Subject: Language Arts Grade: Kindergarten

Standard: #5 Ideas to Include in a Story

Key Concept: Elements that go into a group story can be about familiar situations.

Generalization: Stories contain ideas that convey sequence and meaning.

Background: Students have been listening to stories read aloud. They will now construct a story that conveys a sequence of ideas. First, in a large group context, the teacher tells a story about going to a grocery store. She illustrates the sequence of events and asks for ideas concerning the events. These are important to constructing a story about going to the store. Next, divide the students into interest groups according to interest in the zoo, the playground, and a basketball game. The students will suggest ideas that will become a group story. The teacher will write the story as the students come up with the ideas.

This lesson is tiered in interest, according to content.

Tier I: Students interested in Zoos

Today we are going to share ideas about what happens at the zoo. We want to come up with five ideas about what happens at the zoo. If you were an animal at the zoo, what do you think happens when you wake up in the morning? What ideas do you have that might happen next? What else might happen?

Now, can we arrange these ideas to tell a story?

Tier II: Students interested in Playgrounds

Today, we are going to share ideas about what happens on the playground. We want to come up with five ideas about what happens when we play on the playground. Think about going to the playground. What happens first? What else happens? Let's think of some more ideas. Now let's arrange these ideas to tell a story.

Tier III: Students interested in Basketball games

Today we are going to share ideas about what happens at a basketball game when we go to watch. We want to come up with five ideas about what happens at basketball games. Think about going to a game; what happens first? Let's think of some more ideas. Now, let's arrange these to make a story.

Assessment: As each group works, keep track of who is offering the ideas. When the groups share their stories, try to use the time to get ideas from many students. The purpose of the flexible grouping is to let interest govern. Don't get caught in the readiness trap when you are assessing interest activities. All groups will share stories as they sit in a group. Whoever remembers the sequence can retell the story. A follow-up activity would be to illustrate the story.

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KLI-FAD