The Great Kapok Tree is a compelling story that teaches about the importance of protecting the environment, particularly the rainforest. It makes a great 3rd, 4th, or 5th read aloud for Earth Day – or any time of year. Below, find questions and activity ideas to use in your upper elementary lesson plans when reading Lynne Cherry’s The Great Kapok …
7 Examples of Figurative Language in Poetry
Poems are full of figurative language examples, but both figurative language and poetry can be intimidating topics for 3rd, 4th, and 5th students. Ease them into figurative language in poetry with the kid-friendly examples below. After sharing these examples, use one of these figurative language activity ideas to complete your lesson. Or, spend less time on your poetry lesson plans …
A Letter From Your Teacher on the Last Day of School Read Aloud Activities
A Letter From Your Teacher on the Last Day of School is a sweet story that helps 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classrooms reflect on and celebrate the school year. This rhyming book from the teacher’s perspective reminds students of what all they accomplished during the school year, lets them know they will be missed, and offers encouragement for the …
End of Year Opinion Writing Prompts for Reflection
The end of the year offers opportunities for some engaging opinion writing! Have 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students reflect on the school year while practicing their writing skills. Use the EOY opinion writing prompts below as inspiration. If your students are still struggling with opinion writing, then these opinion writing tips and paragraph frames can help provide scaffolding. 1. FAVORITE …
8 Figurative Language Activity Ideas for Upper Elementary Lessons
Looking for activities to spice up your figurative language lessons for your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students? Use the 8 ideas below to help you introduce, review, and practice figurative language with your upper elementary students.Activities to Practice Figurative Language1. Make Anchor ChartsYou can make a separate anchor chart for each type of figurative language that you are teaching, …
Fact and Opinion Activity Ideas for Upper Elementary
If you are teaching fact and opinion to your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students soon, then check out the activity ideas below! Often, fact vs opinion lessons are limited to labeling sentences as either fact or opinion. The ideas below will help you engage your upper elementary students and help them think more critically about this topic.Fact Vs. Opinion …
Last Day Blues – Questions and Activity Ideas for an End of Year Read Aloud
If you start the school year off with the read-aloud First Day Jitters, then you need to end the year with Julie Danneberg’s Last Day Blues! At the beginning of the year, Mrs. Hartwell was nervous about teaching her class – but by the end of the year, she is sad to see her students go. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th …
9 St. Patrick’s Day Writing Ideas & Activities
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students while sneaking in some fun writing practice with one of the 9 ideas below. It’s a win-win for students and teachers!1. Write a LimerickSt. Patrick’s Day is an ideal time to teach your upper elementary students about limericks. This fun poem is believed to be named after Limerick, …
9 Activities for Teaching Decoding Multisyllabic Words
3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students often have difficulty decoding multisyllabic words and will benefit from a variety of opportunities to practice. The 9 activity ideas below will help make teaching decoding multisyllabic words a little easier.Activities to Practice Reading Multisyllabic Words1. Model Decoding Multisyllabic Words and PhrasesThis one is obvious, but so important that it’s worth mentioning. Students need …
Questions and Activity Ideas for Teaching the Read Aloud Those Shoes
Those Shoes is a compelling read aloud about a young boy who cannot afford the pair of shoes that he really wants. The themes of generosity and friendship make it a great picture book to help you set a positive classroom culture in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom. Below, find questions and activity ideas to use in your …