SUBJECT: Language Arts
GRADE: First and Second
TECHNOLOGY: PowerPoint
BY: Jennifer Vermillion, Melissa Riddlemoser, Melissa Ganley

 

 Stellaluna and Elmer - Beginning, Middle and End

 

Target Grade/Subject: Combined first and second grade classroom; sixteen students, range of abilities, no special needs students. All students have mastered the alphabet and are developing language and sentence structure; assume familiarity with computer, specifically PowerPoint software.

Consistent with Piaget's theory, children at this age are developing language and planning skills. According to Erikson, children in first and second grade are at the stage of industry vs. inferiority; where they must learn skills or risk feeling inadequate. Ensure that students have the opportunity to set and work toward realistic goals; provide students an opportunity to show independence and responsibility, provide support to students who seem discouraged.

 

Objectives:

1.      Students will be able to identify the beginning, middle and end sections of a book.

2.      Students will create a book report/PowerPoint presentation using their own sentences.

3.      Students will present their book reports with small groups.

4.      Students will have a copy of their PowerPoint book report on disk to share with family and friends.

 

 

Materials/Time: Eight computers with PowerPoint software. Scanner, whiteboard, whiteboard markers, whiteboard eraser and whiteboard cleaner. See lesson for time allotment.

 

The Lesson Proper

Day One

1.      Read Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon, to the students. After reading, teacher and students will discuss the concept of beginning, middle and end. Illustrate the concept using visual cues such as webbing on a white board

 

2.      Review concepts of beginning, middle and end, and prompt students to listen and find them in the story, Elmer, by David McGee.

3.      Read Elmer to the students.

4.      Instruct students to write sentences for the book's beginning, middle and end on paper at their desks.

 

Day Two

1.      Instruct students to transfer sentences to PowerPoint during language arts rotation.

2.      Guide students to draw a picture for each of the sections

3.      Scan pictures and save to hard drive for the students.

4.      Import pictures into PowerPoint/book report presentation.

5.      Finalize each student's book report on PowerPoint for the student to share with classmates.

 

Day Three

1.      Instruct students how to use software in a presentation.

2.      Share book reports on PowerPoint in small groups.

3.      Give book report disks to students to share at home.

 

Summative Assessment

Exceeds Expectation

Meets Expectation

Does Not Meet Expectations

Students will identify beginning, middle and end during class discussion.

Participates in discussion (4-5 points)

Attentive (2-3 points)

Not attending. (0-1 points)

Students will write sentences that indicate beginning, middle and end.

Students will write a complex sentence or more than one simple sentence accurately describing each section. (18 - 20 points)

Students will write at least one accurate and simple sentence for each section. (13 - 17 points)

Students do not complete a sentence for each section. (0 -12 points)

Students will draw a picture for each section (beginning, middle, end)

Three pictures accurately depicting beginning, middle and end, including characters and appropriate setting. (8 - 10 points)

Three pictures depicting beginning, middle and end (3-7 points)

Students do not complete a picture for beginning, middle and end (0-2 points)

Students will create a book report/ PowerPoint presentation Each section (beginning, middle and end) will be a separate slide.

Students will create their book report independently. (4-5 points)

Students will create their book report with limited teacher support. (2-3 points)

Students rely on teacher to create their book report. (0-2 points)

Students will present their PowerPoint book reports with small groups.

Independently uses the software and successfully explains sentences with elaboration.

(8-10 points)

Attempts to use the software and explains sentences to satisfaction (5-8 points)

Relies on assistance for all aspects of presentation. (0-4