In this lesson, students will look at picture clues to determine the topic of texts. ELs will build vocabulary and language skills by working with partners to discuss and represent texts using drawings.

Want to engage students in reading? Give them books that they want to read! This lesson will give you a chance to learn about your readers so that you can best support them to become fluent readers.

It's time to dig into some nonfiction books! In this lesson, students will practice identifying the main topic of nonfiction texts. This lesson can be used alone or with the How to Find the Main Idea lesson plan.

Read a well-loved story aloud to your second graders and inspire them to write funny titles. In this lesson, students will brainstorm outrageous titles of their very own!

Second grade students will step into the author’s shoes as they hunt for evidence to determine what a nonfiction author’s purpose might be.

Use this lesson to help your students learn how to find the main idea and details in a nonfiction text using a graphic organizer for support.

If you've ever had something go wrong, you know how it feels to search for a solution! Use this lesson to teach your students to identify problems and solutions in fictional text.

In this lesson, students will read text features and discuss how each text feature relates to the main idea of a nonfiction text. Use a stand alone activity or a support for the Examining the Author's Purpose in a Nonfiction Text lesson.

In this lesson, students will retell stories by drawing and talking about what happens at the beginning, middle, and end. This lesson can be used alone or with the Goldilocks and Beginning, Middle, and End lesson plan.

In this lesson, students have a great time using their imaginations to collaborate and create their own story following the "how and why" style of common folktales.

Improve your students' comprehension of non-fictional reading through this lesson that teaches them about text features. Students will find their own text features and explain why they aid in the reading process.

This lesson teaches kids all about Malcolm X and how his childhood influenced him to become one of America's most well known, controversial, and revolutionary figures. First kids will listen to a read-aloud authored by Malcolm X's daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, and then they will write an informative paragraph.

Students will use their understanding of plot, theme, and comparing and contrasting in this lesson that teaches about an award-winning African American author, Jacqueline Woodson. Students will read some of her fiction books and compare and contrast the stories. They'll also discuss what they think makes Jacqueline Woodson an award-winning author.

Students will love talking about what they've been reading when the story comes to life. This tea time activity nourishes students' confidence in addition to improving their reading comprehension skills.

Reading can be a rollercoaster with its ups and downs! Use this lesson that features a rollercoaster-themed story map to teach your students about story structure and how to use a graphic organizer to visualize it.

Let’s read about our rights! In this social studies and language arts lesson, students learn about the Bill of Rights and participate in some fun writing activities.

Llama Llama's adventures are fun, interesting, and ready for your students' keen eyes. Explore the themes, setting, plots, and illustrations to discover hidden similarities and differences between these beloved picture books.

Let’s travel across the United States! In this city-themed lesson that integrates reading and social studies, students explore the culture and history of the cities in the United States.

Students will practice real world organizing as they learn how to alphabetize the classroom library.

Ask an important question this month: What does an activist do? This engaging lesson can be used leading up to Martin Luther King Jr. Day (and year-round). It supports students in understanding what it means to be an activist and how Martin Luther King Jr. used collaborative action to change the world and speak out against oppression. Perfect for first graders and second graders, this activity explores word meaning and other reading and writing skills.

This lesson plan teaches students about Jean-Michel Basquiat and his life as a child. First, students will listen to a story and figure out the main topic and details. Next, students will be asked to think deeply about what it means to be an artist and some of the types of art they like to create. Perfect for first graders and second graders, the lesson Black Artists: Basquiat highlights reading informational texts and building vocabulary.

Change is inevitable, even for story characters! In this lesson, your students will determine how a character changes throughout a story by focusing on the character’s dialogue and actions.

Fully adaptable, this lesson can be used to to highlight African American leaders, famous women, veterans, or any other group of individuals who have acted heroically and have positively influenced our nation!

This engaging lesson plan provides students with an opportunity to learn all about America's prima ballerina, Maria Tallchief.

Let’s put it all together! In this lesson, students will explore the different parts of a drama or play. By the end of the lesson they will be able to define terminology related to plays and give examples of the unique genre features!

This lesson will help students identify the author's point of view and purpose for writing an informational text.

Bing! Bam! Boom! In this bombastic lesson, students will learn about onomatopoeia and create word art to describe the sounds these words make.

It’s raining, it’s pouring! Did you know that clouds can help you predict the weather? Use this lesson with your students to teach them about five different types of clouds and the weather to expect with each type.

Teach your students about picture walks as a strategy to understand the author's purpose in a fictional text. This lesson can be used as a stand-alone lesson or as support for the Examining Author's Purpose in a Fictional Text lesson.

Create conversations about character changes! Use this lesson plan as a stand-alone lesson for practicing sequencing words in evidenced-based claims about a character, or before the Characters Change Just Like We Do lesson.