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Daily Lesson Plans: Early Elementary Grades

© Melissa Sztuczko-Payk

How easy can it get?! In my next several articles, I'll be sharing grade-level daily lesson plans I've prepared to keep in my own guest teaching bag. I've created these to use in the event that I'm left with inadequate lesson plans (or none at all!). Feel free to use them in the classroom yourself. You'll note that some activities are repeated or modified for use in different grade levels; I find this saves me planning time and money (fewer supplies to buy), and the repetition it allows me to get comfortable doing each activity.

I've found that Dr. Seuss books make fantastic springboards for activities at almost any grade level; if you've got a sense of humor and approach the activity like it's a fun way to "blow" a day, even most high school students will get a kick out of it.

Lesson One: Language Arts/Fine Motor Skills/Art

Supplies:

"Gerald McBoing Boing" by Dr. Seuss, one copy

Photocopies (1 per student) of the Flip Book and Maze found at Suessville University . Clicking on the "More Fun" icon takes you to another page; there, click on "Gerald McBoing Boing", where you'll find links for both projects.

Directions:

Activity #1: Read "Gerald McBoing Boing" to the class in your most animated fashion.

Activity #2: Have students color and put together the Flip Book.

Activity #3: Have students do the Maze; have them color it when they're done.

Lesson Two: Music/Fine and Gross Motor Skills

Supplies:

A bag of dried rice or beans Paper cups (one per student) Any kind of instruments you find in the classroom (look for bells, percussion sticks, etc-anything the student would be capable of playing)

Directions:

Activity #1: Students make maracas by pouring a couple of tablespoons of dried rice/beans in the cups. Have them cover the top of the cup with one hand and shake it with the other. Play Follow the Leader, having them shake out different beats with the maracas. Note: By having students cover the cups with their hands, you make it easy to pour the rice back out of the cup so you can use your materials again and again. If you wish, this can be a project to take home. Instead of using one cup, students use two; put rice in one cup, put the cups together opening-to-opening and tape securely. If you have time, allow students to decorate their maracas with crayons, markers, etc. (of course, decorate them only if students are taking them home; your next class may not appreciate the artwork of other students on "their" project).