- I can work with my classmates to create an expert meteorologist chart. (SL.K.1, L.K.6)
These are the CCS Standards addressed in this lesson:
- SL.K.1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
- SL.K.1a: Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others and taking turns speaking about the topics and texts under discussion).
- L.K.6: Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.
Daily Learning Targets
Ongoing Assessment
- During Work Time A, monitor students' general understanding of The Snowy Day.
- During Work Time B, circulate and observe students as they work collaboratively to create the expert meteorologist charts. Notice if students are able to correctly select appropriate clothing and activities for the type of weather listed on their chart. (SL.K.1, L.K.6)
- During the Closing, circulate as students share their weather story ideas with a partner. Listen for students to discuss the kind of weather story they would like to write, as well as the actions that might take place in their story. (SL.K.1, SL.K.1a)
Agenda
Agenda | Teaching Notes |
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1. Opening A. Engaging the Learner: "Sofia the Storyteller" Story (10 minutes) 2. Work Time A. Reading Aloud: The Snowy Day (10 minutes) B. Engaging the Writer: The Snowy Day as a Mentor Text (5 minutes) C. Developing Language: Creating Expert Meteorologist Charts (25 minutes) 3. Closing and Assessment A. Preparing to Write: Planting Story Seeds (10 minutes) |
Purpose of lesson and alignment to standards:
How this lesson builds on previous work:
Areas in which students may need additional support:
Down the road:
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In Advance
- Preview:
- The Snowy Day to familiarize yourself with the story.
- The teacher modeling with the Snowy Day chart in Work Time B, to be prepared to model in a way that feels natural for you.
- Prepare the expert meteorologist charts--Snowy Day, Hot Day, Windy Day, and Rainy Day--by writing the title and section headings on blank chart paper (one for Snowy Day and two each for Hot Day, Windy Day, and Rainy Day).
- Pre-distribute materials for Work Time B at student workspaces to ensure a smooth transition.
- Pre-determine small groups for collaborative work during Work Time B. Consider breaking students up into six groups--two groups each for the three types of weather about which they will create the Weather Research Notes (Hot Day, Windy Day, and Rainy Day) to keep group sizes to four or five students.
- If possible, consider inviting a few extra adults (classroom family members or school colleagues) to assist students during Work Time B. These adults could help students glue items onto their chart and dictate information onto each chart as needed.
- Post: Learning targets, "Sofia the Storyteller" text, Snowy Day chart, Hot Day charts, Windy Day charts, and Rainy Day charts, and applicable anchor charts (see materials list).
Tech and Multimedia
Consider using an interactive white board or document camera to display lesson materials.
- Create the expert meteorologist charts in an online format--for example, a Google Doc--to display and share with families.
- Use a search engine such as Google to find additional images of clothing and activities to do for students to add to their expert meteorologist charts.
Supporting English Language Learners
Supports guided in part by CA ELD Standards K.I.A.1 and K.I.B.5
Important points in the lesson itself
- The basic design of this lesson supports ELLs through the comprehensive scaffolding of collaborating to create meteorologist charts and through opportunities to use verbal language in a structured way.
- ELLs may find it challenging to listen to The Snowy Day without stopping, especially if they do not understand some of the language used in the text. Encourage students to use the pictures to help them understand what is happening in the story. Tell them that if they do not understand everything right now, it is okay. Remind students that they will read the text again in the next four lessons.
Levels of support
For lighter support:
- During the read-aloud, invite more proficient ELLs to provide sentence frames for Think-Pair-Shares. (Example: The snow affected Peter's day because _____.)
For heavier support:
- During Work Time C, as students create their expert meteorologist charts, support language development by asking students questions that encourage them to participate. (Examples: Can you tell me about what you drew here for a rainy day? Why do you think the sunglasses would be appropriate to wear on a sunny day?)
Universal Design for Learning
- Multiple Means of Representation (MMR): Some students will need increased access to texts to process texts that are read aloud. To support comprehension, offer students alternatives for auditory information by sharing texts ("Sofia the Storyteller" and The Snowy Day) on a document camera or projector.
- Multiple Means of Action & Expression (MMAE): Some students will better understand material with the opportunity to engage physically. Provide options for physical action by inviting children to act out sections of the Snowy Day chart.
- Multiple Means of Engagement (MME): Students are more likely to use new vocabulary when they are able to see how it applies to their own lives. When introducing new vocabulary words (such as mentor), optimize relevance by helping students connect this new word to individuals who may have mentored them by teaching or coaching them outside of school.
Vocabulary
Key: Lesson-Specific Vocabulary (L); Text-Specific Vocabulary (T); Vocabulary Used in Writing (W)
New:
- mentor, expert, chart (L)
Review:
- meteorologist (L)
Materials
- Sofia paper doll (from Unit 1, Lesson 1; one to display)
- "Sofia the Storyteller" (one to display; for teacher read-aloud)
- The Snowy Day (one to display; for teacher read-aloud)
- Unit 3 Guiding Question anchor chart (new; teacher-created; see supporting materials)
- Expert meteorologist charts (new; co-created with students during Work Time B)
- Snowy Day chart (one; for teacher modeling)
- Hot Day chart (two; created by students in small groups during Work Time B)
- Windy Day chart (two; created by students in small groups during Work Time B)
- Rainy Day chart (two; created by students in small groups during Work Time B)
- Clothing pictures (one set for teacher modeling and one set per group of four or five students)
- Crayons (one set for teacher modeling and one set per groups of four or five students)
- Glue sticks (one for teacher modeling and one per student)
- Blank card (one for teacher modeling and one per student)
Assessment
Each unit in the K-2 Language Arts Curriculum has one standards-based assessment built in. 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 Learner: "Sofia the Storyteller" Story (10 minutes)
"Do you recognize the book that Sofia is reading?" (Responses will vary, depending on students' familiarity with the text The Snowy Day.)
"Would you like to hear the story that Sofia found? |
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Work Time
Work Time | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Reading Aloud: The Snowy Day (10 minutes)
"How was Peter's day affected by the snowy weather? What did he wear? What activities did he do?" (Peter's day was affected because he played outside in the snow all day; Peter wore a snow suit; Peter made tracks in the snow, built a snowman, made a snow angel, slid down a hill, and made a snowball.)
"What, in the text, makes you think so?" (Responses will vary.)
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B. Engaging the Writer: The Snowy Day as a Mentor Text (5 minutes)
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"Can you think about someone you know besides me who coaches you or teaches you something? Give a silent signal if you can think of a mentor."
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C. Developing Language: Creating Expert Meteorologist Charts (25 minutes)
"I can work with my classmates to create an expert meteorologist chart."
"What other kinds of weather could we record information about?" (sunny, windy, rainy)
"What clothing would be appropriate to wear in snowy weather?" (boots, snowsuit, mittens, hat)
"What activities would be appropriate to do in snowy weather?" (making a snow angel, sledding, taking a walk in the snow)
"What clothing would be appropriate to wear in the weather on your chart?" (Responses will vary, but should include clothing items that match the weather on their chart.)
"Can you figure out what kind of clothing would be inappropriate to wear? I'll give you time to think and discuss with a partner." (Responses will vary.)
"What activities would be appropriate to do in the weather on your chart?" (Responses will vary, but should include activities that match the weather on their chart.)
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Closing & Assessments
Closing | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Preparing to Write: Planting Story Seeds (10 minutes)
"What kind of weather story would you like to write?" Again, remind students of their four choices: a rainy day story, a snowy day story, a windy day story, or a hot day story.
"Think about the kind of weather story you would like to write. Look at the chart that matches that kind of weather. What might happen in your weather story?" (Responses will vary, but should include activities that a character might do in their weather story.)
"Who can repeat what your classmate said?" (Responses will vary.)
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