This lesson helps kindergartners express their emotions about moving to first grade. Featuring The Night Before First Grade by Natasha Wing, it gives young students ample time to introspect, write, and draw.

Read aloud a hilarious diary written from the perspective of a spider, then use the story to launch your first grade journal writing. Students will love creating their very own writing journals.

Through this lesson, your students will use academic vocabulary to discuss character traits, author's purpose, and the sequence of events in a story.

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.