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.

The best way to learn about shapes? Make them! This lesson gets students using clay to make and learn about 3-D shapes.

Explore 3-D shapes with your students and help them identify and talk about the relevant attributes of three-dimensional shapes, all while using real-world examples! Use this as a stand-alone lesson or alongside the Shape Models lesson.

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.

Use this lesson to reinforce using sentence level context clues to decode challenging words in a nonfiction text. This can be used as a stand alone activity or a support the Using Context Clues to Understand Word Meanings lesson.

Shape up your students' understanding of geometrical attributes with this hands-on math lesson. Students will gain a better understanding of how to describe a shape by the number of edges and vertices it has, rather than by its name.

Playing make-believe and telling stories are favorite childhood pastimes. Thus, no matter their reading level, students will love the opportunity to “read” to others and explore pictures as they take a walk through books.

In this lesson, your students will break down composite figures to identify 2-D shapes that make them. Students will put together 2-D shapes to create a composite shape.

With this activity, students will identify shapes, build 3-D shapes, and practice describing shapes with a partner.

Who doesn’t love learning about animals? Engage students in research as they write informational books about animals.

Want students to use text features in their writing? Begin by having them examine the text features that they see in informational books.

Engage students in reading grade-level texts by making and testing predictions. Your students will be excited to read on to find out if their predictions are correct!

In this lesson, students will practice finding and reading sight words in books. This lesson can be used alone or with the Context Clue Detectives lesson plan.

In this lesson, students will learn all about Maria Montessori, a pioneering researcher and teacher, and create their own biographical books about this inspiring woman.

Ready, set, bingo! Students will use a fun, fast-paced game of word bingo to practice reading and spelling grade-level sight words.

Students blend sounds all the time when they speak, but a whole new level of ssshhh is possible through selected literature and picture sorts!

The ability to read aloud well and with confidence is an important part of student development. In this lesson, students will use picture books and record videos of themselves reading aloud.

In this lesson, your students will play "I Spy" to identify 3-D shapes. They will use language to describe the shapes and be able to compare them easily.

Everyone has feelings! In this lesson, students explore different feelings by recognizing them on faces. As they look through books, students will find pictures that show a variety of expressions.

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.

Get ready to teach students strategies for understanding new words! Students will practice strategies to read new words in nonfiction books. This lesson can be used alone or with the New Words, New Ideas: Reading Nonfiction lesson plan.

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.

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.

In this lesson, your students will use illustrations as they read a grade level story to a partner. They will engage their fine motor skills as they complete a simple cut and paste matching activity.

Your students will love playing the classic game of bingo, with a twist to practice reading and spelling grade level word families.

Real-life connections are made in this realistic writing lesson. Students will explore differences between fantasy and realistic fiction, using trade books as a model for their own writing.

Give your students a chance to hone their reading comprehension skills as they learn about the characters, setting, and plot of their favorite fiction books by creating a story map.

In this lesson, your students will strengthen their basic fact fluency and determine whether or not number sentences are true. Engage your students by giving them worksheets at their level.

Students love comic books! Channel their excitement for this fun genre and get their creative writing juices flowing. By writing their own comic strips, students will be practicing composing, sequencing, and using dialogue.

Let your students learn more about books with this lesson that helps them learn to identify key parts of a physical book. This information will have them well prepared for research projects later on.