut out a number of different ornaments... Read more

Bird Tracking

Christmas Bird Count Science Every year between December 14 and January 5, the National Audubon Society looks for volunteers to... Read more

What Are Latkes?

Lovely Latkes Social Studies During the celebration of Hanukkah, read or tell the legend of the oil that didn't run... Read more

A Hanukkah Festival

Counting Candles Math Explain the lighting of eight candles — one candle for each night of Hanukkah — and discuss... Read more

These Lessons Rock!

Potpourri Rocks Art/Science Ask the children to bring in different kinds of rocks to examine. Then, in a small bowl,... Read more

What’s on Your Holiday Tree?

Pinecone Trees Art Glue cotton balls around the base of a pinecone to represent snow. Wrap and drape red... Read more

Vocabulary Games

Brrr...I Remember Vocabulary If you live in an area where it snows, go out after or during a light snowfall... Read more

Creating a Special Greeting

Holiday Cards Writing/Art/Computer Skills Take a digital photo of each of your students. Print it on the cover of a... Read more

Grammar and Sentence Structure

Grammar Bowl English Select two teams of three students to play a "bowl" game. For each team's turn, place a... Read more

Spelling Magic

Magic Spelling Powder Spelling Give each student a dark piece of construction paper. Ask them to write a spelling word... Read more

The Thanksgiving Meal

Thanksgiving Proportions Health Brainstorm a list of the foods eaten at Thanksgiving meals. Ask your students to put the... Read more

2010 Winter Olympic Games

There are only 94 days left until the start of the Winter Olympic. Have your students increase their Olympic aptitude... Read more

Who were the Pilgrims?

Counting Pilgrims Art/Math Read aloud this counting rhyme. Then choose children to act out the poem while the others count... Read more

Holiday Art Lessons

Pretzel Wreath Art Provide each student with a round piece of cardboard roughly 12" in diameter with a hole... Read more

Patterns and Sorting

Primary Grades Balls Galore Math Provide a selection of sports- ball symbols. Ask your students to sort them according to... Read more

Thanksgiving Day Poems, Songs and Activities

A Thanksgiving Poem Social Studies Make some Pilgrim and Indian profiles on which to glue copies of the poem for... Read more

Thanksgiving Reading

Thanksgiving Day by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell Mrs. Madoff's class performs a play to reenact the first... Read more

Butterflies

Beautiful Butterflies Science/Art Study various types of butterflies that live in your area. As a culminating activity, have each student... Read more

Learning About Gravity

Gravity Grooves Science Bring in a peanut or candy dispenser and show how it works. Talk about the big spiral... Read more

Maps—How to use them

Real-life Maps Geography In preparation for a mapping unit, get maps from a nearby airport, subway and bus station. If... Read more

Factoring Fractions

Fruity Fractions Math Upon introducing fractions, Hand out plastic apple corers for your students to trace with dark pencils.... Read more

Pennies and Other Coins

Penny Pitch Math Make a penny pitch game using plastic containers with a number card in each. As students toss... Read more

Snacks and Treats

Super Snacks Nutrition Have student brainstorm their favorite fruit and vegetable snack ideas. Offer suggestions about integrating the five produce... Read more

A Pumpkin Patch of Ideas

Here are some reading, listening and creating ideas for your classroom. All Hallows Eve: The Story of the Halloween Fairy... Read more

Your Bones

Skeleton Bodies Language/Health October is the perfect month to talk about bones in the body. Get two paper skeletons and... Read more

Bones!

Archeological Dig Paper "bones" are placed under brown sheets of paper all over the play area. There should be... Read more

A Magical Lesson

Real Magic Reading October 25 is the beginning of National Magic Week. Have students read biographies of well-known magicians, as... Read more

Learning About the Animal Kingdom

Name Animals Art/Science Have students write their names in the center of a large white piece of drawing paper.... Read more

Spiders!

Which Web? Science/Art While teaching a unit on spiders, have students research different kinds of spider webs and how... Read more

Cursive Handwriting

Handwritten Pets Penmanship/Art When introducing cursive handwriting, it's helpful for students to have a way to remember some of... Read more

A Halloween Tale

Who's Afraid of Halloween? Reading/Writing Ask your librarian for a selection of the many Halloween-related picture books. Put them... Read more

Monster Tales

World of Monsters Writing/Art Share aloud The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters by Judy Sierra (Candlewick, 2005) as she describes... Read more

Riding the Bus

Safety on the Bus Health/Safety/Writing The theme for 2009 National School Bus Safety Week, October 19-23, is "Avoid Harm, Obey... Read more

Teen Read Week

Turning on Teens Reading Teen Read Week, October 18-24, is sponsored by the American Library Association. Go to www.ala.org for... Read more

Working With Magazines

Exciting Issues Reading Celebrate Children's Magazine Month in October by letting students vote on their favorite magazines. Make a bulletin... Read more

Halloween Math Activities

Costume Planning Math/Social Studies/Art Use the social aspects of this month to get the students involved in writing flowcharts. Have... Read more

Stamp Collecting Activities

The Story of Stamps Social Studies October is National Stamp Collecting Month and a great time to introduce students... Read more

Another Lesson on Feelings

Today's Words Poetry/Writing Discuss the hurting and healing power of words. After reading the following poem and/or placing it on... Read more

How Do You Feel Today?

The Experience Writing/Poetry Read the following poem several times to the class. Ask your students to think about how they... Read more

Alliterations in Poetry

Poetry in the Park Reading/Writing Use the following poem to reinforce alliteration, rhyming and making sense. After completing this activity,... Read more

Popcorn Popping

Fantasy Popcorn Reading/Art This October, during Popcorn Poppin' Month, enjoy the book The Popcorn Dragon by Jane Thayer (Morrow, 1989)... Read more

Spelling Games

Spelling Snakes Language For a new "twist" on a spelling lesson, provide packages of colored chenille sticks. Encourage the children... Read more

Fall Pumpkins

Personal Pumpkins Art/Reading Share the following poem with your class. Then have a pumpkin-decorating party. Each child can bring in... Read more

That Egg–stra Special Egg

Extraordinary Eggs Reading/Science October 10 is World Egg Day. Many thousands of people rely on eggs as a source of... Read more

The Changing Seasons

Ready for Fall? Science Seasons don't just change when we turn the calendar page or put on a coat. Start... Read more

John Chapman — Johnny Appleseed

Hurrah for Johnny! Poetry/Health On September 26, Johnny Appleseed's birthday, place a beautiful basket of apples in the reading area.... Read more

Syllable Patterns

Silly Syllables Reading/Language Arts Make a set of word cards that have one word on each card. Provide three envelopes,... Read more

Measuring the Volume

Volume Values Math Assemble a collection of liquid measurement containers and some items of interest to the students. Half... Read more

Tall, Taller, Tallest

September Sunflowers Art/Math Create sunflowers that are the height of each student and the teachers, writing the students' and... Read more

Everyday Patterns

Pattern Play Fine Motor Coordination/Math Provide felt shapes and craft sticks. Model putting together a pattern, then pass an empty... Read more

It’s All About Me

Quote Yourself Writing Research quotations from books, plays and movies that were written by famous authors. Have the students each... Read more

The Nature of Birds

Create a Bird Science/Art/Language Arts When working with a unit on birds, invite students to create a new bird. Their... Read more

The Perils of Endangered Species

There Is Still Time Science The National Wildlife has an excellent site for students that explains that "endangered" means there... Read more

Multiplication Games

Multiplying Cards Math Remove the face cards from a deck and lay the remaining cards face down. Players choose two... Read more

Art and Texture

Texture Study Science/Art Begin a study of textures with crayon rubbings. Tape samples of several different textures to a counter... Read more

The Wonder of Trees

Terrific Trees Science Check some books about trees out of the library. Go for a class walk and identify trees... Read more

First Day of Autumn Activities

Autumn Equinox Science On September 22, 2008; 11:44:18 A.M. EDT, autumn begins. Have students research weather sources as to the... Read more

Comic Strips Lesson Plans

Comics for Fun Reading/Art Collect comics from newspapers and see your school librarian for books of comic strips. Have students... Read more

Molecules

Moving Molecules Science Demonstrate how heat energy affects the movement of molecules by filling two identical, clear glasses with the... Read more

A Day at the Library

The Price of Libraries Reading/Math September is National Library Card Sign-up Month. In order to show your students the importance... Read more

Latinos in History

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,... Read more

Ten Teaching Tips
By Tracy Aki

Ten adaptable techniques you can use to keep your classroom - and students - in order.... Read more

An Apple of a Celebration

National Apple Month is the only national, generic apple promotion conducted in the United States. Originally founded in 1904 as... Read more

Bees!

Sweet September Science/Health The month of September honors the 211,600 beekeepers in the U.S. who produce more than 220 million... Read more

The Lewis and Clark Expedition

Explorers History Over two hundred years ago the Lewis and Clark Expedition was underway. Ask your school librarian for help... Read more

Pictograph Lessons

Sticker Pictographs Math Provide each student with graph paper and a variety of pre-counted stickers. Model a sticker pictograph,... Read more

How Wheels and Axles Work

Wonderful Wheels Science Using a doorknob attached to a free-standing board, demonstrate the action of a wheel and axle. What... Read more

Elephants

Extraordinary Elephants Reading/Science September 22 is Elephant Appreciation Day. The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN, is home to several... Read more

Preparing for Grandparents Day

G is for Grandparents Reading/Writing Make large "G"s around which students will create a collage of pictures and "G" words... Read more

All About Rice

Global Food Social Studies During National Rice Month, take time to illustrate for your students how much of the world... Read more

Old Glory

Hoist Your Flag, Matie! Social Studies/Science Talk about the purposes of flags and proper care of a flag. Design and... Read more

Morphology Lesson Plans

Morphology Magic Language Morphology is the study of word formations. Give each student a word. Have him or her research... Read more

Descriptive Words

Worn-out Words Writing Encourage children to think of specific, descriptive words to substitute for more vague, common terms. Worn-out words... Read more

Historic Days

Just One Day Reading/Social Studies Provide the students with books such as One Nation: America Remembers September 11, 2001 (Little,... Read more

Compound Sentence Structure

Compound Combinations Reading/Writing Make cardboard placards that students can wear around their necks with yarn. On each card write one... Read more

The Water Cycle

The Stuff of Life Science Whether teaching the water cycle, the composition of water or the needs of living things,... Read more

Chicken and Nutrition

Chicken Anyone? Nutrition Discuss the meat food group, particularly chicken. How do people cook it? Why do we eat it?... Read more

Practicing Hand-Eye Coordination

Penny Pitch Addition Math/Hand-eye Coordination Collect three plastic food containers and, on each one, write a number between 1 and... Read more

Everyday Shapes

Shapes In Motion Math Gather the children in a circle. Look through books and magazines for pictures of circular objects.... Read more

Lessons Using License Plates

License Plate Puzzle Language Have students collect the messages they see on vanity license plates. Ask them to write the... Read more

How to Use a Clock

Clocks Alive Math/Art Create clock faces out of paper plates. Use sticker digits, or trace or freehand draw numbers. One... Read more

Under the Sea Crafts

Fish Folding Science/Art Fold small rectangular or square pieces of paper in different ways, some parts overlapping and others... Read more

Working With Graphs

Whose Shoes? Math Draw a graph with a shoe theme on the board. How many of your students are wearing... Read more

Syllables

Silly Syllables Reading/Language Arts Make a set of word cards that have one word on each card. Provide three envelopes,... Read more

The Importance of Dialogue

Daily Dialogue Writing Select three students who will sit at a table at the front of the room and pretend... Read more

Welcome Back!

How You've Grown Math Have students trace their bodies on large sheets of paper on the first day of school... Read more

Using Timelines

Transportation Timelines Social Studies Assign pairs of students a period in history to research. The partners should gather information about... Read more

My Summer Vacation

Where Were You? Reading Ask students to bring in postcards or photographs of where they went this summer. Discuss setting.... Read more

Learning About Patterns

Pattern Play Fine Motor Coordination/Math Provide felt shapes and craft sticks. Model putting together a pattern, then pass an... Read more

Practicing Sentence Structure

Sentence Set-Up Writing Provide students with a paper that has the headings of Who and What, under which students can... Read more

Apple Types

Apple Books Writing Make small paper booklets. Invite students to decorate the cover with apple pictures and title it, "My... Read more

Graphs

Graphing with Class Math/Art When reinforcing coordinates, use graph paper and dots punched from various colors of paper. Call out... Read more

Get Set For School

September Sunflowers Art/Math Create sunflowers that are the height of each student and the teachers, writing the students' and... Read more

Writing Poems

Welcome Back! Reading/Writing Read the following poem to or with your students, then invite them to write a poem about... Read more

Learning How to Classify

Line 'Em Up Math Before class, prepare a set of cards from which you can select when you're lining up... Read more

How to Writing Activities

A Still Pond Life Science/Art/Writing Use a piece of plastic laminate, some tissue paper and cut-outs of animals and plants... Read more

All About Worms

Working Worms Science Obtain library books and magazines featuring information about worms, and make a poster diagram of a worm's... Read more

Alphabetizing

A Is for Ape Language Provide pictures of animals upon which are written the first letters of their names. Have... Read more

Studing the Periodic Table

Cool Chemicals Science When studying the periodic chart that Dimitri Men-deleev developed in 1869 with only 63 known elements, challenge... Read more

Reading A Map

Pathways Around The Globe Geography Practice and enhance mapping skills by making maps of famous flights. One to research would... Read more

3–D Shapes

Geometry Gone 3-D Math Use mini marshmallows and thin pretzels (or toothpicks) to make cubes, rectangular solids and pyramids as... Read more

Classroom Chuckles

Classroom Chuckles Language Make a smiley face on an empty plastic container. As the children find jokes or humorous parts... Read more

Sentence Structure

Expandable Sentences Language Select a student to suggest a noun, then another to suggest a verb. Build a sentence together.... Read more

Why What’s Inside Matters

Read the Label Health There are several new "soft drinks" being advertised in young people's magazines. Bring in a sample... Read more

Converting Money

Country Conversion Math Check the newspaper or television or call a local bank for the conversion rate for a Mexican... Read more

What Happened Next?

And Then What Happened? Reading/Sequencing Read aloud any version of the story of the gingerbread boy or the little red... Read more

Summer Craft Projects

Sunflowers Art Step 1: Give each student a stiff piece of 12" by 18" paper and ask them to draw... Read more

Writing Haiku

Haiku Time Reading/Writing Share several examples of haiku with your students, including this one, then send them to the library... Read more

Why Rain is Important

Rainy-Day Science Science Set up a scientific process for studying rainfall during a certain period of time. Always observe the... Read more

Math Facts

Express Train Math Choose five students to line up across the front of the room. This is the rapid express... Read more

Discovery Learning

Discover a place. Mark off a square foot on the ground somewhere near your school. Have students take a pad... Read more

How to Use an Almanac

Read An Almanac Month Reading/Social Studies Visit your local bookstore or library and get any one of the many almanacs... Read more

Healthy Snacks

Summer Snacking We all love to munch between meals, but snacks don't have to be junk food to be delicious... Read more

Celebrating Independence

Have students draw their own fireworks art in celebration of the Fourth of July. Compare our Fourth of July to... Read more

About Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart's plane disappeared from radar July 2, 1937 and was never found. Research Amelia Earhart and her contribution to... Read more

Moon Phases

Moon Tracking Science/Art Check the phase of the moon in the daily newspaper and set up a chart for... Read more

Learning About Symbols

Symbolic Mosaics Social Studies/Art When studying symbols of states or countries, add art to the project by providing a variety... Read more

Let's Get Physically Fit Together

Stretching Stations Physical Education Set up one learning station with illustrated cards for specific stretching exercises such as: a butterfly,... Read more

Verbs in Action

Ready, Set, Action Language Provide the class with several sports pages from the newspaper and sports magazines for kids. Have... Read more

Which Way Should I Go?

Inside/Outside Math Secure a dollhouse, toy barn or another type of structural toy. Prepare a set of cards and write... Read more

Sun Crafts

Summer Suncatchers Art Bend a chenille stem into a desired shape (circle, diamond, star, etc.) then glue the ends together.... Read more

Summer Songs and Poems

Seeking Summer Poetry Read the following poem together and then have students write poems about what summer represents to each... Read more

Why Air Pressure is Important

Pressure Problems Science When working with a unit on air pressure, provide a large can of fruit juice. Put one... Read more

Plants and Seeds

Seedless Wonders Science Give the class seedless grapes and discuss seedless watermelons. How can more of the plants grow without... Read more

Details—Why They Matter

Daily Details Writing Ask students to list six things they see every day on their way to school. Then have... Read more

Odd Days

Some Days Are Odd Math Provide students with old calendar pages. Have them cut the numbers apart and put the... Read more

All About Birds

Create a Bird Science/Art/Language Arts When working with a unit on birds, invite students to create a new bird. Their... Read more

Explaining Ratios

Reality Ratios Math/Science Give each student 10 seeds, a small plastic container and some soil. Plant them and place them... Read more

The Five Senses

Silly Senses Language Make a large ear, nose, mouth, eye and finger out of poster board and laminate them. Then... Read more

Shapes

Shapely Exercise Physical Education/Math Use sidewalk chalk on the blacktop playground or parking lot to make large circles, triangles, squares,... Read more

Working With Angles

What's the Angle? Math Make a matching set of cards, one set with the number of an angle, and the... Read more

Informational Writing

What Does It Mean? Writing Collect various kinds of graphs from newspapers and magazines. Place them in a learning center... Read more

Lessons in Coordination

Sports Sort Reading/Math/Fine Motor Coordination Purchase a bag of foam sports-ball decorations at a craft store. Ask students to separate... Read more

Learning About Wants and Needs

Wants or Needs? Social Studies/Consumer Awareness Have each student bring in one sale flyer from a newspaper. Categorize items listed... Read more

Poetry in Nature

Wisps in the Wind Science/Poetry Read the following poems together. Dandelion by Heidi Roemer Summer snowflake made of fluff; I... Read more

Choo Choo Math

Express Train Math Choose five students to line up across the front of the room. This is the rapid express... Read more

The Memory Game

Make a Deck Math Have each child or group of students design a set of playing cards. Designate four fruits,... Read more

Lessons on Humor

What's So Funny? Reading Collect a set of comic strips and cartoons. During circle time, share several of them and... Read more

Author Eric Carle

Eric Carle was born on June 25, 1929. Have your students read their favorite books by this author. Make a... Read more

Time for Poetry

Poetry of Time Reading/Writing Enjoy the following poem together, noting how the rhythm and the spareness of words add to... Read more

And the Award Goes To

Awards Everywhere Social Studies Students hear about awards all the time — the Newberys, Caldecotts, Grammys, Emmys, Tonys etc. Discuss... Read more

Remembering Anne Frank

Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany. Her diary, The Diary of Anne Frank is a... Read more

Celebrating Flag Day

Folding Matters Social Studies Take some time to teach the class how to fold the flag of the United... Read more

Maurice Sendak Drawings

A Wild World Art In acknowledgment of Maurice Sendak's birthday on June 10, design an exhibit with vines, palm trees... Read more

Father’s Day Gifts

Leather-Look Pencil Holder Art/Language Arts Cover a clean frozen-juice can with torn pieces of masking tape. On each one of... Read more

School’s Almost Out Projects

Our Year Completed Social Studies/Math Set up a timeline for the school year that can be filled in by the... Read more

Summer Reading Ideas

Here Comes Summer Reading Enlist the help of the school librarian as well as any and all teachers for this... Read more

Summer Projects

A Summer Catalog Art/Writing Help students create their own catalogs of supplies they will need for the summer. Use various... Read more

Honoring Anita Lobel

Anita Lobel was born on June 3, 1934. Read all about her life in our interview titled Anita Lobel: A... Read more

Classroom Fun with Angles

Protractor Power Math When studying angles, send your students around the room and building with a list of degrees for... Read more

Learning How to Use Graphs

Line Graphs Math Make a line graph by mounting a piece of graph paper on a corkboard and using yarn... Read more

Idioms

Illustrated Idioms Language Give each student a strip of paper on which is written an idiom, such as "walking on... Read more

What Genre Is It?

Genres Reading When introducing genres, start with what students know by asking them for movie suggestions of mysteries, fantasies, etc.... Read more

Is It Real Or Is It Fake?

Fiction or Nonfiction? Reading Select several sentences from grade level books. Write one or two sentences on each card. Have... Read more

Congruent Shapes

Congruent Creations Math Place a sheet of white tissue paper on top of any picture or design. Trace the object... Read more

Is it Odd or Even?

Odds & Evens Math Place a "town mat" or "road mat" on the floor. Use houses from toy train villages... Read more

Pointillism Art

Pointillism Science/Art Collect some fresh green leaves and provide students with hand-held magnifying glasses. Under direct light, examine the cells... Read more

Tracking Time

Our Year Completed Social Studies/Math Set up a timeline for the school year that can be filled in by the... Read more

A Lesson on Advertising

Knowing Your Audience Language Arts Have students take notes on five different advertisements that play during the TV shows they... Read more

Creating Brochures

Wonders of the Web Writing/Research Encourage students to use the knowledge they already have to plan and write a class... Read more

Springtime Butterflies

Beautiful Butterflies Science/Art Study various types of butterflies that live in your area. As a culminating activity, have each student... Read more

Working with Geometric Shapes

Turn-Around Designs Math/Art During your geometry unit give each student a large sheet of white paper and a geometric... Read more

This Memorial Day

Memorial Day for Kids Social Studies Find activities and printable worksheets designed for young students at www.education-world.com. All About Memorial... Read more

Practicing Ordinal Numbers

Tickets, Please Math Practice ordinal numbers by making a set of "train tickets" with first, second, fifteenth, etc. on them.... Read more

Poetic Math

Poetry Math Math/Poetry Read this poem to the children when working with sets of various kinds. Put it on the... Read more

Fun with Animals

Bulletin Board Zoo Science Design a large bulletin board to look like a zoo, with sections for birds, reptiles, mammals,... Read more

Using Rhymes in the Classroom

Remembering Rhymes Language Often when it is important to remember something, rhyming can be a great help. Here is a... Read more

Strawberry Patch Math

Springtime Strawberries Art/Math In a disposable dish, make a stamp pad out of paper towels and a pile of... Read more

Celebrating Jazz Music

Feel The Beat Music May 29 is International Jazz Day. Have your students research in the library and online about... Read more

Tessellations Lessons

Tantalizing Tessellations Math/Art While working on a geometry unit, use those shapes to make interesting and artistic tessellations in... Read more

Visiting Jamestown

Today's the Day Social Studies/History May 14, 1607, was the day the Jamestown settlement was established. Begin your day by... Read more

Reading Beyond The Words

Cover It Again Reading/Art Read together some picture books and discuss how the covers often portray the books' plots, characters... Read more

What’s The Count?

Buried Treasure Count Math/Counting Fill a clear plastic soda bottle 2/3 full with sand or rice. Drop in assorted small... Read more

Honoring Our Veterans

Our Flag Reading/Art Before Memorial Day, read the book I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin, Jr. (Candlewick, 2002). Each page... Read more

Math and Mom

Happy Mother's Day Math/Art Provide your students with an 11" x 16" piece of white paper. After discussing the mathematical... Read more

Why I Love My Mom

Food Fractions Math/Health Find a couple of simple recipes for healthy snacks (like the one presented here, or for trail... Read more

Mother's Day Activities

I Love You, Mom Reading/Writing At some point before Mother's Day share together, I Love You All Day Long by... Read more

May is Bike Month!

Celebrate American Bike Month Bike Month means going over safety rules for riding a bike. Make a bike safety poster... Read more

A Lesson in Patterns

Patterning with Pasta Math Spray-paint several different pasta shapes with different colors. Design a pattern with the pasta shapes... Read more

Fossilized

Everyday Fossils Art/Science Provide modeling clay for the students along with some sea shells, small plastic animals, etc. Attach a... Read more

National Pet Week Activities

Working Pets Social Studies The month of May contains National Pet Week and National Police Week so why not combine... Read more

Class Play

Quick Stick Puppets Reading/Art After reading a story aloud, allow children time to use paper, crayons and imaginations to create... Read more

Constellations

Classroom Stars Science/Art Cover a bulletin board with black paper to represent the night sky. Have students make paper stars... Read more

Our Mexican Neighbors

Cinco de Mayo Social Studies Research together the significance of May 5 to our Mexican neighbors. Find out how they... Read more

Honesty Is The Best Policy

Honest! Writing April 30 has been named National Honesty Day. Have students write about a time when being honest saved... Read more

Working with Homophones

Homophone Humor Language Write a list of homophones on the board. See if the children can make some jokes by... Read more

Can You Smell That?

Smell-ebrating Spring Art/Writing/Drama April 25 is National Sense of Smell Day this year. Take the class outside and tell them... Read more

Start With The Prefix

Prefix Parade Language Write root words on large cards and attach to rulers. On some placards put only a... Read more

Multiplication Made Easy

Bag It! Math Get some brown lunch bags with flat bottoms. On each bag write a number — 10,... Read more

Tell Me a Story

Alligators in April Language Arts Enjoy some funny alligator tales such as the poem for two voices that's the title... Read more

The Difference Between Fact and Fiction

Fact or Fiction? Perception Discuss a favorite TV show in terms of what part of it would be possible and... Read more

Our Trees

Terrific Trees Science April 24 is Arbor Day. Check some books about trees out of the library. Go for a... Read more

Snakes!

Sensory Snakes Science/Poetry/ArtRead the following poem together. Could your students write other poems telling what they know about snakes? Snake... Read more

Vowles

A Shower of Vowels Phonics Teach the children long and short vowel sounds with these words about rain, then invite... Read more

Lessons in Geometry

Geometry Gone 3-D Math Use mini marshmallows and thin pretzels (or toothpicks) to make cubes, rectangular solids and pyramids as... Read more

Green Ideas for Earth Day

Earth Day is April 22, have your students make posters to remind the community to protect our environment. Earth Day... Read more

Poetry Lessons

Everyday Poetry Reading/Writing Collect used greeting cards. Divide them by types of poetry and discuss if the poetry styles vary... Read more

More Coin Activities

More Than Coins Social Studies Take your students to the American Numismatic Association website at www.money.org and tour a museum... Read more

National Coin Week

Presidential Coins Social Studies During National Coin Week (April 19-25) take your students to www.usmint.gov to investigate the new... Read more

All About Clocks

Springtime Sundials Science Students can experience firsthand the oldest known way for measuring time. Using a compass, make a... Read more

Learning with Rubber Bands

Muscle Power Science Stretch and release a rubber band. Ask students to contribute ideas about what part of our bodies... Read more

Library Week Activities

Integrated Research Social Studies/Research Work with your librarian to plan an in-depth research project during National Library Week, April 12-18.... Read more

World Health Day 2009

April 7 is World Health Day, celebrate the beginning of the World Health Organization that was started in 1948. This... Read more

Celebrate Math Awareness Month!

Weaving with a Wrinkle Math/Art Use this weaving idea to have each student create an array of a multiplication... Read more

Learning More About Poetry

Happy Poetry Month Reading Assign your students days of the month on which they'll be responsible for reading a newly-discovered... Read more

April is Poetry Month

National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets as a month-long, national celebration of poetry. The concept... Read more

Teaching the Alphabet

Alphabet Popsicles Reading Attach several large letters each to a ruler or popsicle stick. Assemble these, letter end down,... Read more

Fool’s Day Fun

April Fool's Day Language/CountingTeach this finger play to your students. Then, ask them to draw pictures of different signs of... Read more

Spring Blossoms

Springtime Sprouts Science Get a few potatoes and encourage students to handle them and see the "eyes," the small indentations... Read more

Shapes Around Us

Springtime Shapes Math/Poetry Read this poem, then take the children outside to identify other things with these shapes. Later have... Read more

What’s That Smell?

Smell-ebrating Spring Art/Writing/Drama April 26 is National Sense of Smell Day. Take the class outside and tell them to be... Read more

Change Is In The Air

Springtime Changes Perception/Reading/Writing What hints outdoors tell us that it is spring? Read the following poem and see if your... Read more

An Eggstra-special Lesson

Matching Eggs Math/Art Provide each student with a plastic egg to decorate with stickers and permanent markers. Once the eggs... Read more

Our Feet

Skipping Feet Physical Education/Math Make several construction-paper footprints. Write one of the following instructions on each: walk, skip, hop,... Read more

Colors of the Rainbow

Color Wash Rainbows Art Have students spray water onto white sheets of paper. Press colored crepe paper streamers onto... Read more

State Specific Lesson

No Place Like Home Music/Writing Have your students go to your state's website and look up your state song. Read... Read more

The Changing Climate

Climate Mobile Science/Art Have your students search magazines and catalogs for pictures of people or animals that represent different... Read more

State Birds and Migration

Words About Birds Reading/Social Studies Put the following poem on an overhead or handout for students to read. Then send... Read more

Learning About Patents

Invention Timeline Social Studies/Math Take the class to visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office at www.uspto.gov and then... Read more

Pancakes

Pancake History Social Studies Pancakes were first introduced in New York City on March 25, 1882. Use newly learned research... Read more

Which Way Are You Headed?

North From Home Geography Make sure the students know their directions. Have each make a map with their house on... Read more

Table Manners

Lunchroom Manners Social Studies/Health By mid-year there are usually new problems in the lunchroom. Have your class brainstorm ideas such... Read more

Learning About Symmetry

Finish the Fish Math/Art When teaching symmetry, provide the students with several half-drawn pictures and ask them to complete... Read more

Spring Planting

Springtime Helpers Science Collect a bunch of colored threads (2" - 4"), yarns, ribbons, twigs, cotton balls, etc. Place little... Read more

Let’s Fly a Kite

Kites & Flight Science Use this popular spring sport to teach about the yaw, pitch, roll, lift and drag that... Read more

Vincent van Gogh

Happy Birthday, Vincent Art Youth Art Month is a good time to celebrate the birthday of Vincent van Gogh on... Read more

Pen Pals

Join the Fun Reading/Writing/Geography Before beginning this activity with the class, visit the website www.flatstanley.com to find other teachers in... Read more

Take a Virtual Field Trip

Rainy Day Field Trip Science Take the kids to the National Inventors Hall of Fame at www.invent.org to get lots... Read more

A Lesson In Mud

March Mud Language/Health Read aloud the book Mudball by Matt Travares (Candlewick, 2005), the story of an underdog who... Read more

St. Patrick and The Snakes

Misunderstood Snakes Science/Writing As St. Patrick's Day draws near, ask your scientists do some research about snakes in Ireland. Make... Read more

Splitting Syllables

Syllable Shamrocks Language Provide the students with paper shamrocks and a list of spelling or vocabulary words. Ask them... Read more

Counting Lessons

Count Your Gold Math Put a large rainbow on your bulletin board, then within reach of the students put... Read more

St. Patrick’s Day Lore

The 17th of March Poetry After sharing this poem share other tall tales and stories of the day. The 17th... Read more

Studying Fractions

Domino Math Math Give your students several boxes of dominoes to use while studying fractions. They can use the dominoes... Read more

The Race is On!

An Icy Race History/Social Studies The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race will take place in Alaska on March 7 in... Read more

Short and Long Vowels

Missing Vowels Reading/Spelling Select some sentences from a book being read by the class. Retype the sentences, omitting all the... Read more

Hibernation

Time to Wake Up! Science/Nature Invite a local wildlife specialist into your class to discuss hibernating animals in your region... Read more

Alphabet Lessons

Touching the Alphabet Reading/Alphabet Make a collection of tactile objects for the various letters of the alphabet. Use cotton balls... Read more

Teaching Nutrition

Eating Right Health/Nutrition March is National Nutrition Month, sponsored by the American Dietetic Association. Take your class to www.eatright.org and... Read more

History of a Dollar Bill

U.S. Paper Money Paper money was issued in the U. S. for the first time on March 10, 1862. Visit... Read more

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Celebrate Theodore Geisel's birthday, who was born on March 2, 1904, and is better known as Dr. Seuss! Eating Green... Read more

Honoring Women

Awesome Women Social Studies/History During National Women's History Month, send your students to the library and the computer to research... Read more

Spring Forward

Daylight Saving time begins on March 8, use these activities to help prepare your class to "Spring forward." Daylight Saving... Read more

My Favorite Season

Seasons Science Help the children research the four seasons. They record their findings on note cards. After sharing their findings,... Read more

Transportation

Travel Ways Social Studies Introduce the word transportation. Guide the children in explaining the meaning and giving examples of transportation.... Read more

Making Friends

Meet My Friend Social Studies Assemble the children in small groups. Challenge them to discuss and describe what a friend... Read more

Using Compound Words

Two Words Language Arts Give each child a sheet of paper labeled with the word birdhouse. Help the children... Read more

What’s Inside?

X Marks the Spot Science/History X-rays were discovered by accident by Wilhelm RÖntgen of Germany. Research the discovery as well... Read more

Blue Jeans and Levi Strauss

Just Jeans Science/Geography On or before February 26, have students research Levi Strauss. What led up to the invention of... Read more

Composting Fun!

Composting Time Science Whether you are planning to make a school compost pile or are just teaching your students... Read more

Who Lost A Tooth?

The Missing Tooth Writing Make tooth-shaped pieces of paper on which your students can write about a tooth they lost.... Read more

The Human Heart

Hearts in Hands Health Discuss the heart, a muscle that works hard pumping blood within our bodies. To illustrate the... Read more

George Washington Carver

A Peanut Party History/Health While studying African-Americans, highlight George Washington Carver and his work with peanuts. Show how peanuts are... Read more

Classification Activities

It's In the Cards Classification Have students bring in Valentine cards after the holiday and sort them into categories: sweet,... Read more

Seeing Circles

Circle Search Math Send the children on a search for circles around the building and the town. Discuss the ways... Read more

Dental Health Month

Those Pearly Whites Science Your students might like to compare the ingredients found in toothpastes, tooth powders and gels.... Read more

Pocket Change

Visit the US Mint website for games, a teachers' area and to learn more about the history of the coins... Read more

American Heart Month

Cereal Art Art/Health American Heart Month is a good time to discuss the benefits of grains and cereals in... Read more

The Power of Solar Energy

A Raisin in the Sun Science Use solar energy to make raisins in your room. Let the students wash and... Read more

About Our 50 States

States Alive Geography While studying the 50 states, check with your librarian for new books about each state, new... Read more

Activities Using Idioms

A Flash in the pan Picture This! Language Arts/Art Make a bulletin board of idioms. First have students collect as... Read more

Breaking News

The Daily News Reading/Current Events Introduce students to different parts of the newspaper. Headlines, subtitles, date lines, captions, by-lines, body,... Read more

Pictures and Words

Reading the Rebus Reading Collect several rebus stories from children's magazines in your library. Read several to and with your... Read more

Can You See the Pattern?

Perfect Patterns Math Provide each child with a crayon box upon which is depicted a row of crayons. Provide a... Read more

National Wild Bird Feeding Month

Create a Bird Science/Art/Language Arts When working with a unit on birds, invite students to create a new bird. Their... Read more

Analogies Activities

Valentine Analogies Reading/Writing Read the following poem together. Discuss the analogies and ask your students to come up with more... Read more

What’s Your Location?

The GPS Mystery Science Introduce your students to how the GPS (Global Positioning System) works. Visit the Library of Congress... Read more

Math and More on Valentine’s Day

Heart Fractions Math Give each student a small package of heart candies. Have them count the number of hearts... Read more

Our Presidents

February 16 is Presidents' Day! Here are some suggestions on how your students can honor our former presidents'. Grace Bedell,... Read more

Galileo the Physicist, Astronomer and Philosopher

Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564 and passed away on January 8, 1642. Galileo was a physicist, astronomer... Read more

Valentine’s Day Activities

Secret Admiration Reading/Art Read the book Little Bear's Valentine by Else Minarik (HarperCollins, 2003), which is about a secret... Read more

100 More Ways to Have Fun

100 Days Together Math/Writing On the 100th day of school, challenge students to show different ways of arranging their 100... Read more

100th Day!

The 100th day of school usually occurs at some point in February. Here are some activities: That 100th Day Math... Read more

Goodmorning Punxsutawney Phil

Wake Up, Mr. Groundhog Art/Science/Social Studies Visit www.groundhog.org on February 2 to learn about the history of "Punxsutawney Phil" and... Read more

Famous African Americans

Barack Hussein Obama II Have your students read about the first African American to be elected President of the United... Read more

Celebrating Black History Month

Black History Month Social Studies During February, divide the class into three groups to research and report on three separate... Read more

Books About Africian Americans

The Freedom of Words Reading/Writing/History In honor of Black History Month, read the book A Voice of Her Own: The... Read more

Take Home Fun

Hearts and Flowers – This crafty activity teaches symmetry as well as strengthens fine motor coordination. Set out scissors and... Read more

Our Trees

Winter Trees Poetry Read this poem aloud, then take your class outside or to the window to observe the trees.... Read more

Celebrating the Chinese New Year

Happy New Year Art/Writing January 26 is the start of Chinese New Year this year. It will be the year... Read more

Working With Verbs

Valuable Verbs Language Make placards with one action verb written on each. Attach them to a ruler. As students share... Read more

Molecules and Water

Moving Molecules Science Demonstrate how heat energy affects the movement of molecules by filling two identical, clear glasses with the... Read more

Activities for National Handwriting Day

Be Proud of that Hand Handwriting Did you know that National Handwriting Day is January 23? It's observed on the... Read more

Learning About Footprints

Snowy Footprints Science/Poetry/Art Use the fun poem below to introduce animal tracks to your students. Then go outside and make... Read more

Remembering Dr. King, Jr.

This year we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 19. In his honor have your students read celebrated... Read more

Do You Have Your Passport?

Passport Privileges Research/Social Studies Passports have been used for centuries to insure safe passage for citizens of one country or... Read more

Classroom Buddies

Dress Me, Please Science/Health Provide a lovable bear and a box of various clothing. Write the name of each season... Read more

Happy Birthday Ben!

Ben Franklin was born on January 17, 1706. Divide the class into teams. Each group will select a different career... Read more

Snowman Fun

Snowman Studies Science/Math/Writing During or after a snowstorm take your class outside and make a snowman. Measure its height,... Read more

Oatmeal Month Activities

Ordinary Oats Science/Health January is Oatmeal Month. You can show the children where oatmeal comes from by providing pictures of... Read more

Winter Weather

Winter Camouflage Reading/Poetry/Art Share the following poem. What other weather phenomena covers everything in its path? Search online for images... Read more

Learning About Maps

Marvelous Maps Reading Read the following poem and discuss different purposes for maps. Does the poem pertain to the maps... Read more

Get Set for the New Year!

Reading Make paper plate clocks without numbers and invite students to make "calendar clocks" featuring fall leaves, snowflakes, spring flowers... Read more

New Year’s Eve

New Year's Eve is almost here! What are your New Year's resolutions for 2009? Set goals for the rest of... Read more

Holiday Decorations

Favorite Decorations Art/Writing Have students bring a favorite holiday decoration from home. If possible, provide supplies necessary for other students... Read more

Weights and Measures

Pretty Packages Science/Prediction/Math Wrap several packages of different sizes in holiday paper. Leave some boxes empty or fill with... Read more

Snowflake Fun

No Two Are Alike Reading/Language William "Snowflake" Bentley (1865-1931) was a famed photographer of these unique and beautiful ice... Read more

Celebrating the First Day of Winter

What is the weather today? Compare it to the weather on this day last year, last decade. Compare your weather... Read more

Indoor Winter Activities

Winter Field Trips Social StudiesTake your students to a museum without ever leaving your school! Visit the Long Island Children's... Read more

Algorithm Fun

An algorithm is a step-by-step "recipe" telling what to do with number symbols. Rather than teach traditional algorithms in isolation,... Read more

Santa Themed Activities

Santa Says Directionality Cut a large Christmas tree shape from green poster board. Cut out a number of different ornaments... Read more

Learning About Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa, an African-American and Pan-African holiday that is a celebration of family, community and culture is celebrated from 12/26 -... Read more

A Chrsitmas Tale

What's In the Stocking? Tactile Discrimination Fill a Christmas stocking with two or three different Christmas items or shapes such... Read more

Making Holiday Ornaments

Crystal Ornaments Science/Art Fill a one-quart wide mouth jar with hot water. Add one cup of Borax laundry booster and... Read more

Bird Migration

Christmas Bird Count Science Every year between December 14 and January 5, the National Audubon Society looks for volunteers to... Read more

A Hanukkah Story

The Jewish Experience Reading Ask your librarian to help you set up a classroom display of books about the Jewish... Read more

Trees for a Season

Pinecone Trees Art Glue cotton balls around the base of a pinecone to represent snow. Wrap and drape red... Read more

Rosa Parks Makes History

This is the 53rd anniversary of Rosa Parks' arrest in 1955 after she refused to ride in the back of... Read more

Greeting Card Art

Enhanced Greetings Art Collect greeting cards, beads, sequins, parts of old jewelry, glitter, glue and toothpicks. Use the toothpicks to... Read more

Having Fun with Paper Chains

Link by Link Reading/Math/Art/Science At this time of year, many people like to make construction paper chains that they... Read more

Junk Mail Prisms

Pretty Junk Mail Science/Art Collect some of those free online CDs that come in the mail. Hang them with... Read more

Poetry With a Reason

Holiday Poetry Poetry/reading/Writing Talk to your librarian about getting extra holiday poetry books for your room and share poems daily.... Read more

Spell It

Tag It Spelling/Reading Get a large package of gift tags and on each tag write a spelling or vocabulary word.... Read more

Matching Pairs

Matching Madness Math/Art Using various art supplies, make matching pairs of large paper stockings. When completed, hang all the stockings... Read more

Geometric Shapes

Geometric Friends Math/Art/Writing At the end of your unit on geometry, encourage your students to make a large collection... Read more

All About Venn Diagrams

Name Scramble Math Give each student a large sheet of paper with two intersecting circles on it to form... Read more

Learning Patterns

Cool Patterns Math Have students multiply 37 by multiples of 3 and see what happens. Then multiply 15,873 by multiples... Read more

What’s in a Serving?

One Serving, Please Health/Nutrition Bring in some chips, pretzels, fish crackers, fruit drinks, raisins, ice cream etc. Ask the children... Read more

Math Calendar Activities

Calendar Math Magic Math Select any three-digit by three-digit calendar section. Add the diagonals. Add the middle digits across.... Read more

Native American Heritage Month

American Indian Research Social Studies For a project on American Indian heritage, go to www.education-world.com where there are many activities... Read more

Books About Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell Mrs. Madoff's class performs a play to reenact the first... Read more

Thanksgiving Day Performance

Pilgrim Children Social Studies/Dramatization Read the following poem to your children and teach them how to pantomime it. Then invite... Read more

An Exercise Break

Take a Break! Physical Ed. Plan an exercise break between classes or activities that require sitting. Do 10 jumping jacks... Read more

American Education Week

Free Education? Social Studies/Reading During American Education Week, November 16-22, take some time to figure out the cost of sending... Read more

Giving Thanks Activities

A Thanksgiving Poem Social Studies Make some Pilgrim and Indian profiles on which to glue copies of the poem for... Read more

Teaching How to Make Healthy Choices

You Are What You Eat Health/Writing Build your students' vocabulary, journaling skills, memory and nutritional awareness by having them list... Read more

Celebrating Aviation Month

Paper Wings Social Studies This November, celebrate Aviation Month by having your students make various kinds of paper airplanes.... Read more

Halloween Reading Fun

Who's Afraid of Halloween? Reading/Writing Ask your librarian for a selection of the many Halloween-related picture books. Put them... Read more

Learning About Mythical Monsters

Create a "Mythical Monsters" class book by having students draw their own mythical creature and writing a story about it.... Read more

Pumpkin Fun!

Eggcellent Pumpkins Sequencing/Art Cut the cups off of a cardboard egg carton. Instruct students to glue two cups together to... Read more

Writing Dialogue Activities

Daytime Drama Writing Practice writing dialogue by studying everyday situations. Have students "listen in" on public exchanges—at a fast-food counter,... Read more

Your Science Questions Answered

Unanswered Questions? Science Take your science students and their difficult questions to the MAD Scientist network website at www.madsci.org Submit... Read more

Famous Walls

Dividing Line Social Studies Draw an arbitrary line through your classroom. Announce that all students currently on one side... Read more

Dealing With Boredom

The Anti-Boredom Board Language Arts Title a bulletin board "The Anti-Boredom Board" and decorate it with smiley faces and hands... Read more

How To: Research

On the Spot Research Science/Research Ask a local florist or grocery store to donate a handful of various fresh flowers... Read more

Classroom Jokes and Riddles

Classroom Chuckles Language Make a smiley face on an empty plastic container. As the children find jokes or humorous parts... Read more

Shapes and More Shapes

Shapes In Motion Math Gather the children in a circle. Look through books and magazines for pictures of circular objects.... Read more

How To Writing Activities

Your Favorite Sport Writing When practicing how-to writing, have students explain their favorite sport. Stress that separate paragraphs discuss different... Read more

Making Clouds

Homemade Clouds Science Pour a couple of inches of hot water into the bottom of a narrow-mouthed bottle. Turn... Read more

Fall Craft Projects

Fall Fabric Scrap Trees Art Use stiff 9"x12" paper for a background. Cut the tree trunk and some branches... Read more

By the Light of the Sun

Fading Brightness Science You'll need red, orange and black construction paper for this activity. Cut the piece of black paper... Read more

Positive and Negative Numbers

Where Does it Stop? Math When introducing signed numbers (positive and negative) give each student a horizontal number line... Read more

Studing da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci explored science and art. Have your students make a museum display of some of his works. Place... Read more

Monsters in Nature

Learn about Gila Monsters from Dr. Mark Seward's Gila Monster webpage at www.drseward.com. This unique lizard is the source of... Read more

It’s All About Chocolate!

Teach your students about cacao – the source of chocolate – when you visit "The Sweet Science of Chocolate" at... Read more

World Flags

The United Nations Social Studies October 24 is the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. Make a... Read more

Travelling the Globe

Only One Way Geography/Social Studies Initially, use a large globe and sticky-notes with the names of countries or cities, one... Read more

A Monster Mash of Activities

World of Monsters Writing/Art Share aloud The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters by Judy Sierra (Candlewick, 2005) as she describes... Read more

Learning With Pumpkins

Personal Pumpkins Art/Reading Share the following poem with your class. Then have a pumpkin-decorating party. Each child can bring in... Read more

Spooky Stories and Fables

Spooky Stories Art/Writing Crumple a piece of aluminum foil into a three-inch ball. Set the ball on the top... Read more

A Candy Lesson

Have your students discover the different kinds of candy the Mars company makes by visiting www.mars.com. What other products does... Read more

Harvest Season Fun

We Gather Together: Celebrating the Harvest Season by Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Linda Bleck With expressive prose and vivid... Read more

October is National Seafood Month

Fish Food Science/Nutrition Health experts are recommending that Americans eat fish twice a week to improve overall health. October is... Read more

National Popcorn Month Lessons

Keep on Poppin' Social Studies/Health October is National Popcorn Poppin' Month and a great time to research the origins and... Read more

Children's Magazine Month Activities

Science in Print Science/Reading October is Children's Magazine Month and several of the newest and best children's magazines deal with... Read more

Fire Prevention Week

Rescue Helpers Reading/Social Studies Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15. After discussing fire safety with your students, read aloud a... Read more

All About Bats

Bats in the Night Science/Art At the conclusion of a study of bats, have students use flat foam trays... Read more

World Egg Day and Egg Month

Extraordinary Eggs Reading/Science October 10 is World Egg Day. Many thousands of people rely on eggs as a source of... Read more

Solar and Lunar Eclipses

Experience an Eclipse Science Place a lamp (the sun) in the center of a dark room. Attach a foam ball... Read more

Sorting

Rock and Sort Math Collect 10 rocks. Use a permanent marker to number them from 1 to 10. Sort the... Read more

Presidential Lessons

Presidential Cards Go to www.weeklyreader.com for a trading-card reproducible page. Your students can draw or paste a picture of a... Read more

Leaf Art

Leaf Art Ask your students to pick some leaves and trace them. What do the leaves make them think of?... Read more

The Family Tree

Climbing up the family tree Have your students draw and fill in as many parts as they can of their... Read more

The Hydrogen Hype

What's the hype about hydrogen? Help older students understand fuel cells through streaming video and with these activity ideas: Hydrogen... Read more

Idioms In Language

Illustrated Idioms Language Give each student a strip of paper on which is written an idiom, such as "walking on... Read more

Science Rules!

Science Rules! Science Get your students interested in science and inventions by becoming involved in the competitions sponsored by Toshiba... Read more

Which One Doesn’t Belong Activities

You Don't Belong! Math Name three objects in the classroom and have a student identify the one that doesn't belong... Read more

Create a Bird

Create a Bird Science/Art/Language Arts When working with a unit on birds, invite students to create a new bird. Their... Read more

The Daily News

The Daily News Reading/Current Events Introduce students to different parts of the newspaper. Headlines, subtitles, date lines, captions, by-lines, body,... Read more

Moving Molecules

Moving Molecules Science Demonstrate how heat energy affects the movement of molecules by filling two identical, clear glasses with the... Read more

Learning About Endangered Species

There Is Still Time Science The National Wildlife has an excellent site for students that explains that "endangered" means there... Read more

Sea Zones

Sea zones The ocean is divided into three areas called zones. From top to bottom, they are called the sunlit,... Read more

Terrific Trees

Terrific Trees Science Check some books about trees out of the library. Go for a class walk and identify trees... Read more

Multiplying Cards

Multiplying Cards Math Remove the face cards from a deck and lay the remaining cards face down. Players choose two... Read more

Texture Study

Texture Study Science/Art Begin a study of textures with crayon rubbings. Tape samples of several different textures to a counter... Read more

Teaching with Pictographs

Sticker Pictographs Math Provide each student with graph paper and a variety of pre-counted stickers. Model a sticker pictograph, then... Read more

Autumn Equinox Activities

Autumn Equinox Science On September 22, 2008; 11:44:18 A.M. EDT, autumn begins. Have students research weather sources as to the... Read more

America Remembers

In Living the Promise Maria Brountas show you how to transform the Pledge of Allegiance's lofty language into words kids... Read more

National Rice Month

Global Food Social Studies During National Rice Month, take time to illustrate for your students how much of the world... Read more

Comics in the Classroom

Picture Perfect Reading/Visual Discrimination Clip comic strips out of various newspapers and cut them up, mixing the panels of different... Read more

Migrating Monarchs Activities

Migrating Monarchs Science Provide a large map of North America on which to mark the progression of monarch migration this... Read more

Working With Verbs

Replacement Verbs Grammar/Writing Have students select a newspaper article. Have them identify the verbs and replace them with synonyms. How... Read more

National Library Card Sign-up Month

The Price of Libraries Reading/Math September is National Library Card Sign-up Month. In order to show your students the importance... Read more

Learning About Bees

Sweet September Science/Health The month of September honors the 211,600 beekeepers in the U.S. who produce more than 220 million... Read more

Grandparent’s Day!

Grandparents Day, is observed on the first Sunday after Labor Day, this year that falls on September 7. Have each... Read more

Activities for Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,... Read more

Celebrating National Apple Month

3-D Apple Art Fold a sheet of white paper in half. Draw an outline of half of an apple... Read more

Telling Time

Clocks Alive Math/Art Create clock faces out of paper plates. Use sticker digits, or trace or freehand draw numbers. One... Read more

KWHL Charts

KWHL Charts (also called "What I Know" Charts, KWL charts, and Know-Wonder-Learn charts) are a type of chart, a graphic... Read more

State Quarters Activities

State quarters. Print out the reproducible page at www.weeklyreader.com/quarter. Have your students make a tracing of a new state quarter... Read more

Studing the History of Flight

Your new school year will get off the ground without a hitch thanks to this fun adventure in science by... Read more

Citizenship in America

The November elections sound the call of citizenship to many Americans. In This Land is Our Land by Maryann Manning... Read more

The Value of Vaccination

Explore the value of vaccination with "Making Vaccines" an interactive activity that allows your students to create six vaccines in... Read more

Getting to Know the Candidates

Who are the presidential candidates in 2008? What would students like to know about each of them? Who are the... Read more

Hurricane Season

Name that hurricane! The World Meteorological Organization assigns a male or female name to each hurricane. Write a paragraph explaining... Read more

What's Your Sign?

On a calendar, list each student's birthday on the appropriate month and day. Share the newspaper horoscope with students so... Read more

License Plate Puzzle

License Plate Puzzle Language Have students collect the messages they see on vanity license plates. Ask them to write the... Read more

Making a Book

Book It Writing Watch with your students how a book is made in this engaging illustrated how-to by Aliki at... Read more

A Fishy Display

Fish Folding Science/Art Fold small rectangular or square pieces of paper in different ways, some parts overlapping and others... Read more

Graphing with Class

Graphing with Class Math/Art When reinforcing coordinates, use graph paper and dots punched from various colors of paper. Call out... Read more

Remembrance Plates Craft

Remembrance Plates Social Studies/Art For centuries people have decorated plates with pictures of important people, places and favorite things. Much... Read more

Transportation ABCs

Do you know your transportation ABCs? Create a class alphabet big book. For each letter's page include the types of... Read more

Whose Shoes?

Whose Shoes? Math Draw a graph with a shoe theme on the board. How many of your students are wearing... Read more

Learning Your Syllables

Silly Syllables Reading/Language Arts Make a set of word cards that have one word on each card. Provide three envelopes,... Read more

Daily Dialogue Activities

Daily Dialogue Writing Select three students who will sit at a table at the front of the room and pretend... Read more

First Day of School Activities

How You've Grown Math Have students trace their bodies on large sheets of paper on the first day of school... Read more

Our Year Ahead

Our Year Ahead Social Studies Set up a timeline that can be left up all year. Mark the first day... Read more

Bulletin Boards for Your Class

Summer Magic Language Arts Make a summer bulletin board with sand, sun, surf, mountains, trees, etc. Give students colored... Read more

Ideas for Open House Night

Personalized Portfolios Art Prepare for open house by having students design monogrammed folders using a print or cursive design... Read more

Simon Says Activities

Simon Says Color Me Auditory/Visual Discrimination Give all the children the same picture and the same colors of crayons. Play... Read more

Where Were You?

Where Were You? Reading Ask students to bring in postcards or photographs of where they went this summer. Discuss setting.... Read more

Egg-sperimenting!

The Same, But So Different Science Compare and contrast a raw egg with a hard-boiled egg. Make a simple chart... Read more

Calendar Math Activities

Calendar Math Math Post the calendar for the current month where everyone can see it. Provide one set of cards... Read more

Pattern Play

Pattern Play Fine Motor Coordination/Math Provide felt shapes and craft sticks. Model putting together a pattern, then pass an... Read more

Sunflowers Crafts

Sunflowers Art Step 1: Give each student a stiff piece of 12" by 18" paper and ask them to draw... Read more

National Inventor’s Month

What's New? Science Display various items such as straws, zippers and a laptop computer. Discuss how inventions have changed societies... Read more

Plus and Minus Activities

Plus and Minus Art/Math Use this art project to illustrate and develop the concepts of positive and negative, plus... Read more

Working with Circles and Shapes

Shapes In Motion Math Gather the children in a circle. Look through books and magazines for pictures of circular objects.... Read more

Classroom Bulletin Board Projects

Story Bricks Reading Make a "brick wall" bulletin board. Give students red construction paper and a pattern for the bricks.... Read more

Preparing for Back to School

At the start of the school year have your students fill out a survey so you can get to know... Read more

2008 Summer Olympics

The Summer Olympics will be celebrated from August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008, have your students increase their Olympic... Read more

Coral Reef Awareness

Teach your students the importance of protecting the Coral reefs during Coral Reef Awareness month. To get the facts about... Read more

Balloon Fun

Have students use materials they can find around the house to make a collage of hot-air ballons such as... Read more

America's Motto

Our country's motto is "E Pluribus Unum," which is Latin for "Out of many, one." Our country has many states... Read more

A Better Workout

Your Own Workout provides a chart that can help you create a weekly exercise routine that's right for your fitness... Read more

Annual Rain Day

July 29 is Annual Rain Day. Here are some activities in honor of Rain Day! Using popcorn kernels and toothpicks... Read more

Endless Math Puzzles

The learning possibilities are endless with the entertaining math puzzles in Think Inside the Box by Michael Naylor. Kan U... Read more

Reading the Rebus

Reading the Rebus Reading Collect several rebus stories from children's magazines in your library. Read several to and with your... Read more

Parents’ Day

Parents' Day - Observed the 4th Sunday of July Many Americans are unaware that our nation has a new day... Read more

Studing the Masters

In Part of a Masterpiece John W. Healy explains how to merge masterpieces with technology that will allow your students... Read more

First Moon Walk

Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969. Write an essay about his... Read more

Planting a Seed

Sprouting Seeds Science Prepare some clear plastic bags with a small amount of soil and have the children place two... Read more

Fine Motor Skill Lessons

Sports Sort Reading/Math/Fine Motor Coordination Purchase a bag of foam sports-ball decorations at a craft store. Ask students to separate... Read more

Fingerprinting Activities

DNA fingerprinting is used routinely today in criminal cases. Fingerprinting was first used as a means of identification on July... Read more

Haiku Time

Haiku Time Reading/Writing Share several examples of haiku with your students, including this one, then send them to the library... Read more

Character Writing

Trade that character! After reading a new book, choose one character to write about. Go to www.weeklyreader.com/tresources for a trading-card... Read more

Comparing Crystals

Comparing Crystals Science Take your class to www.unmuseum.org for some experiments that compare sugar and salt crystals. For more information... Read more

Advertising Trends

Advertising Trends Math Get some old magazines from the library and have students make graphs depicting the amount of space... Read more

Slippery Spelling

Slippery Spelling Spelling/Reading Place a brightly-colored piece of construction paper on a table. Give students a bold marker with which... Read more

World Population Day

The United Nations set up World Population Day, which is celebrated on July 11 to focus attention on population issues.... Read more

Watching the Time

Watching the Time Poetry/Math Read the following poem to the children and then write it on a large poster board... Read more

Cartoon Characters

Cartoon Characters Writing/Character Traits Use a set of cartoon characters that students are familiar with while writing a class story.... Read more

Learning to Discover

Discover a place. Mark off a square foot on the ground somewhere near your school. Have students take a pad... Read more

Chocolate Day!

Chocolate is America's favorite flavor. Celebrate Chocolate Day on July 7 by learning all about this food that so... Read more

Read An Almanac Month

Read An Almanac Month Reading/Social Studies Visit your local bookstore or library and get any one of the many almanacs... Read more

Moon Tracking

Moon Tracking Science/Art Check the phase of the moon in the daily newspaper and set up a chart for... Read more

Celebrating John Newbery

John Newbery was born on July 9, 1713. Visit the library and check out a Newbery Award book for your... Read more

Independence Day

Draw your own fireworks art in celebration of the Fourth of July. Compare our Fourth of July to Independence Day... Read more

Amelia Earhart Disappears

Amelia Earhart's plane disappeared from radar July 2, 1937 and was never found. Research Amelia Earhart and her contribution to... Read more

Planetary Quizzes

Play planetary trivia. Research the planets and write short questions about them on the front of index cards. Write the... Read more

Summer Snacking

Summer Snacking We all love to munch between meals, but snacks don't have to be junk food to be delicious... Read more

Express Train

Express Train Math Choose five students to line up across the front of the room. This is the rapid express... Read more

Poetic Geography

Poetic Geography Language/Geography Share Got Geography! edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Greenwillow, 2006) and ask your student to find... Read more

Light and Heavy Rain

Light and Heavy Rain Poetry/Creative Dramatics Teach the following finger play to the children: Light and Heavy Rain by Jacqueline... Read more

Travel-friendly Games

Help students create collections of travel-friendly games and activities to take along on summer trips or to pass the... Read more

Learning About the U.S.

American motto. Our country's motto is "E Pluribus Unum," which is Latin for "Out of many, one." Our country has... Read more

Set Sail For Summer

Set Sail For Summer Art Step 1: On a piece of cardboard about 9" x 12" draw an equilateral... Read more

Wisps in the Wind

Wisps in the Wind Science/Poetry Read the following poems together. Dandelion by Heidi Roemer Summer snowflake made of fluff; I... Read more

Observing Nature

Ask your students to pick an object they can observe, such as a leaf, a bug, a bird or... Read more

Refrigerator Research

Refrigerator Research Writing/Health Have students take an inventory of what's in their refrigerators. Categorize the findings by food groups, expiration... Read more

A Salute to Eric Carle

Eric Carle was born on June 25, 1929. Have your students read their favorite books by this author. Make a... Read more

A Summer Backpack

Send your students on summer break with a learning bag of activities with How To... Build a Summer Backpack by... Read more

Remembering Rhymes

Remembering Rhymes Language Often when it is important to remember something, rhyming can be a great help. Here is a... Read more

Dream Writing

Dream Writing Writing Children are always dreaming about something that they would like to have, so put this to... Read more

A Blue Moon

A Blue Moon Science/Writing Whenever there are two full moons in one month, the second one is called the "blue... Read more

Summer Fun Activity

Summer Fun Poetry/Phys. Ed. Read the following poem to the children. Then have different children act out lines 1-12. Finally,... Read more

Using the Alphabet

It's a Match Reading Hang a set of capital letters at eye level for the students. Provide lower case letters... Read more

Books to Movies

Books to Movies Art/Reading Discuss older books that have been made into movies recently, such as How to Eat Fried... Read more

Birthday of Anne Frank

Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany. Her diary, The Diary of Anne Frank is... Read more

Poetry of Time

Poetry of Time Reading/Writing Enjoy the following poem together, noting how the rhythm and the spareness of words add to... Read more

Learning About Maurice Sendak

A Wild World Art In acknowledgment of Maurice Sendak's birthday on June 10, 1928, design an exhibit with vines,... Read more

Flag Day Activities

Folding Matters Social Studies Take some time to teach the class how to fold the flag of the United... Read more

Our Year Completed Activities

Our Year Completed Social Studies/Math Set up a timeline for the school year that can be filled in by the... Read more

Wonders of the Web

Wonders of the Web Writing/Research Encourage students to use the knowledge they already have to plan and write a class... Read more

Turn-Around Designs

Turn-Around Designs Math/Art During your geometry unit give each student a large sheet of white paper and a geometric... Read more

Honoring Dad on Father's Day

Leather-Look Pencil Holder Art/Language Arts Cover a clean frozen-juice can with torn pieces of masking tape. On each one of... Read more

Seeking Summer

Seeking Summer Poetry Read the following poem together and then have students write poems about what summer represents to each... Read more

Celebrate Anita Lobel's Birthday

Anita Lobel was born on June 3, 1934. Read all about her life in our interview titled Anita Lobel: A... Read more

Springtime Strawberries

Springtime Strawberries Art/Math In a disposable dish, make a stamp pad out of paper towels and a pile of... Read more

Canister Coins

Canister Coins Math Gather empty film canisters, label each one for a particular coin. Place a pile of coins in... Read more

Summer Suncatchers and Handprint Sun

Summer Suncatchers Art Bend a chenille stem into a desired shape (circle, diamond, star, etc.) then glue the ends together.... Read more

Learning With Rhymes

Remembering Rhymes Language Often when it is important to remember something, rhyming can be a great help. Here is a... Read more

International Jazz Day Activities

Feel The Beat Music May 29 is International Jazz Day. Have your students research in the library and online about... Read more

Surprise Endings Activity

Surprise Endings Poetry/Science Sometimes we think we might like to make some changes to the earth. But as this poem... Read more

A Wild World

A Wild World Art In acknowledgment of Maurice Sendak's birthday on June 10, design an exhibit with vines, palm trees... Read more

Literary Book Jackets

Literary Book Jackets Reading/Writing/Technology After a class discussion of the books the students have read as a class this year,... Read more

Here Comes Summer

Here Comes Summer Reading Enlist the help of the school librarian as well as any and all teachers for this... Read more

Memorial Day Classroom Activities

Our Flag Reading/Art Before Memorial Day, read the book I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin, Jr. (Candlewick, 2002). Each page... Read more

Bulletin Board Zoo

Bulletin Board Zoo Science Design a large bulletin board to look like a zoo, with sections for birds, reptiles, mammals,... Read more

A Tower of Lunch

A Tower of Lunch Health Use the children's natural love of towers to teach about the food pyramid. Make a... Read more

A Variety of Parent Activities

Parents Activities Writing Give your child an envelope of family photos and a blank photo album. Have your child tell... Read more

Candidates Lineup

Candidates Lineup Current Events Divide the class into groups and assign each group one of the presidential candidates. Research his... Read more

Creating a Classroom Garden

Color My Garden Science/Nutrition Provide vegetable and fruit shapes all on white paper. Help students determine which grow above... Read more

Tantalizing Tessellations

Tantalizing Tessellations Math/Art While working on a geometry unit, use those shapes to make interesting and artistic tessellations in... Read more

Summer Seedlings, Fun and Sights

Summer Seedlings Science Get each student started gardening with a small potted tomato plant. Keep two or three extra... Read more

Poetry Math

Poetry Math Math/Poetry Read this poem to the children when working with sets of various kinds. Put it on the... Read more

Everyday Inventions

Everyday Inventions Science Bring to school a wide assortment of items: tongs, a hand-held can opener, a drinking straw,... Read more

Historic Jamestown

Today's the Day Social Studies/History May 14, 1607, was the day the Jamestown settlement was established. Begin your day by... Read more

Learning with Mazes

Design a Maze Math/Science While studying the concepts of parallel and perpendicular, have students design cardboard mazes with shoe boxes.... Read more

Scrapbooks for Your Classroom

Spectacular Scrapbooks Writing/Art Keeping scrapbooks has become a hobby of children as well as adults. Collect some supplies from a... Read more

Fantastic Flowers Classroom Activities

Fantastic Flowers Art Fold five pieces of 6" x 9" colored copier paper accordion-style to make a six-inch fan.... Read more

A Summer Catalog and Reading List

A Summer Catalog Art/Writing Help students create their own catalogs of supplies they will need for the summer. Use various... Read more

Thank You, Nurses

Thank You, Nurses Social Studies/Careers/Writing Have students design thank-you cards and letters that look like bandages to send to... Read more

Spelling Classroom Activities

Scrambled Spellers Language Make some flowers with a different letter in each petal. Have students identify the words. Use... Read more

What’s in a Name?

"Signing" Your Name Language Dactylology, or finger spelling, comes from the Greek words daktulos ("finger") and logia ("discourse"). Sign language... Read more

Everyday Fossils

Make a Fossil/Tell a Tale Science/Writing Use PLAY-DOH® or fast-drying clay and seashells to make some fossils. After each student... Read more

Bike Month Activities

Celebrate American Bike Month Bike Month means going over safety rules for riding a bike. Make a bike safety poster... Read more

Precious Pets

Precious Pets Writing Have students bring in a picture of a current or past pet. Give the prompt, "When I... Read more

Summer Buzzin’ and Summer Fun Activities

Summer Buzzin' Poetry Read the following poem to the children. Stripes by Martin Shaw The bees have stripes that cover... Read more

Patterns and Pasta

Patterning with Pasta Math Spray-paint several different pasta shapes with different colors. Design a pattern with the pasta shapes... Read more

I Love Mom Activities

I Love You, Mom Reading/Writing At some point before Mother's Day share together, I Love You All Day Long by... Read more

Cinco de Mayo Activities

Cinco de Mayo Social Studies Research together the significance of May 5 to our Mexican neighbors. Find out how they... Read more

Putting on a Classroom Performance

Quick Stick Puppets Reading/Art After reading a story aloud, allow children time to use paper, crayons and imaginations to create... Read more

Classroom Stars

Classroom Stars Science/Art Cover a bulletin board with black paper to represent the night sky. Have students make paper stars... Read more

Quick and Easy Parents Activities

Parents Activities Science Students can make fossils of their own using shells, leaves, sticks and your cold coffee and its... Read more

Activities With A Shape

Shapely Sandwiches Math/Health Provide healthy geometric sandwiches as a culminating activity to your math unit. Use whole-wheat bread and cheese,... Read more

Celebrate Arbor Day!

Celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree on the school grounds. Visit Paper U for more about trees and paper.... Read more

Perimeters in Math

Pretty Perimeters Math Help students grasp the idea of perimeters by making some that they can see. Measure the perimeter... Read more

Dinnertime Around the World

Dinner, Anyone? Social Studies Share the following poem with the class, then have students do library and online research to... Read more

Writing Starters

Journal Starters Writing Put a star at the top of the next blank page in each student's journal. That will... Read more

Sensory Snakes

Sensory Snakes Science/Poetry/ArtRead the following poem together. Could your students write other poems telling what they know about snakes? Snake... Read more

Celebrate National Coin Week

Presidential Coins Social Studies During National Coin Week (April 20-26) take your students to www.usmint.gov to investigate the new... Read more

Adventures in Africa

Adventures in Africa Social Studies Take your class to visit a classroom in Mozambique and see African children playing recess... Read more

Creating Brochures

Travel Tips Language/Geography When concluding a unit on regions, states or nations, ask students to prepare a Travel Tips Brochure... Read more

Vowels and Phonics Activities

A Shower of Vowels Phonics Teach the children long and short vowel sounds with these words about rain, then invite... Read more

Wilbur Wright’s Birthday!

Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867. He and his brother Orville made the first airplane flight in 1903.... Read more

Geometry Classroom Activities

Geometry Gone 3-D Math Use mini marshmallows and thin pretzels (or toothpicks) to make cubes, rectangular solids and pyramids as... Read more

Earth Day Activities

Earth Day is April 22. Make posters to remind the community to protect our environment. Bring meaning to your celebration... Read more

Classroom Chuckles

Classroom Chuckles Language Make a smiley face on an empty plastic container. As the children find jokes or humorous parts... Read more

Everyday Poetry

Everyday Poetry Reading/Writing Collect used greeting cards. Divide them by types of poetry and discuss if the poetry styles vary... Read more

Pumping Soup and Ohter Exercises

Pumping Soup Physical Education Help students get their blood circulating, increase their breathing and do some strength building with full... Read more

Rubber Band Experiments

Muscle Power Science Stretch and release a rubber band. Ask students to contribute ideas about what part of our bodies... Read more

National Library Week Classroom Activities

Integrated Research Social Studies/Research Work with your librarian to plan an in-depth research project during National Library Week, April 13-19.... Read more

Springtime Sundials

Springtime Sundials Science Students can experience firsthand the oldest known way for measuring time. Using a compass, make a... Read more

Our Feathered Friends

Feathered Friends Read/Science Create pictures of robins and take pictures of robins. Have students on the lookout for the birds'... Read more

Reading the Label and Eating Right

Read the Label Health There are several new "soft drinks" being advertised in young people's magazines. Bring in a... Read more

World Health Day

April 7 is World Health Day celebrate the beginning of the World Health Organization in 1948. This year's theme is... Read more

Math Awareness Month Activities

Here are some great activities to help you celebrate Math Awareness Month! Weaving with a Wrinkle Math/Art Use this weaving... Read more

Happy Poetry Month

Happy Poetry Month Reading Assign your students days of the month on which they'll be responsible for reading a newly-discovered... Read more

Spring Activities

Springtime Changes Perception/Reading/Writing What hints outdoors tell us that it is spring? Read the following poem and see if your... Read more

April Fool’s Day Activity

April Fool's Day Language/CountingTeach this finger play to your students. Then, ask them to draw pictures of different signs of... Read more

Math Awareness Month

April was first proclaimed Math Awareness Month by President Reagan in 1986 "to help encourage the study and utilization of... Read more

Celebrating National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets as a month-long, national celebration of poetry. The concept... Read more

Learning About the Environment

A World of Words - Environmental print is literally everywhere, and it helps children form their earliest notions about letters... Read more

Lessons In Math

How To...Find Online Math Manipulatives - Virtual manipulatives can have a big impact on your math curriculum. Walking a Math... Read more

Shaping Up for Spring

Spring is in the air and now is the perfect time to start incorporating exercise into your day! Read Jeffrey... Read more

Stargazing Activities

An easy-to-make 3-D model of this star formation will help to put its familiar shape in perspective with Building the... Read more

Poetry Activities

Consider the following: Poetry is a direct expression of inner feelings; how often do children in our classrooms get the... Read more

Learning the Alphabet

Alphabet Popsicles Reading Attach several large letters each to a ruler or popsicle stick. Assemble these, letter end down,... Read more

Spring Rains Classroom Activities

Drop By Drop Math Make paper umbrellas and write a different digit in each section. Provide raindrops for children... Read more

Pancake History

Pancake History Social Studies Pancakes were first introduced in New York City on March 25, 1882. Use newly learned research... Read more

Mall Madness

Mall Madness Writing Assign students to accompany an adult to the mall and sit for a period of 15 minutes,... Read more

Learning About Clocks

Clocks Alive Math/Art Create clock faces out of paper plates. Use sticker digits, or trace or freehand draw numbers. One... Read more

All About the Feet

Skipping Feet Physical Education/Math Make several construction-paper footprints. Write one of the following instructions on each: walk, skip, hop,... Read more

The Colors of the Rainbow Classroom Activities

Color Wash Rainbows Art Have students spray water onto white sheets of paper. Press colored crepe paper streamers onto... Read more

Leprechaun Fun

Leprechaun Fun Drama Use the following finger play about leprechauns to teach your students a little skit. Then invite another... Read more

Math Activities for Your Classroom

Jelly Bean Math Math Use jellybeans to learn about estimation and measurement. Challenge the children to guess how many jellybeans... Read more

St. Patrick’s Day Classroom Activities

Leapin' Leprechauns! Poetry/Math Read the following St. Patrick's Day poem to the children. Read it a second time and have... Read more

Egg-cellent Classroom Activities

Matching Eggs Math/Art Provide each student with a plastic egg to decorate with stickers and permanent markers. Once the eggs... Read more

Characters Can Be Fun Classroom Activities

Characters Alive Reading/Drama Provide a box of costumes and dress-up clothes. After reading a story or play, encourage your students... Read more

Learing About Friction

Friction Studies Science With the class, set up a hypothesis about friction and moving objects. Then ask your students to... Read more

Seeds and Planting Classroom Activities

Sprouting Seeds Science Prepare some clear plastic bags with a small amount of soil and have the children place two... Read more

Analogies Are Fun

Analogies Are Fun Read/Poetry Read the following poem to your students. See if they can create new analogies themselves. Toolbox... Read more

The Kites of Spring

Kites of Spring Poetry/Art Get some paper kites or make some kites together. Then, on a nice windy spring day,... Read more

A Month of Music

Springtime Songs Science/Art Teach the following finger play to your students, then take them outside for bird watching and bird... Read more

Easy Multiplication

Multiplying Cards Math Remove the face cards from a deck and lay the remaining cards face down. Players choose two... Read more

March Winds - Classroom Activities

March Winds Science/Poetry Design a chart at the beginning of the month for documenting the speed and direction of the... Read more

U.S. Paper Money Classroom Activities

U.S. Paper Money Paper money was issued in the U. S. for the first time on March 10, 1862. Visit... Read more

Celebrating Youth Art Month

Youth Art Month Art Plan a celebration of the talents in your school this month by planning an art show... Read more

National Women’s History Month Activities

Awesome Women Social Studies/History During National Women's History Month, send your students to the library and the computer to research... Read more

National Nutrition Month Activities

Eating Right Health/Nutrition March is National Nutrition Month, sponsored by the American Dietetic Association. Take your class to www.eatright.org and... Read more

Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday!

Celebrate Theodore Geisel's birthday, who was born on March 2, 1904 and is better known as Dr. Seuss! Eating Green... Read more

Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving time begins on March 9 prepare your class to "Spring forward." Daylight Saving Time Science Most of the... Read more

Experimenting with Energy

A Raisin in the Sun Science Use solar energy to make raisins in your room. Let the students wash and... Read more

Fun With Numbers and Math

In Playing By the Rules Michael Naylor introduces challenging math games that will help your students see the relationships between... Read more

Creating Digital Stories

Digital Storytelling - This introduction to digital painting will encourage your students to illustrate a story of their very own.... Read more

Positive Language

Trust and Language - Paying close attention to your language is essential in creating a positive classroom experience for your... Read more

Learning About Caterpillars

Let's learn about caterpillars! First step: read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Philomel, 1981). Next, make a paper... Read more

Know Your Teeth Activities

A Great Smile Health/Science Since both eggshells and our teeth contain calcium, collect eggshells and experiment to find out... Read more

Our 50 States - Classroom Activities

Birth order. The 50 states joined the United States at different times. The youngest state is Hawaii. It became part... Read more

Sharing Poetry With Your Students

Couplets and Quatrains answers the question "How can I get my students to create their own original poetry?" Using These... Read more

Teaching Idioms

A Flash in the pan Picture This! Language Arts/Art Make a bulletin board of idioms. First have students collect as... Read more

Healthy Snacks

Super Snacks Health/Writing February is Snack Food Month. Take some time to discuss and taste various snack foods. Which... Read more

Learning With Hats

Put a Lid On It Art February is a perfect month to work on profiles and hats. Presidents Lincoln... Read more

Newspapers in the Classroom

The Daily News Reading/Current Events Introduce students to different parts of the newspaper. Headlines, subtitles, date lines, captions, by-lines, body,... Read more

Rebus Stories Classroom Activities

Reading the Rebus Reading Collect several rebus stories from children's magazines in your library. Read several to and with your... Read more

Happy Birthday Galileo!

Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564 and passed away on January 8, 1642. Galileo was a physicist, astronomer... Read more

Valentine's Day Laugh Lines

Language of Love It was Valentine's Day and my second graders were thrilled to be passing out their cards. Then... Read more

Presidents’ Day Classroom Activities

February 18 is Presidents' Day! Here are some suggestions on how your students can honor our former presidents'. Grace Bedell,... Read more

Celebrate Library Lover's Month

Library Lovers Unite Research What is it that people like most about their libraries? When and why do they go... Read more

Playing with Patterns

Perfect Patterns Math Provide each child with a crayon box upon which is depicted a row of crayons. Provide a... Read more

Timeline Classroom Activities

Timeline Adventure Reading/Writing/History Before students try their hands at creating timelines of their own, they might enjoy the interesting, short... Read more

Take Home Activities

Hearts and Flowers – This crafty activity teaches symmetry as well as strengthens fine motor coordination. Set out scissors and... Read more

More 100th Day of School Activities

100 Days Together Math/Writing On the 100th day of school, challenge students to show different ways of arranging their 100... Read more

Valentine's Day Math

Heart Fractions Math Give each student a small package of heart candies. Have them count the number of hearts... Read more

Valentine's Day Classroom Activities

Secret Admiration Reading/Art Read the book Little Bear's Valentine by Else Minarik (HarperCollins, 2003), which is about a secret... Read more

Valentine Analogies

Valentine Analogies Reading/Writing Read the following poem together. Discuss the analogies and ask your students to come up with more... Read more

For the Birds Classroom Activities

Create a Bird Science/Art/Language Arts When working with a unit on birds, invite students to create a new bird. Their... Read more

More Black History Month Activities

February is Black History Month, a celebration of African American heritage, culture and accomplishments. Let's spend the month learning with... Read more

Black History Month Reading Ideas

February's celebration of Black History month usually provides wonderful opportunities to catch up on some great trade books and teaching... Read more

100th Day of School Activities

The 100th day of school usually occurs at some point in February. Here are some activities: That 100th Day Math... Read more

Black History Month Classroom Activities

Black History Month Social Studies During February, divide the class into three groups to research and report on three separate... Read more

Snowflake Art Projects

Snowflake Snowmen Art Fold three squares of brightly colored tissue paper into quarters and then into 45-degree or smaller... Read more

Groundhog Day Activities

Wake Up, Mr. Groundhog Art/Science/Social Studies Visit www.groundhog.org on February 2 to learn about the history of "Punxsutawney Phil" and... Read more

Winter Trees - Classroom Activities

Winter Trees Poetry Read this poem aloud, then take your class outside or to the window to observe the trees.... Read more

A Teacher’s Travels

In Snapshots from Japan Peter Barnes tells us how after traveling to the "Land of the Rising Sun" as part... Read more

Sandpainting Classroom Activities

Sandpainting Art/Social Studies With your class, research the Navajo art of sandpainting. Then use two-sided tape and colored sand to... Read more

How to Put on a Classroom Performance

History and theater arts are brought together in this classroom performance opportunity by John W. Healy titled The World’s a... Read more

Musical Motivation

Musical Motivation Music/Exercise Invite your students to bring in music to do yoga by one day and music to dance... Read more

Book Bank

Book Bank Reading/Art Encourage students to help one another find a good book. Ask students to write the title of... Read more

Valuable Verbs

Valuable Verbs Language Make placards with one action verb written on each. Attach them to a ruler. As students share... Read more

Winter Camouflage

Winter Camouflage Reading/Poetry/Art Share the following poem. What other weather phenomena covers everything in its path? Search online for images... Read more

Without A Word

Without A Word Reading/Drama Share the following poem on the overhead or on handouts. Discuss it together, then pass out... Read more

Moving Molecules

Moving Molecules Science Demonstrate how heat energy affects the movement of molecules by filling two identical, clear glasses with the... Read more

National Handwriting Day

Be Proud of that Hand Handwriting Did you know that National Handwriting Day is January 23? It's observed on the... Read more

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This year we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 21. In his honor have your students read celebrated... Read more

Mid-Winter Field Trip - Classroom Activities

Mid-Winter Field Trip Science/Social Studies With your students, visit the website www.degray.com to check on the national bird. Learn about... Read more

Create a Creature

Create a Creature Art/Writing Visit the website www.switchzoo.com/default.htm with your students. There are nine creatures in their own environments that... Read more

Edible Shapes Classroom Activities

Yum! Edible Shapes Math/Art Give each student some cookie dough that is cut in the shapes of triangles, squares, circles,... Read more

Synonym News

Synonym News Reading/Language Arts Let each student choose an article from the newspaper to read and cut out. Students will... Read more

Honoring Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin was born on January 17, 1706. Divide the class into teams. Each group will select a different career... Read more

Marvelous Maps - Classroom Activities

Marvelous Maps Reading Read the following poem and discuss different purposes for maps. Does the poem pertain to the maps... Read more

Bulletin Board Ideas

The Cow Who Clucked by Denise Fleming HENRY HOLT Cow loses her "moo" and searches the farm to find... Read more

Snowman Studies

Snowman Studies Science/Math/Writing During or after a snowstorm take your class outside and make a snowman. Measure its height,... Read more

Classroom Bears

Dress Me, Please Science/Health Provide a lovable bear and a box of various clothing. Write the name of each season... Read more

Passport Lessons

Passport Privileges Research/Social Studies Passports have been used for centuries to insure safe passage for citizens of one country or... Read more

Rocking and Rolling

Rocking and Rolling Physical Education/Poetry Ask one student to read the following poem while another acts out the motions. Then... Read more

Animal Tracks - Classroom Activities

Snowy Footprints Science/Poetry/Art Use the fun poem below to introduce animal tracks to your students. Then go outside and make... Read more

The Brothers Grimm

Jacob Grimm's Birthday Jacob Grimm was born on this day. Investigate his life and the fairy tales of the brothers... Read more

No Ordinary Oats

Ordinary Oats Science/Health January is Oatmeal Month. You can show the children where oatmeal comes from by providing pictures of... Read more

A New Year

Reading Make paper plate clocks without numbers and invite students to make "calendar clocks" featuring fall leaves, snowflakes, spring flowers... Read more

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Today is New Year's Eve. What are your New Year's resolutions for 2007? Set goals for the rest of the... Read more

Snowflakes!

No Two Are Alike Reading/Language William "Snowflake" Bentley (1865-1931) was a famed photographer of these unique and beautiful ice... Read more

Pretty Packages Exercise

Pretty Packages Science/Prediction/Math Wrap several packages of different sizes in holiday paper. Leave some boxes empty or fill with... Read more

Holiday Greetings

Enhanced Greetings Art Collect greeting cards, beads, sequins, parts of old jewelry, glitter, glue and toothpicks. Use the toothpicks... Read more

Cool Pattern Activities

Cool Patterns Math Have students multiply 37 by multiples of 3 and see what happens. Then multiply 15,873 by multiples... Read more

Celebrating Kwanzaa - Classroom Activities

Kwanzaa, an African-American and Pan-African holiday that is a celebration of family, community and culture is celebrated from 12/26 -... Read more

Christmas Laugh Lines

The Truth Comes Out Last year I was assisting a teacher in a religious school during the Christmas holidays. While... Read more

Meet Author Pam Muñoz Ryan

Pam Muñoz Ryan: "A Confluence of Rivers" was born on December 25, 1951. Read all about this author's remarkably... Read more

Math Games

Clothespin Math Math Write digits on clothespins. Have students put the clothespins in order, separate the odds from the... Read more

Winter Fun - Classroom Activities

Winter Camouflage Reading/Poetry/Art Share the following poem. What other weather phenomena covers everything in its path? Search online for images... Read more

First Day of Winter - Classroom Activities

Today is the first day of winter. What is the weather today? Compare it to the weather on this day... Read more

Santa Says - Classroom Activities

Santa Says Directionality Cut a large Christmas tree shape from green poster board. Cut out a number of different ornaments... Read more

Christmas Lessons

What's In the Stocking? Tactile Discrimination Fill a Christmas stocking with two or three different Christmas items or shapes such... Read more

13th Amendment - Classroom Activities

The 13th Amendment, passed on December 18, 1865, abolished slavery in the United States. Find out how an amendment to... Read more

Aviation Day - Classroom Activities

It's been over 100 years since the Wright brothers first took to the air, celebrate the anniversary of the first... Read more

Holiday Ornaments

Crystal Ornaments Science/Art Fill a one-quart widemouth jar with hot water. Add one cup of Borax laundry booster and stir... Read more

Christmas Bird Count

Christmas Bird Count Science Every year between December 14 and January 5, the National Audubon Society looks for volunteers to... Read more

2008 an Election Year

Get Out and Vote! by Margaret Mansfield and Betsy Anderson provides information on how staging a mock election for tomorrow's... Read more

Experimenting with Water

"Ring around the bathtub" will have a new – and scientific! – meaning for kids after this lesson about Hard... Read more

Exercises That Restore Order In Your Classroom

Are your students wound up from what happened during last period or in the hallway? When children are restless and... Read more

Principles of Design

The ways in which the Elements of Art are organized are referred to as the Principles of Design. Rhythm and... Read more

Algorithms - Classroom Activities

An algorithm is a step-by-step "recipe" telling what to do with number symbols. Rather than teach traditional algorithms in isolation,... Read more

All About Chocolate - Classroom Activities

Have your class look up the words chocolate and carob in a dictionary to find out what each word... Read more

The Jewish Experience - Classroom Activity

The Jewish Experience Reading Ask your librarian to help you set up a classroom display of books about the Jewish... Read more

Remembering Pearl Harbor

The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on this date in 1941 and the U.S. entered World War II, declaring war on... Read more

Holiday Craft Project

Potpourri Rocks Art/Science Ask the children to bring in different kinds of rocks to examine. Then, in a small bowl,... Read more

Holiday Cards - Classroom Activities

Sending a Message Reading/Main Idea Collect holiday cards as they are received in students' homes. Read the cards together and... Read more

Celebrating Hanukkah

Counting Candles Math Explain the lighting of eight candles – one candle for each night of Hanukkah – and discuss... Read more

It's Snowing - Classroom Activities

Brrr...I Remember Vocabulary If you live in an area where it snows, go out after or during a light snowfall... Read more

Holiday Tree Crafts

Pinecone Trees Art Glue cotton balls around the base of a pinecone to represent snow. Wrap and drape red... Read more

Honoring Rosa Parks

This is the 52nd anniversary of Rosa Park's arrest in 1955 after she refused to ride in the back of... Read more

Connect With Our Troops - Classroom Activity

Connect with the Troops Enhance your writing curriculum and build good citizenship skills with this community service project from Connect... Read more

Tutoring Tips

Game Tutors Form a buddy system between primary and intermediate students. Assign pairs of intermediate students to one of the... Read more

Integrating Fitness

Integrating Fitness Physical Education Meet with your physical education teacher and plan for specific exercise breaks during your day. For... Read more

Being A Leader - Classroom Activity

Being A Leader Reading/Writing Share the following poem aloud and on the overhead projector. Discuss the author's point. Talk about... Read more

Fun with Crackers

Stackin' Crackers Math/Geometry Provide each student with a small plastic bag of different shaped crackers. Have the children stack the... Read more

Thanksgiving Proportions

Thanksgiving Proportions Health Brainstorm a list of the foods eaten at Thanksgiving meals. Ask your students to put the... Read more

Pilgrim Children

Pilgrim Children Social Studies/Dramatization Read the following poem to your children and teach them how to pantomime it. Then invite... Read more

Counting Pilgrims

Counting Pilgrims Art/Math Read aloud this counting rhyme. Then choose children to act out the poem while the others count... Read more

A Thanksgiving Poem

A Thanksgiving Poem Social Studies Make some Pilgrim and Indian profiles on which to glue copies of the poem for... Read more

Take Home Parent Activities

Math Open a deck of regular playing cards. Remove the joker and face cards. Shuffle the cards. Place one card,... Read more

Air Pollution - Classroom Activities

Air pollution is a serious problem. Here's an easy way to test for pollution: Cover a white plate with petroleum... Read more

Meet a Poet - Classroom Activities

This year, "A Poetry Workshop in Print" will feature a Poet of the Month and provide information on poets to... Read more

The Changes in Reading

Sounditoutosaurus is one of the many reading dinosaurs that aren't around any longer. Let Maryann Manning help you unearth the... Read more

The Gift of Teaching

Have you given your students everything you've hoped for this year? Read Donna Pitino article on Gift Giving and learn... Read more

Butterfly - Classroom Activities

Wings of Light: The Migration of the Yellow Butterfly by Stephen R. Swinburne, illustrated by Bruce Hiscock The migration... Read more

I Love To Write Day - Classroom Activities

Free Writing Day Writing November 15 is the sixth annual celebration of I Love To Write Day. Learn about this... Read more

Thanksgiving Day Activities

Many countries observe Thanksgiving. Find out when it is celebrated in Canada and Mexico and why the dates are different... Read more

The Moon - Classroom Activities

Study the moon for a month. Draw it every night and date each drawing. Place the pictures on a blank... Read more

Metaphor Writing

Lately teachers are asking for books that show metaphors, similes and other figurative language. A good book that has samples... Read more

Aviation Month Activities

Paper Wings Social Studies This November, celebrate Aviation Month by having your students make various kinds of paper airplanes. Have... Read more

A Map Lesson

Real-life Maps Geography In preparation for a mapping unit, get maps from a nearby airport, subway and bus station. If... Read more

Recycle Trash Into Supplies - Classroom Activities

Recycle Into Supplies Science/Social Studies Grocery and shopping bags get thrown out at home, but at school someone is always... Read more

Grooving with Gravity

Gravity Grooves Science Bring in a peanut or candy dispenser and show how it works. Talk about the big spiral... Read more

Choosing the Right Snack - Classroom Activities

Super Snacks Nutrition Have student brainstorm their favorite fruit and vegetable snack ideas. Offer suggestions about integrating the five produce... Read more

Fun with Fractions - Classroom Activities

Fruity Fractions Math Upon introducing fractions, Hand out plastic apple corers for your students to trace with dark pencils.... Read more

Professional Development Resources

In Best Practices Mary Ellen Bafumo the Program Director for the Council of Educational Change writes about best practices and... Read more

Take an Exercise Break

Take a Break! Physical Ed. Plan an exercise break between classes or activities that require sitting. Do 10 jumping jacks... Read more

Math for Every Day Uses

This month's fun book picks will help kids recognize that math is all around us in Mix-and-Math. Pack your bags... Read more

Election Day Activities

Intro to Elections Reading/Social Studies Read these two great books to your class to introduce what elections are about. Election... Read more

Fun with Pennies - Classroom Activities

Penny Pitch Math Make a penny pitch game using plastic containers with a number card in each. As students toss... Read more

Halloween Reading

Discover a book. Ask someone you respect to tell you about a book he or she has read that was... Read more

Skeleton Fun - Classroom Activities

Archeological Dig Paper "bones" are placed under brown sheets of paper all over the play area. There should be... Read more

Fun with Science - Classroom Activities

Read John Cowens' article Growing Crystals and have your students try out some simple activities that will have you and... Read more

Reading Tips and Tricks

What is the best way to build internal motivation so kids will embrace a lifelong love of reading? Find out... Read more

Build Literacy Skills with Poetry

Teach your students the basics of poetry and watch their writing skills (and creativity) soar with A Matter of Meter... Read more

Multicultural Classroom Activities

Multicultural Baseball Reading Sue Corbett's new book, Free Baseball (Dutton, 2006) is a well-written, funny, multilayered story about a young... Read more

Magic Week Activities

Real Magic Reading October 25 is the beginning of National Magic Week. Have students read biographies of well-known magicians, as... Read more

Japanese Inspired Activities

Multicultural books can help raise awareness of social issues. Home of the Brave by Allen Say (Houghton Mifflin, 2002, ISBN... Read more

Holiday Craft Ideas

Re-Creation Inference Create and display a handcrafted owl, such as the one pictured below. Have students use past knowledge... Read more

Drawing - Classroom Activities

Drawing Day Art Take your students to the interactive art site www.youdraw.com Here they can create pictures on the Draw... Read more

Activities About Animals

Name Animals Art/Science Have students write their names in the center of a large white piece of drawing paper.... Read more

Quick Exercise Tips for Busy Teachers

As a teacher, you're constantly on your feet and actively moving around the classroom while attending to the needs of... Read more

Citizenship - Classroom Activity

In Mary Ellen Bafumo's article The New Active Citizens she show us how to encourage our students into being the... Read more

Getting Hooked on History

Since we know that the majority of what we read daily is nonfiction, it's important for students to develop an... Read more

Lifting the Math Curse Activities

This interdisciplinary project helps students discover the wonder of numbers in daily life and teaches them how to Lift the... Read more

Bird Behavior - Classroom Activities

Bird Behavior Poetry/Science/Phys. Ed. Show the children pictures of the birds mentioned in the following poem. Tell the children a... Read more

Fun with Spiders Classroom Activities

Which Web? Science/Art While teaching a unit on spiders, have students research different kinds of spider webs and how... Read more

Meet the Author - Classroom Activity

Have your students read about Diane Stanley in Following the Path and find out how this author and illustrator's careful... Read more

Pumpkin Art Activities

String Pumpkins Art/Writing Do the following art project with the class, then have them each write how-to articles about the... Read more

Tips on Getting Parents Involved

Parents are such an important part of the child-school experience. So many times, I'm asked, "How can I help my... Read more

Art Expression Activities

Art can serve as a launching pad for exploration, discovery, personal development and fun. Through drawing, kids are given the... Read more

Ha-Ha Moments

Peter Barnes tell us about his Ha-Ha Moments and how one of the greatest pleasures of teaching are the laughs... Read more

Simple Science Activities

This month, inspire your students to explore the world around them using science! Who wouldn't want to fly? Ask young... Read more

Celebrate Columbus Day!

Before Columbus. Columbus brought cows and horses to the New World. Research the history of both animals. Were there any... Read more

Nutrition for Your Classroom

The study of foods and nutrition offers many opportunities for research, reading and writing with Maryann Manning's article Nutrition Knowledge.... Read more

Greeting Cards and e-Scrapbooking Activities

Linda Lindroth's How To...Design and Publish Greeting Cards will inspire creativity in your (and your students') special-occasion correspondence. From a... Read more

Algebra for All Ages

Algebra is not a subject just taught in the middle grades and beyond – algebraic reasoning is part of the... Read more

Colors of Autumn Classroom Activity

Seasonal Shirts Vocabulary/Art/Reading Send a note home asking that the children come to school dressed in fall colors. When... Read more

National Stamp Month Classroom Activity

The Story of Stamps Social Studies October is National Stamp Collecting Month and a great time to introduce students to... Read more

Classroom Activity Charts

Costume Planning Math/Social Studies/Art Use the social aspects of this month to get the students involved in writing flowcharts. Have... Read more

Poetry Classroom Activities

Poetry in the Park Reading/Writing Use the following poem to reinforce alliteration, rhyming and making sense. After completing this activity,... Read more

Popcorn Month Activities

Fantasy Popcorn Reading/Art During Popcorn Poppin' Month, enjoy the book The Popcorn Dragon by Jane Thayer (Morrow, 1989) and have... Read more

Living Clocks - Classroom Activity

Living Clocks Math Read the following poem to the children, then have them stand straight and tall like clocks as... Read more

Classroom Activity - Logos

Read Logos: Signs of the Times Help Beginning Readers by Dr. Shelley B. Wepner and find out how our environment... Read more

Using Children’s Books in Your Classroom

Lisa Von Drasek's column on Teaching With Children's Books provides articles on how to incorporate children's books in your curriculum.... Read more

The Professional Development Advantage

Our Professional Development columns present everything from in-depth classroom activities to contemporary issues affecting today’s teacher in and out of... Read more

Hispanic Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with these great classroom activities: The Bilingual Bag by Nanette L. Avery A middle school reading... Read more

Story Bricks - Classroom Activity

Story Bricks Reading Make a "brick wall" bulletin board. Give students red construction paper and a pattern for the bricks.... Read more

A Tree for All Seasons

A Tree for All Seasons Art/Science When teaching about the four seasons, make this book. Cut a tree shape... Read more

September Sunflowers

September Sunflowers Art/Math Create sunflowers that are the height of each student and the teachers, writing the students' and... Read more

The Elements of Art and Principles of Design

Elements of Art The elements of art are the building blocks of an artistic creation, a "visual language" or... Read more

Fluency Mania

Understanding how oral fluency occurs helps promote it for all types of readers. Susan Mandel Glazer's article Fluency Mania explains... Read more

Day by Day - Classroom Activity

Day by Day Social Studies/Drama Use the following poem to reinforce the order of the days of the week. Teach... Read more

Sunflowers - Classroom Activity

Sunflowers Art Step 1: Give each student a stiff piece of 12" by 18" paper and ask them to draw... Read more

Reading and Writing Dinosaurs Activities for Your Class

Let this be the year that out-of-date reading practices make your classroom's extinction list with these dinosaur reading and writing... Read more

Self- Improvement Month Ideas for Home and School

Here are some exercises you can do at home or school - whenever the mood strikes! As with any exercise... Read more

Classroom Activities for National Apple Month

National Apple Month is the only national, generic apple promotion conducted in the United States. Originally founded in 1904 as... Read more

Classroom Activity - Graphing with Class

Graphing with Class Math/Art When reinforcing coordinates, use graph paper and dots punched from various colors of paper. Call... Read more

Hidden Treasure - Classroom Activity

Hidden Treasure Visual Discrimination/Math Decorate a cardboard box to look like a treasure chest. Secure objects to the bottom... Read more

Classroom Activity - Rainy-Day Science

Rainy-Day Science Science Set up a scientific process for studying rainfall during a certain period of time. Always observe the... Read more

Line ’Em Up - Classroom Activity

Line 'Em Up Math Before class, prepare a set of cards from which you can select when you're lining up... Read more

Welcome Back! Classroom Activity

Welcome Back! Reading/Writing Read the following poem to or with your students, then invite them to write a poem about... Read more

Classroom Activity - World Peace Day

World Peace Day Reading/Social Studies September 21 is World Peace Day and a great way to celebrate is to... Read more

Classroom Activity - Johnny Appleseed

Hurrah for Johnny! Poetry/Health On September 26, Johnny Appleseed's birthday, place a beautiful basket of apples in the reading area.... Read more

Cleopatra Lesson Activities
By John W. Healy

Additional activities about Cleopatra... Read more

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star?
By John Cowens

Did you know that heat currents in the atmosphere are the reason why stars "twinkle"?... Read more

Living the Promise Classroom Activites
By Maria Brountas

Pledge of Allegiance activities, a reading list and a Good Citizen Chart to use in your classroom... Read more

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