Students are often given collaborative learning assignments, but they need to be explicitly taught how to participate in collaborative groups. This lesson uses explicit teaching and a read aloud (Three Hens and a Peacock by Lester Laminack) to instruct students in HOW to work in a group.

Students are often given collaborative learning assignments, but they need to be explicitly taught how to participate as individuals in collaborative groups.

The North Carolina Symphony's Musical Meditations series offers moments to be calm, present, and mindful, supporting stress-management during the busy school day. Each short video features the NC Symphony playing musical excerpts from famous composers set to the breathtaking visuals from North Carolina State Parks.

The NC Kids' Exploration Journals are a fun educational tool to help youth explore their communities and natural surroundings! Each journal contains: 18 multidisciplinary activities with guided prompts, 6 lined journal pages for recording observations and reflections, and 4 blank pages for individual creativity.

The digital versions of the journal are designed to be printed out for students either as individual activities or in its entirety so that they can explore their school yard, local park, or own backyard. Though designed for 1st - 5th-graders, older audiences may enjoy them too! They are also available in both English and Spanish languages.

While supplies last, hard copies of the journals are currently available for free to teachers by contacting karen.ipock@ncdcr.gov.

In this lesson, students will be able to identify details from a text involving feeling words, emotions and reactions. Students will be able to express how they would feel in a situation and what zone they would be in.