From the compass rose to the map key, first grade students will learn about three characteristics that make up a map. Symbols are used on maps too, as students practice what they can do!

To help develop independent readers, we need to make sure our students are able to identify books they can read independently. Teaching students to pick "just right" books helps them develop reading fluency by reading books at their level.

This lesson, perfect for first and second grade learners, will help kids become environmental activists as they think of ways to help the Earth! First, students will brainstorm examples of what it means to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Next, students will partake in a creative art project where they trace their hands and think of way ways they can give the planet a hand. This engaging activity integrates creative writing skills and Earth science.

Looking closely at pumpkins is a good way to incorporate math, specifically estimation and counting. This lesson can be messy and requires some clean up, but kids love it!

Featuring a series of hands on activities and worksheets, this ESL-friendly lesson will give your young writer a comprehensive overview of common punctuation marks.

It's time to make—and hide—animals! In this lesson, students read a story about camouflage and then create their own animals to hide. Finally, students write an informational paragraph to describe their animals' hiding powers.

Students will love practicing their sight word reading skills using this fun scavenger hunt lesson plan! Can be used as a stand alone lesson or a pre-lesson for the Sight Word Salad lesson plan.

Rhythm, reading, and writing make a perfect pair in poetry. Let your young writers practice these skills with the -at word family and common CVC words.

Have your students been begging for a class pet? Combine opinion letter writing with science as your students try to convince you to get the PERFECT class pet.

Do your students respect their peers' opinions? This lesson teaches first graders that their opinions matter by encouraging them to write out opinions and back them up with reasons.

In this lesson, students will learn how to be a good friend. The class will generate guidelines on friendship and create a friendship collage.

Forming and sharing opinions is a vital part of self-expression. Use the following lesson to help your students write opinions and support them with three convincing reasons.

Help build your students subtraction skills by finding the unknown! This lesson will help your students understand the relationship between addition and subtraction, as students build towers to find unknown addends.

As students re-read nonfiction texts, have them classify visual features and record learnings from the captions.

In this lesson, students will discuss, generate a list, and practice appropriate activities that may improve the way they feel. Students will engage in a gratitude practice and learn strategies for changing their mood.

Mae Jemison was the first African American female astronaut to enter space. Use the Get to Know Mae Jemison lesson plan to learn more about this famous scientist. Children will then read and write about her, and create their own paper rocket.

In this lesson, students will learn about their superpower sense of listening and speaking by listening and responding to questions with kindness, attention, and mindfulness.

Good readers ask questions before, during, and after reading. This lesson, which incorporates two wonderful activities and some practice with the 5 Ws, is sure to get your students ready to dive into literature.