Some of Fleishman's memories in his essay "My House of Voices" are shared with the class. Students then write a descriptive essay that gives a tour of the voices in their homes, school, etc.

Children love books that rhyme and to create their own rhymes. It's a fun way to learn how words sound similar to one another!

Use the online Trading Card Creator tool to have children make cards describing their favorite characters from the books on their reading list.

Boost vocabulary by taking an imaginary trip into space. After a lunar "landing," children return to Earth with a galaxy of new words.

Choose favorite rhyming songs or nursery rhymes then replace the rhyming words with seasonal themes.

Find three fun online games that are designed to help children learn to recognize letters and how they sound.

Kids learn about weather sayings throughout history while writing and illustrating a book for younger children.

Brainstorm popular expressions with friends and family, then explore their meanings through game play and writing/drawing/cut-and-paste activities.

Create a treasure hunt out of word-puzzle clues hidden around the home or yard.

Children incorporate materials from outdoors with paints or crayons to create pieces of art to display on their clotheslines, fences, or porches for a neighborhood art show.

Students brainstorm all the various aspects of Latinx culture and compile topics to research. Groups then research topics and present their information to the class.

Students read a section from On the Road that deals with cross-country travel and reflects Kerouac's unique writing style. Students then attempt to write a narrative using Kerouac's stream-of-consciousness style.

Motivate your middle school reader with books that include LGBTQ characters.

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and you're surrounded by brilliant shades of green! Observe and collect sensory images from nature and use the sights, sounds, smells, and textures to create original nature poetry.

Can't make it to a zoo? After reading a book about apes, observe animal habits and habitats using one of the many Webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world.

Children watch the nighttime sky come alive as the read a book about fascinating elements in the night and write a poem/story about the things they learn!