Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will have an introduction to fables.  They will learn what a fable is, characteristics of fables, and make a few notes and sketches so that they can retell the fables.  Many kids have heard of, for example, “The Tortoise and the Hare,” but most… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students learn an ancient Indian folktale.  They also practice story mapping, identify the story pattern, and write their own class folktale.  It’s a fun, engaging, and interesting lesson for the children with a multicultural element. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: 2-3 Objective: To map an Indian… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students are introduced to Anansi stories, trickster tales from Africa.  The children learn quite a bit of new vocabulary as well as something of the colorful patterns common to the culture.  They then use this new knowledge to build a word wall with Anansi-inspired spiders!… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students learn about Johannes Gutenberg and the first books printed with movable type. They also have the chance to make a book using upcycled or recycled materials. In the next lesson, they will learn the ancient technique of making illuminated letters and begin to fill… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students learn how to make illuminated letters just as scribes and artists did in ancient times.  Using handmade books from the last lesson, students will create an illuminated letter decorative cover and fill the book with unit vocabulary or a story based on their new… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, children come to understand a bit of the immigrant experience by seeing it through the eyes of the main character.  The text is a bit lengthy for young children, so I sometimes paraphrase in places.  But, this is a powerful story, beautifully written, and encompasses… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students practice their skills in developing questions for inquiry.  They also “meet” real immigrants using primary source documents to examine clothing, artifacts, and, in cases where they can figure it out, immigration journeys. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: 3-4 Objective: Each student will practice formulating questions… Read more

The third lesson in the Human Migration unit is a lesson on using atlases.  The lesson on atlases is in the Information Literacy theme, under the Reference Materials Unit of Inquiry.  It’s Lesson #2, Atlases.  Please click here to see the lesson. Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students learn the true immigrant story of Tillie Anderson, who became the world’s first female cycling superstar.  Kids gain an appreciation for immigration in the previous century.  They also gain a bit of cultural insight into how competitive sports have changed over time. Lesson Plan:… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students use both print and digital resources to gather facts about space and Earth’s solar system. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: 3-5  Objective: Each student will use a reference source to gather ten facts about space or Earth’s solar system.  Each student will also make a… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students are introduced to the concept of “genre.”  They also discover a bit more about Science Fiction by listening to a story by one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time, Ray Bradbury.  Last week’s emphasis was on factfinding and non-fiction.  This lesson… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will respond to a news article about the possibility of humans living on Mars.  They will structure their thinking using a “Pro/Con” T-Chart and then decide whether or not they would be willing to move to Mars. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: 4-5  Objective: To… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students get to play with space words.  Using the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration – NASA’s Picture Dictionary, students will gather words and their meanings to write and illustrate an acrostic composition.  This lesson gives the children a chance to be creative and express… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, travel back in time to 20 July 1969, the day that a human being first landed and walked on the moon.  This is the only time travel lesson (so far) on PYPLibrarian, and I am thrilled to make it available.  This is an easy-to-pull-off lesson,… Read more

Lesson Overview: This is a simple, easy-to-prepare lesson in which the children are asked to think about the kind of home that is most comfortable to them.  With the use of Ronda Armitage’s brilliant story, students can contemplate the places they feel most at home.  This is very helpful to… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, children get to think wildly and creatively about the kinds of spaces they wish they could have at home.  Chris Van Dusen is a masterful storyteller and illustrator.  If your kids do not know his work, they will be fans after this lesson.  Make sure… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, children learn about a little girl who, thanks to her Dad’s new job, had to leave her family home, extended family, and friends.  Based on a true story, Sarah Stewart and David Small lead the reader to insights about creating your own “sense of belonging”… Read more

Lesson Overview: L. Frank Baum’s timeless theme in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is that “There’s no place like home.”  In this lesson children will work with that theme in a short picture book and in a popular song from 1971.  I try to use music at least once a… Read more

The first lesson in the Sense of Place: Geography unit is a lesson on using atlases.  The lesson on atlases is in the Information Literacy theme, under the Reference Materials Unit of Inquiry.  It’s Lesson #4, Atlases #1, Atlases.  Please click here to see the lesson. Read more

Lesson Overview: This lesson is actually an activity that builds on last week’s work with atlases.  It is designed to give students a sense of wonder about the incredible diversity and beauty found on Earth.  You’ll need one atlas for every two students and one copy of Lonely Planet’s Beautiful… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, we move away from atlases and places on the map and focus on creating projects that promote an understanding of special locations.  Using travel guides, country books, and city “Panorama Pops”, students work together to create an accordion-style book that highlights features of a particular… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, we build on last week’s idea of creating a piece of work that highlights the students’ understanding of new places.  However, instead of creating an artistic piece of work, students will combine their efforts to create a written piece.  Using travel guide books and local… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students use what they have learned about atlases, geography, and travel writing to create an imaginary holiday itinerary.  Using places nominated by their classmates, they will build some crazy and exciting holiday plans!  This is the final lesson in the unit and should be a… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, children will be introduced to story books and nonfiction titles about forms of transportation. Lesson Plan: Objective: To introduce children to stories and information books with a transportation theme.  To teach the children the famous classic by Watty Piper, The Little Engine That Could. Suggested… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students are introduced to twelve forms of transportation and a non-fiction series of books on transportation.  Be sure that you order the Let’s Go series beforehand so that you have all the necessary books in the collection. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: K-2 Objective: To learn… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students learn about the first documented hot air balloon flight.  The passengers were not people!  Who were they?  Teach this lesson and your children will find out the astonishing truth behind one of aviation’s exciting first flights. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: K-2 Objective: Children will… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will think creatively about designing their own car.  Cars have changed a lot over time, and this lesson gives children a chance to imagine a fantasy car or a car from the future. Lesson Plan: Suggested Ages:  Grades K-2 Objective: Students will use their… Read more

Lesson Overview: Based on the work of Henry David Thoreau and the brilliant adaptation by D.B. Johnson, this lesson asks students to consider and compare two different forms of transportation; walking vs taking a train.  Thought provoking and challenging, students must decide which mode of transport is “best” and why.… Read more