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Point of View & Perspective in Literature | Grades 3, 4, & 5

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Help students in Grades 3–5 master point of view and perspective with this comprehensive ELA Focus Unit! Students identify first, second, and third person narration, distinguish point of view from perspective, and explore how different characters interpret the same events. Includes multi-day lesson plans, anchor posters, task cards, graphic organizers, student practice pages, exit tickets, summative assessment, and answer keys. Works with picture books and other familiar texts.

3rd - 5th Literature

$5.00

Limerick Writing Lesson | Poetry | March & St. Patrick's Day | Grades 3, 4, 5

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Introduce students to limerick poetry with this engaging, print-and-go writing lesson! Perfect for St. Patrick's Day, March, or any poetry unit, students explore rhyme, rhythm, syllable patterns, and the AABBA rhyme scheme before creating their own original limericks. Includes model poems, a step-by-step writing guide, an “Is It a Limerick?” identification activity, and student practice and writing pages. Great for whole-class lessons, literacy centers, or independent writing.

3rd - 6th English Language Arts, Poetry, Writing

$3.00

Seasonal Winter Writing & Craft Projects | Winter Bulletin Board | Grades 3-5

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Bring winter creativity to your Grades 3–5 classroom with Snow Globe Adventure, a narrative writing and craft project! Students imagine themselves inside a snow globe, plan and write a first-person story, and create a 3D snow globe display. This resource guides students through brainstorming, drafting, editing, and publishing while developing plot, dialogue, and sensory details. Includes lesson plans, graphic organizers, writing pages, craft directions, editing checklist, and rubric.

3rd - 5th Other (Arts), Creative Writing, Writing

$3.00

Dynamic Characters: Character Transformation in Literature | Focus Unit| 3, 4, 5

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Explore character development and transformation in literature with this Grades 3–5 ELA Focus Unit. Students investigate internal and external changes, dynamic and static characters, and how characters evolve through picture book read-alouds, discussion, and evidence-based writing. Includes multi-day lesson plans, vocabulary posters, differentiated response pages, comparison activities, matching cards, summative assessment, and answer key.

3rd - 5th English Language Arts, Close Reading, Reading

$5.00

Types of Conflict in Literature | Focus Unit | Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Teach types of conflict in literature with this 10-day ELA Focus Unit for Grades 3–5. Students explore protagonist and antagonist roles and four types of conflict: character vs. self, character, nature, and society. Using picture books as mentor texts, students analyze how conflict shapes plot and characters. Includes lesson plans, scenario sorting cards, task cards, student response pages, exit tickets, assessments, rubrics, and answer keys.

3rd - 5th English Language Arts, Literature, Reading

$5.00

Plot Mountain Graphic Organizer

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Help students visualize story structure with this FREE Plot Mountain graphic organizer! Students identify and record the introduction, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, and resolution of a story. Perfect for Grades 3–6 reading comprehension, literature circles, independent reading, and ELA lessons.

3rd - 6th English Language Arts, Reading Strategies, Writing

Free

FREE Text Evidence Reading Comprehension Activity – Prove It! | Grades 3, 4, 5

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Help students find and support answers with text evidence using Prove It!, a FREE reading comprehension resource for Grades 3–5. Students read three informational and fiction passages, evaluate statements, and underline supporting evidence while building close reading and reasoning skills. Perfect for introducing the RACE writing strategy, literacy centers, small groups, and independent practice. Includes three reading passages, student directions, and a teacher answer key.

3rd - 5th Close Reading, ELA Test Prep, Reading

Free

September Grade 4 Morning Work/Bell Ringer/Enrichment| The New York Daily | SS & ELA Integrated

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Make September morning work meaningful with The New York Daily! This Grade 4 resource includes 20 no-prep NYS Social Studies and ELA activities for bell ringers, early finishers, enrichment, and centers. Students explore Labor Day, New York geography, Niagara Falls, New Netherland, Constitution Day, notable New Yorkers, and historical events through informational texts, primary sources, maps, graphs, and critical thinking tasks. Includes 20 printable activities for independent practice.

4th - 5th U.S. History, Other (Social Studies)

Also included in: 4th Grade Morning Work/Bell Ringer/Enrichment Bundle | September October November| The New York Daily |SS & ELA Integrated

$4.00

October 4th Grade Morning Work/Bell Ringer/Enrichment | ELA/Social Studies Integrated | The New York Daily

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Make October morning work meaningful with The New York Daily! This Grade 4 resource includes 20 no-prep NYS Social Studies and ELA activities for bell ringers, early finishers, enrichment, and centers. Students explore fall foliage, Halloween history, New York inventions, Indigenous history, geography, and historic events through informational texts, primary sources, maps, graphs, and critical thinking tasks. Includes 20 printable activities for independent practice.

4th - 5th Other (ELA), U.S. History, Other (Social Studies)

Also included in: 4th Grade Morning Work/Bell Ringer/Enrichment Bundle | September October November| The New York Daily |SS & ELA Integrated

$4.00

Snowflake Bentley Picture Book + Primary Sources | Inquiry-Based | Grades 4-6

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Bring Snowflake Bentley to life with this three-day Story to Source Investigation for Grades 4–6. Students connect the picture book to six primary and secondary sources, analyzing evidence to determine how accurately the story reflects history. Activities include close reading, collaborative expert groups, source analysis, and evidence-based writing. Includes lesson plans, graphic organizers, discussion prompts, exit tickets, synthesis activities, and bulletin board materials.

4th - 6th English Language Arts, Informational Text

$5.00

Sarah Hale | Persuasive Writing | Thanksgiving | Primary Source Connection| Grades 3-5

Created by
Uplifting Learning with Mrs. S-O

Explore Sarah Josepha Hale's campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday in this engaging three-day writing mini-unit for Grades 3–5. Part of the Story to Source Investigations series, students connect a picture book to historical primary sources while practicing close reading, critical thinking, and persuasive writing. Includes lesson plans, primary source analysis, graphic organizers, writing activities, student publishing materials, and bulletin board display options.

3rd - 6th Art, Informational Text, Writing Essays

$3.00

About the Store

Experience

I bring 33 years of elementary classroom teaching experience, with a particular focus on fourth grade. Throughout my career, I took on numerous leadership roles, including serving as a grade-level chair, participating on my school's technology committee, and establishing and leading community partnerships that enriched students' learning experiences. I also mentored approximately 50 student teachers, presented professional development workshops for fellow educators, and shared my work at state education conferences.

Beyond the classroom, I serve as the Opalka Family Teacher in Residence for the New York State Archives Partnership Trust, where I write and develop educational content for *Archives Jr!* magazine. My work includes researching and writing historical articles, designing primary source investigations, and creating engaging learning activities that make New York State history accessible to young learners. In this role, I continue to share my expertise through presentations at state and national education conferences.

Drawing on my classroom experience, I develop educational resources emphasizing English Language Arts, social studies, New York State history, and the use of primary sources to build students' critical thinking skills.

Teaching style

My teaching style centers on active, engaging learning that encourages students to think critically, ask questions, and make meaningful connections. I believe students learn best when they are actively involved in discovering information, exploring different perspectives, and applying what they have learned.

I emphasize inquiry-based learning, hands-on activities, and the integration of English Language Arts across subject areas. Whether students are analyzing primary sources, investigating historical events, working collaboratively, or responding to literature, I encourage them to examine evidence, draw conclusions, and support their thinking.

I also believe that meaningful learning should be accessible to all students. My lessons incorporate a variety of approaches, including visual resources, discussion, reading, writing, and creative activities, to accommodate different learning needs and encourage student participation.

Above all, I strive to create learning experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence, and help students develop the skills to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners.

Honors and awards

AWARDS
* Historic Pittsford Preservation Award for Education 2024
* New York State Archives Student Research Awards Winner - 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024
* New York State Archives Educator Award for Excellence in the Use of Primary Source Documents - 2019
* Air Force Association Chapter Teacher of the Year 2018
* Monroe County Legislature Excellence in Teaching Proclamation - 2018

Education

MS Education with Reading Certificate - SUNY Cortland;
BS Fine Arts, Elementary Education Certificate - Nazareth College of Rochester

More About Me

At Uplifting Learning, you'll find classroom-tested lessons and activities designed to make teaching easier and learning meaningful. Explore my collections to find resources that fit your classroom!

📚 ELA & Literacy | Grades 3–5

ELA Focus Units
Literacy lessons using carefully selected picture books as mentor texts to help students explore, practice, and apply essential reading and writing skills.

Write, Create, Display
Creative writing projects paired with crafts and activities that turn student work into engaging classroom displays.

🔎 History & Primary Source Investigations

Story to Source Investigations
Connect literature and history through picture books and authentic primary sources while building inquiry, critical thinking, and evidence-based reasoning skills.

The American Revolution Series | Grades 4–7
Literacy-rich lessons, primary sources, and historical investigations exploring the people, events, and ideas of the American Revolution. Designed for classrooms nationwide.

🗽 New York State Social Studies | Grade 4

NYS Social Studies Framework Units
Comprehensive, standards-aligned units with detailed lesson plans, primary sources, informational texts, engaging activities, and assessments.

The New York Daily
Quick, engaging activities integrating NYS Social Studies and ELA skills. Perfect for morning work, bell ringers, early finishers, and enrichment.