Lesson Plans

This page contains lesson plans for various grades created by Patrick Mendonca, sometimes in conjunction with other educators. Click on the title of the lesson to view a PDF document of the full lesson. (PDF Documents are in English only. You may need Adobe Acrobat to view PDF documents.)

Exploring Factors and Prime Numbers

Grades Four to Seven

This lesson revolves around student exploration of factors and prime numbers. Students use math manipulatives to discover that prime numbers can only be expressed as a single row or column of manipulatives, while non-prime numbers can be expressed as various rectangles or squares.

Non-Fiction Reading and Reporting

Grades One to Three

This lesson asks students to read about an "amazing insect" from an expository, non-fiction text, and then report back in writing their findings. Students are exposed to non-fiction concepts of print and the idea of reporting facts from books. The lesson can be adapted for any relevant and engaging non-fiction text.

Music and Multiplication Warm-up

Any Grade Level

This lesson is a short warm-up that gives students a chance to practice basic multiplication facts. As a whole group students and teachers use rhythm and patterns to clap along to multiplication sentences. The physical aspects of this lesson should involve students' minds and bodies, and the whole-group aspect takes away any math anxiety students may be feeling.

Edible Plant Parts

Grades Two or Three

This lesson is designed to show children the different edible portions of plants. The children learn the names of parts of plants, and how different vegetables are actually functional, living parts of plants. This will help young children understand food sources, plant biology, and similarities and differences across plants.

Tracking Weather Systems

Grade Six

This lesson is meant to be taught in conjunction with Prentie Hall's "Focus on Earth Science" Chapter 8. Sixth grade students will keep class records of the daily weather, using appropriate vocabulary, and use that information to give a daily weather report and prediction.