Web Lesson Vinnette Gibson Writing an Informational Essay Troy University PSE 6608

PURPOSE The Purpose of these lessons is to teach students to use all the important elements needed to write an informational essay with a beginning, middle and end.

ANALYSIS STEP 1 Background & Entry Level Skills Seven to eight-year-old students at the middle of the second grade The students are expected to be tactile kinesthetic learners. Interested in graphics, games and various interactive learning modes Need instruction that should capture and keep their attention. Students have developed word recognition skills. Students read on the second grade level. All the students can write in a second grade tablet, or in a wide ruled notebook paper.

ANALYSIS STEP 1 Background & Entry Level Skills Students know how to use Microsoft editing tools. Students know how to use Kidspiration electronic graphic organizer maker. Students understand the concepts of main idea and details Students understand the writing process. Students are learning to type using type to learn. Students are familiar with graphic organizers. Students know how to write transition sentences. Students know how to write a three paragraph narrative essay with a beginning, middle and end.

ANALYSIS STEP 2 GPS Standards ELA1W2 The student produces informational writing that: Begins to capture a reader’s interest Stays on one topic and begins to maintain a focus Adds details to expand a topic Begins to use organizational structures (steps , chronological order) and strategies (description) Begins to use graphic features (charts, pictures, headings) Begins to use a variety of resources (picture dictionaries, Internet, books) and strategies to gather information to write about a topic Begins to develop a sense of closure May include oral or written prewriting (graphic organizers). May include a draft that is revised and edited May be published

ANALYSIS STEP 3 Material Inventory Visual Aids Computer PowerPoint Presentation E-instruction Presentation System Kidspiration Graphic Organizer Online Resources BrainPOP Jr. Enchanted Learning Education City Paper Plates, Bread, Jelly and Plastic Knives Books Walter the Farting Dog Goat in the rug Writing tools Pencils Paper Crayons

DESIGN STEP 1 Content Paragraphing Transition Words Hooks Figurative Language Onomatopoeia Exclamation Question Transition Words Introductory Paragraph Body Paragraph Closing Paragraph

DESIGN STEP 2 Learning Goals Use a hook to capture readers’ attention Write a hook in the form of an onomatopoeia Write a hook in the form of a question Write a hook in the form of a statement Make graphic organizer with ideas Connect one idea to another with transition words Turn graphic organizer into an essay Type an a essay with an appropriate beginning, middle, and end.

DESIGN STEP 3 Performance Objectives Upon completion of each lesson , the students will be able to type a hook using an onomatopoeia, a question, or an exclamatory sentence use connecting words and phrases paragraph to connect ideas make a graphic organizer and use it to write an essay. type a three paragraph essay with beginning, middle and end.

DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 1 Learning Strategy (Storyboard) Education City Website Enchanted Learning website PowerPoint Presentation Graphic Organizer Computer Lab Students will make graphic organizer Type Essay Edit Essay Student/Teacher Conference Rewrite/Retype Share Publish Select a Topic Hooks Walter the Farting Dog Whoopee cushion Onomatopoeia Exclamation Question Steps in a Sequence Transition Words BrainPOP Jr Video and Quiz Make jelly sandwich and record the steps

DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 2 Materials Visual aids Anchor chart E-instruction Presentation System Writing tools Pencil, Paper, crayon, computer Books Walter the Farting Dog Goat in the rug Computer Access to the Internet Software PowerPoint Kidspiration (graphic organizer maker)

DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 3 Introduction (Attention Grabbers) Anchor chart Used to introduce the steps in writing an expository essay Read story of “Walter the Farting Dog” and enhance story with a whoopie cushion Make a loud sound to startle students. Have the students tell what sound they think it is.

DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 4 Modeling The teacher will demonstrate how to use hooks to gain readers’ interest. demonstrate how to use connecting words and phrases in paragraphs. demonstrate how to use Kidspiration to make a graphic organizer, then change the graphic organizer to an essay.

DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 5 Practice The students will make up their own hooks using an onomatopoeia, an exclamation or a question. Students will draw an illustration of their hooks. Watch BrainPOP Jr video and take the quiz. Students will make a jelly sandwich and write the steps for making the sandwich using transition words. Students write a paragraph with transition words and phrases. Students will use Kidspiration to make a graphic organizer for the first draft of their essays.

DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 5 Practice Contd. Students will visit the following websites to practice writing skills Education City Students will play an online game to review writing skills Enchanted Learning Students will select a picture prompt and make up informational stories from the prompts. Students will write a three paragraph informational essay with a beginning, middle and end. Students will edit and rewrite their essays Students peer edit the essays Students will retype their essays

BrainPOP Jr

Enchanted Learning

DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 6 Accommodations Special needs students will: will be given graphic organizer instead of making one Fill in the graphic organizers to make paragraphs write the steps in a process for their activity will not be required to write a complete essay use large fonts and screen reader if necessary Be assigned a peer assistant if needed

DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 7 Checking for Understanding The teacher will look at the student’s work for the following competencies, then use an informal conference log to conference with students. a hook the graphic organizer an introductory paragraph the body of a paragraph an ending paragraph a complete informational essay

Informal Conference Writing Log Name _______________ Week of: _____________ Topic______________ Fluency_______________ Sentence Structure _____ Grammar______________ Comments_____________ Handwriting____________ Legibility ______________ Capitalization __________ Punctuation____________ Content________________

DEVELOPMENT STEP 8 CLOSURE Review the use of hooks Review anchor chart with the steps for writing an informational paragraph. Review each part of an informational essay. Have students share their work with the class. The students will critique their classmates’ essays.

Evaluation Step1 Completion Checklist Essay has a title Begins with an appropriate hook Appropriate introductory paragraph Body of the paragraph has appropriate “steps in a process” transitions Essay has an appropriate ending paragraph

Evaluation Step1 A rubric will be used to evaluate student’s progress and achievement.

Evaluation Step 2 Teacher Reflection Evaluation Checklist Circle yes or no Do students know how to grab the attention of their readers? Yes No Can students use make a paragraph from graphic organizer? Can the students write a three paragraph essay? Did students enjoy the lesson?

Sources BrainPOP Jr. Retrieved July 9, 2008, from http://www.brainpopjr.com/ Education City, Retrieved July 10, 2008, from http://us.educationcity.com/start Enchanted Learning. Retrieved July 9 2008, from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/alphabet/pictureprompts/ Georgia Department of Education. Retrieved July 8, 2008, from http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/DMGetDocument.aspx/FINAL_INFORMATIONAL_V2.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F697DECFC1146C17C9974B21EAD095086C433878ED50AA75A2&Type=D