Lesson Plan by Germaine Nae'ole

Purpose:
The purpose of the following lessons is to introduce a new book to the students that will stimulate their interest in the earth and moon. This book will be suitable to introduce during a thematic unit on Space. These are mini-lessons that can be implemented into a 2nd or 3rd Grade classroom. Students will work independantly on every other day. The teacher will meet with them on the other days.

Objectives: Students will be able to.....

a. read a book on their own or with a group
b. make predictions about each chapter in the book
c. summarize the story (by chapters and by entire book)
d. create a chart with new vocabulary words learned from the book

Day #1

-Introduce the book to the students

a. Take a "Picture walk" (showcasing the pictures of the book without telling the students about the story)
b. Discussion questions: What do you think this book will be about? Do you recognize anything in this book? Have you read a book simular to this book?

-Explanation of "Group Chart": as a whole group we will be forming a chart after every chapter that will include the following information

a. What did we learn from the reading? (summary)
b. Vocabulary (words that will be looked up in the dictionary)
c. Predictions (for the next chapter only)
* Students will write individual responses then contribute to the group chart (note: assessment will be done individually)

-Read the title

a. What is the title of the book?
b. Who is the author?
c. Who is the illustrator? What does an illustrator's job?
d. Where are the people on the cover? What are they doing?
e. What country are these people from?
f. What is in the far distance?

-Whole group readiing...teacher reads first...students follow along by "crsipy pointing"

-Ask for volunteer readers (round robin or popcorn style) STOP at the end of Chapter 1

-Students will write individual responses and draw a picture that matches their summary

-Add responses to the group chart, along with the vocabulary, and predictions

DAY #2

-Read "Group Chart" (concentrate on the predictions)

-Read Chapter #2 - "How Do We Get to the Moon" (students will read round robin style or silently)

-Students will write responses then add to group chart.

-Major tasks:

a. Review the group chart
b. Read (together)
c. Finish summary writing
d. Activity: "Digging through the Dictionary" (new words: satellite, spacecraft, crater, telescope, and probes)

Day #3

-Quick review of Chapter #1

-Group Discussion on Chapter #2...Add responses to group chart

a. What does__________mean? (from "Digging through the Dictionary")
b. What happened in Chapter #2? Give an example of something you did not understand? Discuss!

-Reading Strategy Activity...Making Words

word: Spacecraft

materials: letter pieces for each student and holder (idea: use letters and holder from an old scrabble game)

-We are going to be making one word using all these letters...follow my instructions and we will see what the word is...

with one letter make the word... a
by adding 2 letters make the word... ace
by adding one letter, make the word...pace
now add one more letter to make the word... space

*Place that word on the side. We will use the remaining letters to make another word.

make the word... a
add one more letter to a to make the word... an
add one more letter to that, make... aft
now add another letter to make... raft
now add the last letter to make... craft

*JOIN the two words TOGETHER...SPACECRAFT

Day #4-7

The following days will be arranged in the same manner. The students will work independantly, have group discussions, and continue to extend on their chart throughout the remaining chapters.

Day #8

-End of the book activity..."Making a Flag"

-Materials: pens, colored pens, markers, white construction paper (11x18), crayons, stick for flag pole

-Criterias: Flags MUST include

a. title of the book
b. group name/Your name
c. astronauts names and date they landed on the moon
d. 5 things that you learned from the book (written on back)
e. creative, neat, and original

Day #9

-CELEBRATION....Sharing flag with entire class

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