Lesson Plans

YMI's educational outreach programs tap into popular culture to create a dynamic learning experience. Browse by subject through our library of free study guides and online resources, to find standards-based lesson plans for your grade level and programs for learners outside the classroom.

Language Arts

Elementary, Middle, and High School

One in five children today is living with a mental illness. That’s why it’s important to talk about children’s mental health. These classroom programs will…

Grades 1-4

Introduce students to fun characters and friends in new chapter book series! Whether it’s making friends at a new school, working with classmates, or dealing…

Grades 9-12

Excite students to flex their storytelling and critical-thinking skills using monstrously fun activities based on the popular collaborative roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. The materials…

Grades 6-8

Take students on a monstrously exciting learning adventure using activities based on the popular collaborative roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. The materials will help them…

Grades 3-8

Inspire learning and create classroom fun using iconic features of the popular TV series Survivor. Students will collaborate and practice critical-thinking skills to solve puzzles…

Grades 2-5 and 6-12

In today’s tech-first world, help your students build REAL connections with family and peers with engaging activities that have them conducting interviews, collaborating, and simply…

Grades 9-12

Help set up your students for success by equipping them with skills to make smart financial decisions, now and in the future. Through the activities,…

Grades 4-6

Encourage your students to favorably contribute to their community with activities inspired by the NFL Players Association’s Community MVP program, which honors players who make…

Grades 6-12

Support students in learning about the importance of eye health and vision care, as well as the career opportunities available in optometry. And share the…

Grades 1-3

Set sail on a thrilling adventure with activities inspired by Disney’s Moana 2, where Moana answers a new call to explore beyond the familiar seas…

Upper Elementary and Middle School

Engage students in conversations and activities to reinforce the concept that what you have to say matters. Reinforce ELA and SEL skills with writing prompts…

Grades 4-8

Excite students about the history and science behind one of their favorite snacks, and how this special treat has influenced movie-going for many years. Students…

Grades 3-5, 6-8

Inspire your students to explore the role of settings (places, cities, and worlds) in storytelling with the popular collaborative roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)….

Preschool - Grade 3

Invite students to join in the adventures of the Alden children as they solve mysteries inspired by the beloved Boxcar Children series. Students will practice…

Grades 3-5 and 6-8

Embark on an unforgettable adventure with your students with engaging activities that explore themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the important role family and friends play…

3-5 and 6-8

No matter the weather, the season, or your skin tone, it’s always important to be sun safe! Help your students soak up sun protection knowledge…

Grades 6-8

Biodiversity is the vast diversity of life on Earth. The activities encourage students to explore biodiversity, including what it is, how human activities are putting…

Grades 1-2

Encourage a love of reading with a wide variety of Step Into Reading book genres. Each developmental step includes engaging stories, colorful artwork or photographs….

High School 9-12

Help students prepare for job interviews and launching an independent life after graduation with activities that explore decision making and how cotton can help keep…

Grades 1-3

Embark on an exciting journey with activities inspired by Inside Out 2, which features a return to the mind of Riley and her Emotions who…

Grades 6-12

Support students in learning myths, facts, and dangers surrounding fentanyl and how to protect themselves and others from drug overdoses. And share the family letter…

Grades 2-3

Support students’ reading and ELA skills by exploring characters and settings that are “just right” for their levels and varied interests and reinforce narrative writing…

Grades 6-12

The activities in this program and accompanying PowerPoint presentation are designed to raise awareness about fentanyl and fake pills sold online, and to empower young…

Grades 3-5, 6-8

Inspire your students to take their writing to new heights by using characters, events, and settings based on the popular collaborative roleplaying game, Dungeons &…

Grades 4-6

Help your students become responsible, kind, and safe digital citizens with activities inspired by the new middle grade novel Finally Heard by award-winning author Kelly…

Grades 3-5

Help students establish good sleep habits while learning about the connection between sleep and physical and mental well-being. These activities also extend the learning to…

Elementary (K-6)

Prepare your students for the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, with activities from Peanuts Worldwide and NASA that explore the science behind a solar…

Elementary Grades 2-5
Middle/High School Grades 6-12

Reinforce the importance of always being your authentic self, using real dairy milk and its nutrition as inspiration. Students learn about the nutrients that make…

Grades 3-5

Ever wonder what makes you, YOU? In Pixar Animation Studio’s all-new feature film Soul, Joe, a middle school band teacher, explores the answer to this…

Elementary – Grades 1-3 and 4-6

Take your students on a learning adventure with activities and games that incorporate analytical thinking and creativity to explore the science behind avian migration, how…

Elementary – Grades 4-6

Encourage your students to go on exciting missions with activities inspired by the action-packed book series City Spies by James Ponti. The activities include puzzle…

Elementary Grades 1-3

Encourage your students to become learning stars with inspiration from Asha, the heroine who turns to the sky and stars to help her family and…

Grades 4-8

Encourage your students to learn about the legend and the science behind an American treat—popcorn. They’ll explore popcorn’s role in American myth, the science of…

Grades 4-6

Encourage your students to explore new and classic books in a variety of genres—adventure, classics, school stories, fantasy, historical fiction, and realistic fiction. Activities will…

Grades 4-6, 6-8

Engage your students in a quest to explore the mysterious and mythological world of dragons with activities inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game…

Elementary – Grades K-2

Create excitement for reading independently in the classroom with activities that reinforce story elements (character, setting, and plot), forecasting predictions, and making inferences.

Elementary Grades 2-4

Explore how denim “grows” from the cotton plant with the help of a whimsical cotton boll named Baxter as your guide. Students learn about the…

Elementary – grades 4-6

Explore the impact small acts of kindness can have in the community. With activities that focus on kindness, hope, and self-reflection, students will practice research…

1-2 and 3-6

New dinosaurs. New habitats. New season. The five-night second season of the award-winning natural history event series Prehistoric Planet transports viewers millions of years into…

Grades 1-3

Welcome to Element City! It is a unique and thriving metropolis where residents made of air, land, fire, and water live together — carefully! Inspired…

Grades 4-6

Inspire your students to explore new book genres for a summer reading adventure! This program includes a book list with descriptions of popular Simon &…

3-5

Help your students celebrate spring and Earth Day (April 22) in an exciting new way! Based on the environmental messages in Dr. Seuss’s timeless book,…

Grades 4-6, 6-8

Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to empower your students to become more confident, tackle challenges head-on, and learn perseverance? Explore these…

Elementary (Grades 1-5)

Encourage students to take small steps to create big changes to help wildlife around the world with activities inspired by Jane Garcia, the 9-year-old activist-in-training…

Elementary (K-6)

The Peanuts Gang is celebrating an anniversary! It was 55 years ago when the Peanuts comic strip introduced its first African American character, Franklin Armstrong….

Grades 4-7

Stuart Gibbs, bestselling author of beloved, humorous, and suspenseful middle-grade series, including Charlie Thorne, FunJungle, and Spy School, is on a new mission to inspire…

Elementary, Middle School, and High School (grades 2-12)

Help build students’ sense of self and reinforce an appreciation for themselves and others, while supporting social-emotional learning, language arts skills, and creativity. For grades…

Grades 5-6, 7-8

Research shows that children begin to self-medicate at around age 11 — in fifth and sixth grades. This free multi-media educational program is designed to…

Secondary School

Go For Real teaches students how to make smart buying decisions early on as they become more independent. Purchasing counterfeit products could risk their health…

Grades 3-5 and 6-8

Check Out What’s Chilling! teaches students in grades 3-5 and 6-8 that eating nutritious foods is not only important for them but for the health…

Grades 6-12

Help keep students safe on the roads with Drive2Life! When it comes to driving safety, passengers have responsibilities just like drivers. This includes speaking up…

Grades 4-6

Take your students behind-the-scenes of the exciting world of agriculture with the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee. These lessons delve into the different stages of…

Grades 3-5

This narrative writing program is inspired by the highly illustrated book series Once Upon a Tim by Stuart Gibbs. Tim dreams of becoming a knight…

4-8

For centuries, festivals have inspired communities around the world to come together in celebration. And popcorn, a centuries-old grain that remains one of the most…

Elementary (K-2, 3-6)

Gazing at the night sky never fails to fill us with wonder: Are we all alone in the vastness of space? In season 2 of…

K-12

Prepare your students for safe adventures online with Into the Cloud, the new NetSmartz® web-series that takes kids on an exciting journey across the internet…

Elementary (K-6)

Join the Peanuts gang and embrace the messages of positivity and caring for ourselves, for each other, and for the Earth. Inspire students with these…

Grades 4-6

Meet Ben Ripley, a brilliant — although not-so-coordinated — twelve-year-old who is recruited as a junior secret operative for the CIA! Like Ben, your students…

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Let your middle schoolers explore climate change with IMAX presents The Last Glaciers. Traveling across several countries over four years, Filmmaker Craig Leeson highlights the…

Grades 4-6

Superheroes, archnemeses, secrets, and castles, along with funny moments, hope, and “the Frets” (anxiety) are all part of Portico Reeves’ life — a life your…

K-2, 3-8

Help support your students’ language skills and social-emotional learning with two programs from got milk? For K-2, the “Never Doubt What You Love” program uses…

Grades 6-12

Raise awareness about the dangers of opioids to help your students make informed choices if they are in a situation involving these drugs. Connecting the…

Elementary (K-2, 3-6)

Explore, learn, and dream with Snoopy as he soars into space! You and your students can join Snoopy as he prepares for his new role…

Middle School (grades 6-8)

Help your students become active citizens in their community and empower them to make changes they’re passionate about with We the People. The series of…

Grades 4-6

“You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.” With this powerful message, R.J. Palacio’s award-winning book, Wonder, has captured the hearts of…

Grades 2-4

At school, at home, and in their communities, students are increasingly aware of the importance of caring for the environment and the effects of climate…

Ages 14-17

Inspired by the film Dear Evan Hansen, this teaching kit invites high school students to explore the film’s themes, including concepts of identity, empathy, inclusivity,…

3-5

Take your students on an adventure they’ll never forget with The Addams Family. In their latest movie, the unique family takes a road trip that…

1-3

Bring teamwork and fun into your classrooms with activities from TRANSFORMERS and POWER RANGERS. With the help of TRANSFORMERS, your students will journey to Cybertron…

High School (Grades 10-12)

Panic takes place in the small town of Carp during the summer after high school graduation. Each year there is a deadly competition among graduates…

Elementary (K-6)

Join Snoopy as he celebrates the landing of NASA’s rover Perseverance and its mission to find signs of ancient life on Mars. Students will learn…

3-6

WOLFWALKERS is an award-winning animated film that tells the story of two girls, one the daughter of a wolf hunter, the other part of a…

Elementary K-2, 3-5

Usher in Spring by helping students create new beginnings and opportunities to make healthy choices for the mind, body, and spirit! Use these fun activities…

Elementary K-2, 3-5

Promote positivity in your classroom by motivating students to focus on what’s good in their lives. Inspired by Glass Half Full News — an online…

High School (Grades 10-12)

The Wilds, a new series on Amazon Prime Video, explores the lives of eight high-school students from different backgrounds who are stranded on a deserted…

Elementary (K-6)

Join Snoopy — a seasoned space traveler — in celebrating the 20th anniversary of humans living on the International Space Station! Students will learn about…

Elementary (Grades 1-4)

Explore space and the North and South Poles with activities that complement themes from two books in The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library, an…

Middle School (6-8)

One out of five kids ages 12 to 18 has been bullied.* To help change this statistic, Pilot Pen launched the Erase Bullying for Good…

Elementary & Middle (5-8)

Take your students on a magical creative writing quest with an exciting free program inspired by Disney & Pixar’s Onward. The activities, inspired by the…

Middle School and High School

Take your students on a creative writing adventure with this free program inspired by The Call of the Wild, a new film from 20th Century…