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Writer! Writer!
Subject Area:
Language Arts
Grade Level(s):
4-6
Duration of Activity:
Four to five, 50-minute class periods
Description of Activity:
After researching fables, students will select a moral and write an original fable to teach that moral. The students will assist each other in proofreading, reading, and publishing. They will create Microsoft PowerPoint presentations using original artwork that will be inserted into the presentation by scanning them into digital format.
Objectives:
The students will
- use bookmarks to open teacher-selected Web sites.
- determine the elements of a fable.
- write an original fable.
- create illustrations for an original fable.
- create multimedia project, citing sources of all copyrighted materials used in the project.
Materials/Equipment:
- Computer with Internet access
- Microsoft Word or other word-processing software
- Printer
- Microsoft PowerPoint or other presentation software
- Flatbed scanner
- Handout 1: Schedule for Completion of Project
- Handout 2: Fable Survey Summary
- Handout 3: Guidelines for Writing a Fable
- Handout 4: Guide for Using Microsoft PowerPoint
- Handout 5: Rubric for Oral Presentation
- Floppy disk (one per student, optional)
Prerequisites (skills or background needed):
- Students should be able to access Web sites by URL addresses and bookmarks.
- Students should have read some fables in class.
- Students should have some basic computer knowledge (for example, keyboarding skills, saving files to disk).
- Students will need basic knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint. [For a handout on learning the basics ofMicrosoft PowerPoint, see PowerPoint XP: Directions.]
- Students will need basic knowledge of how to scan and then insert photos into a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.
- The teacher will bookmark appropriate sites for the students. [See Using Favorites/Bookmarks in the K-12 Classroom.]
- The teacher will need basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint.
- The teacher will need basic knowledge of how to use a scanner and how to insert photos into a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.
Procedure
Teacher Component:
The teacher will
- bookmark appropriate Web sites for student research.
- review the writing process and provide a schedule for completion using Handout 1:
Schedule for Completion of Project.
- lead a discussion on fables and morals used in fables.
- assist students as they conduct research on the World Wide Web.
- assist students with identifying characteristics of fables using Handout 2: Fable Survey
Summary Sheet.
- go over Handout 3: Guidelines for Writing a Fable with the students.
- assist as the students proofread and edit their fables.
- guide students as they scan pictures for their Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.
- explain Handout 4: Guide for Using Microsoft PowerPoint.
- explain Handout 5: Rubric for Oral Presentation in order for the students to know what is
expected in their presentations.
Student Activities:
The student will
- participate in a discussion about fables and morals used in fables.
- use bookmarked Web sites to research fables on the World Wide Web.
- identify those characteristics that fables have in common.
- write an original fable using the moral they chose.
- proofread another student’s fable.
- edit his or her own fable after it has been proofread.
- create illustrations to go with their fable.
- scan illustrations into digital format and then insert them into the Microsoft
PowerPoint presentation.
- create a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation using original fable and illustrations.
- present the fable and the illustrations to the class.
Accommodations:
- In the one-computer classroom, the lesson may take longer and there may have to be some modifications made. Students can do much of the preliminary planning using paper and pencil {storyboarding) for optimal use of computer time. A schedule for computer use can be created and posted to facilitate this process.
- If printers and floppy disks are unavailable, students should save files to their computers' hard drives until an assessment of their projects can be made.
Extension Activities:
- Students can schedule and present the product to students in grades or classes.
- Students can bind Microsoft PowerPoint slides, design and print covers, and make book.
- Students can write a script for their story and present it as a puppet show.
- Students can videotape authors reading their stories to give the tapes to lower elementary classes or to the library.
- Students can conduct research to compare and contrast fables from other cultures besides the Greeks
- Students can compile a list of animals, the things they represent in fables, and the reasons why they might have been selected to represent that characteristic using a spreadsheet or database software. See List of species in folklore and mythology by type / http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/List+of+species+in+folklore+and+mythology
Integration:
Assessments:
- Grading will be done using Handout 4: Rubric for Oral Presentations.
URLs:
Curriculum Frameworks
Mississippi:
Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade & Sixth Grade
- Communicate for a variety of purposes through different forms of writing
using processes of reading, writing, listening, and viewing for an expanding audience.
- Complete projects and task in an organized and coherent manner.
- Read, listen to, and view multimedia sources to select and use information.
- Develop self-monitoring skills to work independently and cooperatively.
- Participate cooperatively while engaging in small group activities to analyze
and interpret information, to make decisions, to solve problems, and to produce a given
product.
- Demonstrate continuous progress toward control of penmanship, grammar,
mechanics, sentence structure, and usage of standard English in the context of writing and
speaking.
- Acquire and use appropriate vocabulary and spelling concepts.
National Educational Technology Standards (NETS):
- Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal
productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum. (3, 6)
- Design, develop, publish and present products (e.g., Web pages, video tapes)
using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum-related problems,
issues, and information, and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the
classroom. (4, 5)
- Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a
variety of tasks and solve problems. (5, 6)
TerraNova:
03 Analyze Text (Level 11-21/22)
Demonstrate comprehension by drawing conclusions; inferring relationships such as cause and effect; and identifying theme and story elements such as plot, climax, character, and setting.
Write responses that show an understanding of the text that goes beyond the surface meaning.
07 Sentence Structure (Level 11-21/22)
Demonstrate an understanding of conventions for writing complete and effective sentences, including treatment of subject and verb, punctuation, and capitalization.
Demonstrate an understanding of conciseness and clarity of meaning in combining two sentences.
08 Writing Strategies (Levels 11-21/22)
Demonstrate knowledge of information sources, outlines, and other pre-writing techniques.
Demonstrate and understanding of the use of topic sentence, connective and transitional words and phrases, supporting statements, sequencing ideas, and relevant information in writing expository prose.
09 Editing Skill (Levels 11-21/22)
Identify the appropriate use of capitalization, punctuation, nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in existing text and in text written by the student.
Demonstrate knowledge of writing conventions and sentence structure through identifying and correcting errors in existing text and in text written by the student.
Link and Feedback to Author(s):
Rhomie Keyes, William J. Berry Elementary School, Heidelberg, MS
rhomiekeyes@hotmail.com
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