- I can describe the connections between sentences, paragraphs, and pages on pages 6-7 and 32-33 of Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures. (RI.3.8)
- I can use texts and images to research the answer to the question: How does where a frog lives affect how it looks and/or acts? (RI.3.7, W.3.7, W.3.8)
These are the CCS Standards addressed in this lesson:
- RI.3.7: Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).
- RI.3.8: Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text (e.g., comparison, cause/effect, first/second/third in a sequence).
- W.3.7: Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
- W.3.8: Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.
- W.3.10: Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Daily Learning Targets
Ongoing Assessment
- Frog Adaptations Research note-catcher (RI.3.3, W.3.2, W.3.4, W.3.7, W.3.8)
- Exit Ticket: Making Connections (RI.3.8)
Agenda
Agenda | Teaching Notes |
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1. Opening A. Engaging the Reader: KWEL Chart: Frogs (5 minutes) B. Reviewing Learning Targets (5 minutes) 2. Work Time A. Introducing the Writing Prompt (10 minutes) B. Guided Research: Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures (15 minutes) C. Partner Research: Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures (20 minutes) 3. Closing and Assessment A. Exit Ticket: Making Connections (5 minutes) 4. Homework A. Making Connections. Complete the Making Connections practice in your Unit 2 homework packet with the research reading you did today. B. Accountable Research Reading. Select a prompt to respond to in the front of your independent reading journal. |
Purpose of lesson and alignment to standards:
How it builds on previous work:
Areas where students may need additional support:
Assessment Guidance:
Down the road:
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In Advance
- Post: Learning targets.
Tech and Multimedia
- Opening A: Students complete the KWEL Chart: Frogs using word processing software or online document tools such as Google Docs.
- Work Times A and B: Students add to their Freaky Frog research notebook using word processing software or online document tools such as Google Docs.
- Opening A, Work Time B: Students complete their KWEL chart and research note-catchers in a word processing document, for example a Google Doc using Speech to Text facilities activated on devices, or using an app or software like Dictation.io.
- Closing and Assessment: Students complete the Exit Ticket: Making Connections in a Google Form format, in which students click to select the correct answer.
Supporting English Language Learners
Supports guided in part by CA ELD Standards 3.I.B.6, 3.I.C.10.
Important points in the lesson itself
- The basic design of this lesson supports ELLs by going beyond the sentence level to make connections between sentences. Strategic grouping during Partner Research will help students orally process the information they read in Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures, thereby contributing to language development.
- ELLs may find it challenging to make connections, as it involves abstract language. Make this concept as concrete as possible at first and aim to scaffold toward more abstract connections. A good entry point for making connections may be a frame such as: "The two sentences are connected because they are both about ________." Once students grasp this, they will be able to make more sophisticated connections.
Levels of support
For lighter support:
- For Work Time A, buy or ask for large paint chips from a local hardware or paint store or print them online. Write the words influence, affect, and make a difference, each one on a different shade of the paint chip. Place them on the wall and discuss the shades of meaning in relation to frog habitats.
- Before providing sentence frames or additional modeling during Work Time B, observe student interaction and allow students to grapple. Provide supportive frames and demonstrations only after students have grappled with the task. Observe the areas in which they struggle to target appropriate support.
For heavier support:
- The writing prompt in this lesson may be difficult to understand without schema about how animals are naturally selected for the environments in which they live. Consider showing a brief video about an animal whose behavior and features are influenced by its environment. Example: Penguins huddle together to keep their eggs warm because it is so cold where they live.
- Some students may still have some confusion about the process of creating a cohesive paragraph. When reviewing the writing process, display examples of note-catchers and drafts to jog their memory about each step. In preparation for the end of unit assessment, focus on empowering students to independently make use of anchor charts and their Informative Writing Checklist.
Universal Design for Learning
- Multiple Means of Representation (MMR): In this lesson, some students may need additional support understanding parts of speech. Consider providing some direct instruction about the function of linking words in advance. Model identifying linking words in sentences and discuss what these words tell us about the connections within and between sentences. Consider using the sentences that students will look at during the lesson.
- Multiple Means of Action and Expression (MMAE): In this lesson, some students may need additional support with expressive language. Facilitate communication by providing ample wait time and support as they organize their thoughts. This way, all students can benefit from peer interaction during the discussion.
- Multiple Means of Engagement: Invite students to reflect on their learning from previous lessons in this unit. This supports students in understanding the value and relevance of the activities in this lesson. Provide support for students who may need additional guidance in peer interactions and collaboration. To support students who may need additional support in sustaining effort and/or attention, provide opportunities for restating the goal. In doing so, students are able to maintain focus for completing the activity.
Vocabulary
Key: Lesson-Specific Vocabulary (L); Text-Specific Vocabulary (T); Vocabulary Used in Writing (W)
- connections, elaboration (L)
- affects (T)
Materials
- Freaky Frog research notebook (from Lesson 1; one per student)
- KWEL Chart: Frogs (page 1 of Freaky Frog research notebook)
- Frog Adaptations Research note-catcher (page 4 of Freaky Frog research notebook)
- Affix lists (from Module 1; one per student)
- Vocabulary logs (from Module 1; one per student)
- Frog Adaptations writing prompt (one per student and one to display)
- Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures (from Lesson 1; one per student and one to display)
- Frog Adaptations Research note-catcher (answers, for teacher reference)
- Working to Contribute to a Better World anchor chart (from Module 1)
- Exit Ticket: Making Connections (one per student)
- Strategies to Answer Selected Response Questions anchor chart (from Module 1)
- Exit Ticket: Making Connections (answers, for teacher reference)
Materials from Previous Lessons
New Materials
Assessment
Each unit in the 3-5 Language Arts Curriculum has two standards-based assessments built in, one mid-unit assessment and one end of unit assessment. The module concludes with a performance task at the end of Unit 3 to synthesize their understanding of what they accomplished through supported, standards-based writing.
Opening
Opening | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Engaging the Reader: KWEL Chart (5 minutes)
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B. Reviewing Learning Targets (5 minutes)
"I can describe the connections between sentences, paragraphs, and pages on pages 6-7 and 32-33 of Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures."
"What are connections?" (how people or things are joined together; links or relationships between people or things) "What do we mean by connections between sentences and paragraphs in text?" (how one part of the text is related to another)
"I can use texts and images to research the answer to the question: How does where a frog lives affect how it looks and/or acts?"
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Work Time
Work Time | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Introducing the Writing Prompt (10 minutes)
"What does affects mean?" (has an effect on or makes a difference to)
"Think about the short pieces of writing you have created so far in this unit. What steps did you take to create those? What steps do you need to take to respond to this prompt?" (reading and research, taking notes, and organizing the notes into writing)
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B. Guided Research: Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures (15 minutes)
"What do you notice?" (links to writing prompt, spaces for the frog and where it lives, the adaptation and elaboration) "What is elaboration? What might you write in this column?" (details about how the adaption helps it to survive)
"Can you figure out the purpose of but in these sentences? I'll give you time to think and discuss with a partner." (It links two ideas. In the first sentence, it helps compare amphibians to reptiles. In the second, it adds an additional detail to the information presented previously.)
"How are the text in the signpost and the text in the blue column connected?" (They are about amphibians.)
"Can you figure out the connection between the text in this bubble and the text in the blue column on the other side of the page?" (The text in the blue column introduces amphibians and describes some of the things that make them unique, with reptiles as a comparison. The text in the bubble builds on this by explaining another way amphibians are unique in comparison to reptiles.) "Can you figure out why the author included information about reptiles here?" (to show a comparison to highlight how unique those adaptations and behaviors are) "Can you figure out the connection between the two sentences in this bubble? How are they related?" (The first sentence tells a fact about amphibians breeding, and the second sentence provides further information about this process and compares the process to another class of animals.)
"What is the connection between the text on page 6 and the text boxes under the water on page 7?" (The information on page 7 continues to provide more details about amphibians, with a focus on young amphibians.)
"What is the connection between this text and the rest of the text on pages 6-7?" (The text on page 6 describes how amphibians have moist skin that needs to stay damp to help them breathe through their skin. The text about the tree frog explains that this frog gets its moisture from humidity.)
"Pages 6-7 are mostly about amphibians, but are there any frogs mentioned on those pages that have special adaptations to help it survive wherever it lives?" (tree frog) "Where does it live?" (rain forest) "What adaptation does it have?" (long, sticky fingers) "How does this help it to survive?" (helps it to climb trees, where it can stay moist to breathe through its skin) "How does the picture on this page help you to understand more about this adaptation?" (It shows the long fingers of the frog.)
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C. Partner Research: Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures (20 minutes)
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Closing & Assessments
Closing | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Exit Ticket: Making Connections (5 minutes)
"How do the photographs on pages 32-33 help you to better understand the adaptations of the glass frog?" (You can see how see-through it is and how it is camouflaged on the leaf.) |
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Homework
Homework | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Making Connections. Complete the Making Connections practice in your Unit 2 homework packet with the research reading you did today. B. Accountable Research Reading. Select a prompt to respond to in the front of your independent reading journal. |
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