There are several critical five minute periods in any lesson, and it is important for teachers to know how to use them. No matter how long a period may be, the most important five minutes, and no more, should be written out. This writing forces the teacher to put down on paper only the most important items. The first five minutes of a period…

This document contains lesson plans for teaching the left-right relational concept to preschool children. Procedures were designed from a Piagetian framework, so that cognitive conflict was considered a necessary condition for the evolution of transpositional skills. Conflicting viewpoints were instituted through teacher initiated peer…

States that some of the elements that make fictional stories so powerfully engaging can be used in teaching any subject at any level. Shows how typical classroom lessons can use some of the structural features of stories to make them engaging and meaningful. (GEA)

The author offers a format for preparing lesson plans across academic subjects. The block format allows planning lessons around multiple problem objectives. A sample block form multiobjective lesson plan includes demonstration and encourages cooperative problem solving and language skills. (CL)

On Fridays, the author gives her students a dittoed schedule sheet of the coming week'sactivities, assignments, and announcements. (Author/SP)

The IEP organizer, a device for collating the individualized educational programs of all students in a class, eliminates the need for writing daily lesson plans. Construction and use guidelines are given. (CL)

The authors present a scheme for teaching primary grade students about graphing. (SJL)

This article identifies two approaches to teaching specific thinking skills, presents a sample lesson plan, and includes as an example a "Thinking Skills Worksheet" that outlines an approach to teaching the thinking skills of comparing and contrasting. (IAH)

Describes an eight-step four-week assignment for teaching theater students about blocking and stage directions. Outlines each assignment in detail and provides questions for the students at each stage--from choosing the excerpt or play to staging and directing. (PRA)

Outlines a basic approach to "Readers Theatre," the communication of literature in a theatrical context. Contains the exercises "Sardines Today!" which promotes awareness of poetic setting, and "Dress Up Day!" which presents an opportunity to explore the role of suggestive costuming. (PRA)

Outlines the components of a Montessori lesson plan. Includes discussion of the activity's purpose, prior experience, needed materials, points of interest, presentation, control of error, and variations or extensions of the activity. (KB)

The new school year is, first and foremost, an opportunity for a new start. If you're among the fortunate ones who had a vacation and time to reflect this summer, you've surely considered ways to be more effective in the classroom and make life easier at home this year. There are many ideas and activities that fit the bill, but there's one that…

When one of the author's education students showed her third-grade students some peanuts her uncle had grown, she immediately recognized the teachable moment. Students immediately bombarded her with questions: Where do peanuts come from? Who cleans them? How are they used besides eating? Are all nuts alike? Do nuts grow on trees? All three…

Along with the awesome responsibility to teach science content and inquiry comes a responsibility to nurture an understanding of the nature of science. Just what is nature of science? As simple as this statement sounds, the term in and of itself is not readily agreed upon in scientific communities. For K-12 and science education communities,…

This three-part weather-themed lesson for young learners connects weather, clothing, and feelings vocabulary. The target structures covered are: asking about the weather; comparing weather; using the modal auxiliary, should; and the question word, when. The lessons utilize all four skills and include such activities as going outside, singing,…