Have the student make a time capsule with a letter inside telling something about the current time period and the significance of the objects in the capsule.
March 12, 2021
Pourquoi tales are fables that explain natural phenomena, like why lions roar or why snow falls. Talk about how the stories teach a lesson or have a message.
March 11, 2021
Have a conversation with the student about the ways heroes respond to different situations with kindness and empathy. Invite them to share this person’s kind actions through a medium of their choice.
March 10, 2021
Have the student gather 2-3 facts on a topic and create a brief fictional narrative that includes the facts. This creates a hybrid text.
March 8, 2021
Have the student list all of the ways they are similar or different to one of their friends. Invite the student to write a poem that captures the differences and similarities in their friendships.
March 5, 2021
Invite the student to research some local charitable organizations or nonprofits and encourage the student to think of ways that they might be able to help that organization.
March 4, 2021
Assign a specific historical era and invite the student to research the art of the time period. Encourage the student to think of why the artists made the art they did.
March 3, 2021
Invite the student to select 3-4 photos showing family members or an event from their lives. Have the student write a brief nonfiction text using the photos as illustrations.
March 2, 2021
Invite the student to think creatively about what friends mean to them. Encourage them to create a visual representation (such as a collage) of their feelings about friendship.
March 1, 2021
Invite the student to create a short theatrical performance about responding to situations, both small and large, with kindness.
February 26, 2021
Talk briefly about what makes a subject a good choice for a biography as well as the characteristics of biography. Invite the student to choose a person and gather sources for a biography project.
February 25, 2021
Share several nonfiction books illustrated with photographs and illustrations. Talk about the different ways the illustrations and photographs convey information.
February 23, 2021
Choose a favorite animal or living thing, such as a flower or a tree, and have the student find 2-3 facts about the subject they chose. Have them use the facts to write a short lyrical poem.
February 22, 2021
Discuss how important it is to people to feel supported and cared for. Invite the student to come up with a plan for showing their support for an individual, or an organization, in their community.
February 19, 2021
Pay attention to the different styles and techniques of different illustrators. Invite the student to choose a picture book and do research on the illustrator’s background, style, and technique.
February 17, 2021
Have the student choose a topic related to a past event in their community or school, then gather information on the event and write a brief, factual account of the event, using the elements of narrative nonfiction.
February 16, 2021
Talk with the student about times when they’ve helped others overcome loss or when others have done the same for them. Have them write a list of ways to help someone who is coping with loss.
February 15, 2021
Do some research on vanishing indigenous cultures to find out more of their history. Let the student select one culture for a deep dive. Encourage the student to present the results of their research.
February 12, 2021