Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students use a non-fiction text to learn how advertisements are made.  This is a Unit of Inquiry lesson with notetaking practice. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: 4-5  Objective: Practice notetaking using a Unit of Inquiry text on advertising.  (Information Literacy Skills.)  Students will be able to… Read more

Lesson Overview:  In this lesson, students learn about trailers as a form of advertising.  Using what they learned last week about how advertisements are made, students “deconstruct” four book trailers. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: 4-5 Objective: To introduce students to the concept of Book Trailers as a way to advertise… Read more

Lesson Overview: Building on what they learned last week about trailers, the students will make their own book trailers.  A fair bit of preparation is required to pull this off, but it’s a great integration of technology in the library, and the kids have a fabulous product to show their… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students celebrate their learning by watching the completed book trailer videos.  Kids are usually extremely proud of their videos!  Give them the chance to reflect on and celebrate their achievements by hosting a red-carpet video premiere!  Add popcorn or healthy movie treats for an especially… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, children are introduced to the basic elements of Dr. Seuss’s artistic style.  They will make a simple “Cat in the Hat” style hat and decorate it to make a class display. Lesson Plan: Objective: Identify and describe the artistic style of Dr. Seuss. Suggested Time:… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, children are introduced to the basic elements of Eric Carle’s artistic style.  They will make a Carle-inspired “collage” using a blended color technique. Lesson Plan: Objective: Identify and describe the artistic style of illustrator Eric Carle. Suggested Time: 45 minutes – 1 hour Success Criteria:… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, children are introduced to the basic elements of Mo Willems’ artistic style.  They will complete a simple drawing of a Mo Willems character in Mo Willems’ style. Lesson Plan: Objective: Identify and describe the artistic style of illustrator Mo Willems. Suggested Time: 45-60 minutes Success… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, children are introduced to the basic elements of David Shannon’s artistic style.  They will complete a “No David” mask to show their understanding and to make a classroom display.  The “No David” mask can also be used as a writing prompt. Lesson Plan: Objective: Identify… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will practice making predictions based on visual clues in a text.  They will also sequence a story using an author-provided handout and extend the lesson with a simple craft activity. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: K-2  Objective: To practice prediction and story sequencing using a… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students are introduced to the concept of story mapping through a modern classic, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: K-2  Objective: To teach the technique of story mapping so that children can use a story map to retell the tale.… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson students learn to tell a story with words and hand movements.  Best on a rainy day, Martin and Archambault’s rain storm masterpiece lets children perform a piece of poetry together.  Children will learn to perform the poem which is perfect to share in an assembly!… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson students also learn to tell a story with words and hand movements.  However, the Bear Hunt will serve as a model for the students’ own stories and dramatic performances.  Get ready for some creative thinking and writing once the kids have mastered this one! Lesson… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students draw on what they have learned about story structure and story performance to write and perform their own stories.  I have written this into one lesson plan, but it will most likely take two to four lessons for the students to plan their projects,… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students celebrate their learning by watching the completed storytelling videos.  As the videos are normally several weeks in the making, kids are extremely proud of their productions!  Give them the chance to reflect on and celebrate their achievements by hosting a red-carpet video premiere!  Add… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students are introduced to ten popular storybook characters.  The introduction will encourage them to read more broadly from books several series they may not have known.  It will give them more “storybook friends” to enjoy and will enable them to recognize on sight more of… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, children learn to “tune in” to their unit on patterns by learning about language patterns.  They will learn to recognize the simplest language pattern of all – identical repetition.  Through Mr. Gomi’s ingenious work, children discover the A:A, B:B, C:C pattern and how it can… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students explore another language pattern.  The Lobels’ breathtaking story uses a cumulative A, AB, ABC, ABCD, ABCDE, etc., pattern to paint the picture of a perfect flower garden, until the cat and mouse show up!  Introduce your students to a new language pattern while also… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students learn to recognize the “nesting” language pattern.  Building on the patterns they identified in previous lessons, they will find that this pattern is a bit more challenging to discover and name! Lesson Plan: Suggested Grades: 2-3 Objective: Each student will identify and describe the… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will learn the pattern of a circular or chain story.  This lesson is easy to teach, and the kids get a kick out of putting the circular pattern together.  Not only do they learn to identify a circular/chain story, but they write one together… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students learn what poetry is and that poetry is meant to evoke emotion.  They also learn where to find the library’s poetry collection.  Classroom teachers typically take a more traditional approach to poetry through its forms, number of syllables, rhyme, or structure.  I usually teach… Read more

Lesson Overview: Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein will crack even the toughest reluctant reader.  Kids see each poem as a funny puzzle, a hilarious challenge that will draw them out and have them playing with words faster than you can say “Runny Babbit.”  I’ve used Mr. Silverstein’s Runny Babbit in… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, children are introduced to story poems.  Story poems are longer poems that tell a story, complete with characters, a plot, and hopefully a happy ending.  Their form varies, but for elementary students the important thing is that the children recognize rhyme, meter, purposeful word choice,… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students learn how poetry has inspired other works of art.  Using T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and a few video clips, students will understand how poetry has the power to inspire not only common people, but writers, musicians, costumer designers, engineers, and… Read more

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students read and perform poetry with a partner.  Using the brilliant work of Mary Ann Hoberman, poetry is interactive, fun, and engaging.  You can use this lesson with very little preparation except a few color copies and have the kids begging for more!  When poetry… Read more