Want to get your students thinking more critically during your point of view lessons? Use the list of higher-order thinking questions and stems below to help your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students think about point of view in a variety of different ways. The 36 point of view questions are organized with Bloom’s Taxonomy in mind. You can also …
Use the Four Corners Strategy in Your Classroom to Compare and Contrast
Four Corners is a popular strategy where different statements are posted at each of the 4 corners of the classroom. 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students are asked to go to the statement that they most agree with and then discuss it with the other students there. Although this game is often used for ice breakers or debate, it can …
Teaching Main Idea / Central Idea – Activities to Build Understanding
Teaching main idea and supporting details / central idea to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students can be a very frustrating experience; it is such a difficult skill to understand. Very few of my lessons seemed to have an effect on my 3rd grade students – either they understood how to find the main idea without my help, or they …
Introducing Character Traits With a Fun Freebie
When introducing character traits, making it relevant to students is the best way to get them interested and engaged. Instead of introducing character traits with a lesson that has students read other texts and identify traits of different characters, have students think about their own character traits. There are several fun and easy ways to do this with your 2nd …
No Prep Character Trait Activity Ideas
When teaching upper elementary students about character traits, we often focus on the reading aspect – how to identify character traits, how to find evidence from the text, filling out character trait graphic organizers, how to build character trait vocabulary, how characters are described within a text, etc. However, integrating writing into your lessons on character traits can be a …
Developing Character Trait Vocabulary
One of the most essential parts of teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students character traits is helping them build their character trait vocabulary. Students need to be able to describe character traits using precise and descriptive language. The activity ideas below make a great addition to any character trait lesson plan, and will help your students build their vocabulary.Why …
10 Ways to Use Number Grids in Upper Elementary
Ever had one of those days? The kind where you are constantly interrupted by ridiculousness from your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade studetns? The end of the day was finally approaching, and I’ll admit it – I was exhausted. And my math block was almost over, having been taken up by several behavior problems (one of which involved fireworks). There …
Character Traits Word Wall
Have you experienced the excitement of an engaging, rigorous lesson only to later discover that you left your students more confused than when you started? The Character Trait Word Wall in my 3rd grade classroom came as a result of one of these huge teaching failures. But like most failures, it turned into an opportunity for an even better learning …
Printable Character Traits List – Positive and Negative Traits
Below are 3 different character trait lists for you to use to help expand your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students’ character trait vocabulary. Or, check out these other freebies, tips, and ideas to make teaching character traits easier. You can download a free pdf / printable version of these character trait lists at the bottom of the webpage.Character Traits …