Mr. Henderson's Learning Hub
Carmel, Indiana, United States
About the store
Welcome! I’m Chris Henderson — an educator with over 12 years of classroom experience and a passion for helping students fall in love with learning. I’ve spent my career designing creative, meaningful resources that make lessons feel alive — whether it’s a hands-on literacy center, a cross-curricular science activity, or a system to keep your classroom running smoothly.
I’ve taught first grade and other primary levels for over a decade, specializing in early literacy, structured routines, and inclusive practices that meet the needs of all learners. My resources are designed to save you time while keeping your students engaged, curious, and confident.
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Poetry-Two-Week Poetry Unit Bundle for Grades K–2
🌈 Two-Week Poetry Unit Bundle for Grades K–2Teach poetry with purpose and play!This two-week poetry bundle includes everything you need to guide your young writers through a joyful exploration of poetic forms, figurative language, and creative expression. With ready-to-use slides, examples, and writing templates, this resource makes teaching poetry simple, meaningful, and fun — no extra prep required! Over the course of two weeks, students will learn how poets use rhythm, repetition, metaphor,
K - 3rd
Creative Writing, Poetry
Fairytale Drama Techniques-End of Unit Project
🎭 Fairytale Drama Techniques BundleBring fairytales to life with this interactive drama bundle designed to deepen comprehension, spark creativity, and build confidence in young readers! This bundle includes four engaging lessons that integrate literacy and performance, helping students embody characters, analyze story structure, and express understanding through movement, voice, and imagination. Perfect for Reader’s Workshop, literacy centers, or whole-group lessons! 🌟 Included Drama Tech
K - 6th
Drama, Literature, Reading
Fairytale Drama Techniques-Tableau
Tableau – Students work together to create frozen “snapshots” of key story moments, capturing the beginning, middle, and end of a fairytale. Great for sequencing and visualizing story structure.
PreK - 6th
Literature, Other (Arts), Reading
CCSS
RL.K.2
, RL.K.3
, RL.K.10
+8
Also included in: Fairytale Drama Techniques-End of Unit Project
Poetry-Found Poems
✏️ Found Poems: Mystery Object PoetryIn this engaging Writer’s Workshop lesson, students learn how poetry can be found in everyday things. Using common objects as inspiration — from cereal spoons to golden rings — learners write “mystery object poems” that describe an item without naming it directly. Through wordplay, rhythm, and vivid imagery, students learn to capture the essence of an object and invite readers to guess what it is. This lesson blends creativity with critical thinking as stud
PreK - 6th
Creative Writing, Poetry
Also included in: Poetry-Two-Week Poetry Unit Bundle for Grades K–2
Poetry- Rhythmic Poems
🥁 Rhythmic Poetry for Grades K–2In this fun, interactive poetry lesson, young writers explore how rhythm and repetition bring poems to life Rhythmic Poems Rhythmic Poetry Study . Using class examples like My Hands, My Feet, My Brain, and My Heart, students listen for sound patterns, build confidence with repetition, and write their own rhythmic poems using simple sentence frames. This lesson helps early learners connect reading, writing, and sound awareness — making poetry playful, music
PreK - 3rd
Creative Writing, Poetry
Also included in: Poetry-Two-Week Poetry Unit Bundle for Grades K–2
Poetry-Key Poetry
🔑 Key Poetry: Summarizing the UnknownIn this nonfiction poetry lesson, students learn how to capture big ideas in small words. Key Poetry teaches readers and writers to pull the most important information from a text and transform it into concise, powerful poetry. By summarizing nonfiction content through vivid verbs, sensory imagery, and structured lines, students practice synthesizing information while engaging creatively with their reading. Each poem becomes a snapshot of understanding — b
K - 6th
Creative Writing, Poetry
Also included in: Poetry-Two-Week Poetry Unit Bundle for Grades K–2
Poetry- I Am Poems
🌿 I Am Poems: Discovering Identity Through WordsIn this reflective writing activity, students explore who they are and where they come from through personal poetry. Using guided sentence stems and mentor examples, students craft both “I Am” and “I Am From” poems — forms that celebrate individuality, family, and cultural heritage. Through repetition, imagery, and free verse, learners describe their roots, traditions, and personal beliefs in their own voices. This lesson encourages self-expre
K - 6th
Creative Writing, Poetry
Also included in: Poetry-Two-Week Poetry Unit Bundle for Grades K–2
Poetry-Color Swatch Poems
🎨 Color Poetry: Writing in MetaphorIn this creative writing lesson, students explore the power of metaphor by using color as their inspiration. Each poet selects a color swatch and describes it using vivid language, emotion, and imagery — turning simple shades into powerful expressions of feeling and imagination. Using the sentence stem “_____ is _____,” students craft their own color poems that go beyond description to reveal personality, memory, and emotion. This lesson helps writers expe
PreK - 6th
Literature, Poetry
Also included in: Poetry-Two-Week Poetry Unit Bundle for Grades K–2
Poetry- Blackout Poetry
🖤 Blackout Poetry: Art Meets WordsIn this hands-on poetry lesson, students transform existing text into something completely new! Using pages from old books, newspapers, or magazines, they’ll discover hidden poems within the words that already exist. By circling interesting nouns, verbs, adjectives, and phrases, students learn to identify powerful language and create meaning through selection, rhythm, and design. Once their poems are formed, they bring them to life by blacking out or illustr
K - 6th
Poetry
CCSS
RL.2.4
, CCRA.R.5
, CCRA.L.2
Also included in: Poetry-Two-Week Poetry Unit Bundle for Grades K–2
Poetry- Become a Copycat Poet
Students learn that sometimes the best way to write like a poet… is to think like one! Inspired by the rhythm, beat, and structure of favorite poems, students become “copycat poets,” using mentor texts as creative blueprints for crafting original works. Through modeling, shared writing, and guided exploration, learners study how poets play with repetition, sound, and pattern to create meaning. Then, they “copy” those techniques — not the exact words — to make their own poems sing! 🌟 What’s
PreK - 3rd
Poetry
CCSS
W.K.2
, W.K.3
, W.K.5
+1
Also included in: Poetry-Two-Week Poetry Unit Bundle for Grades K–2
Fairytale Drama Techniques-Party Quirks
In this lively improv game, three students attend a “party,” each secretly acting as a different fairytale character. They must greet guests, enjoy appetizers, open gifts, and say goodbye while staying in character. Peers guess their identities through observation and clues. This technique reinforces comprehension, creativity, and quick thinking.
K - 6th
Drama, Literature, Reading
Also included in: Fairytale Drama Techniques-End of Unit Project
Fairytale Drama Techniques-Greetings, Your Majesty
Students say only one phrase—“Greetings, your majesty”—but must use their voice, tone, and expression to reveal which fairytale character they’re portraying. This activity helps readers practice oral interpretation, understand character traits, and experiment with how vocal choices can shape meaning.
K - 6th
Drama, Literature, Reading
CCSS
SL.K.1
, SL.K.1a
, SL.K.1b
+14
Also included in: Fairytale Drama Techniques-End of Unit Project
Fairytale Drama Techniques-Park Bench
Two students take turns sitting on an imaginary park bench, each portraying a fairytale character. Through conversation and subtle clues, classmates try to guess who the characters are. This technique builds inference skills and character analysis as students explore dialogue, motivation, and personality.
K - 6th
Drama, Literature, Reading
CCSS
SL.K.1
, SL.K.1a
, SL.K.1b
+14
Also included in: Fairytale Drama Techniques-End of Unit Project
Poetry- Poetry Collection
📘 Poetry Collection for Grades K–2This sweet and simple poetry collection features a variety of short, kid-friendly poems perfect for early readers and writers. Each poem is designed to build rhythm, vocabulary, and confidence while introducing young learners to the joy of poetry. Great for read-alouds, shared reading, or as inspiration for your own classroom poetry writing!
K - 3rd
Poetry
Also included in: Poetry-Two-Week Poetry Unit Bundle for Grades K–2
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About the store
Experience
Welcome! I’m Chris Henderson — an educator with over 12 years of classroom experience and a passion for helping students fall in love with learning. I’ve spent my career designing creative, meaningful resources that make lessons feel alive — whether it’s a hands-on literacy center, a cross-curricular science activity, or a system to keep your classroom running smoothly.
I’ve taught first grade and other primary levels for over a decade, specializing in early literacy, structured routines, and inclusive practices that meet the needs of all learners. My resources are designed to save you time while keeping your students engaged, curious, and confident.
Teaching style
I believe learning should feel joyful, purposeful, and accessible to every child. My approach blends structure with creativity — using visuals, movement, and storytelling to bring lessons to life. Each resource is classroom-tested and intentionally designed to support strong systems and meaningful learning experiences.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Throughout my years in the classroom, I’ve been recognized for creating engaging, inclusive learning environments where every child feels seen and supported. Some of my proudest moments include helping struggling readers find their confidence, leading professional development for colleagues, and mentoring student teachers who are now thriving educators themselves. My students’ joy and growth have always been the truest measure of success — and seeing their “lightbulb moments” will forever be my favorite award.
My own education history
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and my Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Butler University, where I was part of the EPPSP Cohort 41 — a program that shaped me into the reflective, equity-minded leader I am today. My training emphasized systems thinking, collaboration, and the power of relationships in creating meaningful learning experiences.
Additional biographical information
I’m a lifelong learner, cheer coach, and curriculum designer who believes that creativity and structure can coexist beautifully in the classroom. I live in Indiana with my husband, and our close-knit circle of friends and family who keep life full of laughter and support. When I’m not teaching or creating, you’ll probably find me traveling, painting, or designing something new — from classroom resources to digital art. Teaching has never been just a job for me; it’s a calling that continues to evolve and inspire.
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