Subject: Language Arts Grade: Fourth
Standard: # 5:
Writing Process
Key
Concept: Ideas for writing come from a
variety of sources.
Generalization: Reading a novel together can inspire ideas
for writing.
Background: The class has been reading Help, I'm a Prisoner in the Library by
Eth Clifford. Imagination plays a big
part in the book even from the beginning.
This lesson is based on completion of chapters 3 and 4 of the book. Students will be grouped according to interest
in today's activities.
This
lesson is tiered by product
according to interest.
Tier
I: Diary
Group
This
group is interested in creating a diary from the perspective of the policeman
whom Mary Jo calls. He mentions that he
received 15 phone calls that day. From
the information provided in these chapters, create a diary that explains what
he learns from the 15 phone calls. Add
ideas about what he thinks about the people making the phone calls. Finally, finish your diary entry with what
he thinks about being a policeman.
Tier
II: Newspaper Group
This
group is interested in creating a newspaper article based on the phone calls
the policeman has been getting. Take
the part of a news writer and describe the conversation you had with the policeman
who tells the information he has received in those 15 phone calls. Be sure to write this as a newspaper column.
Tier
III: Letter Group:
This
group is interested in writing a letter to the policeman telling him of the
events that you imagine he might hear.
Write from the perspective of a person who has been trying to get
through to the police station and has not been able to for quite a while. Explain your problem and what you think of
the policemen. Write this as an
effective letter and be careful to represent yourself well by the words and
form you use.
Assessment: Students in each group have different writing products to turn
in. Attention to the form they chose is
important in the assessment. They need
to discuss how each of these products is written before they complete the
product. A great culminating activity
is to share these individual products with the rest of their group. Then if tiers want to share with each other
in a large forum, great!
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4LI-FAD