- I can ask and answer questions about what school is and why it is important using key details from "What Does School Mean to You?" (RI.2.1, RI.2.6, W.2.8)
- I can speak one at a time when participating in conversations with my classmates. (SL.2.1, SL.2.1a)
These are the CCS Standards addressed in this lesson:
- RI.2.1: Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
- RI.2.6: Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe.
- W.2.8: Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
- SL.2.1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
- SL.2.1a: Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).
Daily Learning Targets
Ongoing Assessment
- During Work Times A and C, use the Speaking and Listening Checklist to track students' progress toward SL.2.1 (see Assessment Overview and Resources).
Agenda
Agenda | Teaching Notes |
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1. Opening A. Establishing a Discussion Norm: Speak One at a Time (10 minutes) 2. Work Time A. Focused Read-aloud, Session 2: "What Does School Mean to You?" (15 minutes) B. Independent Writing: What Is School? Notebook (10 minutes) C. Making Observations: Evidence in Our Classroom (15 minutes) 3. Closing and Assessment A. Shared Writing: Responding to Kindergarteners (10 minutes) |
Purpose of lesson and alignment to standards:
"I'll give you time to think and write or sketch." "I'll give you time to discuss this with a partner."
"Can you say more about that?" "Sure. I think that _____." "Can you give an example?" "OK. One example is _____." "So, do you mean _____?" "You've got it./No, sorry, that's not what I mean. I mean _____."
How this lesson builds on previous work:
Areas in which students may need additional support:
Down the road:
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In Advance
- Prepare:
- Classroom Discussion Norms anchor chart, by writing the first bullet.
- The beginning of the kindergarten letter by writing "Dear Kindergarteners," at the top of a piece of chart paper.
- Set up a document camera to display What Does School Mean to You? and other documents throughout the lesson (optional).
- Distribute pencils and the What Is School? notebook at students' workspaces. Doing this in advance helps ensure a smooth transition during Work Time B.
- Review the Think-Pair-Share protocol. (Refer to the Classroom Protocols document for the full version of the protocol.)
- Post: Learning targets, Classroom Discussion Norms anchor chart, and the Module Guiding Question anchor chart.
Tech and Multimedia
Consider using an interactive whiteboard or document camera to display lesson materials.
- Opening A: Record students as practice their discussion norms to listen to later to discuss strengths and what they could improve on, or to use as models for the whole group. Most devices (cell phones, tablets, laptop computers) come equipped with free video and audio recording apps or software.
- Work Time B: Students complete the What is School? notebooks using a word processing tool, for example a Google Doc.
- Work Time C: Students take pictures on the tour using devices. Post on a teacher webpage, class blog, or on a portfolio app like Seesaw for students to talk about at home with families. Most devices (cell phones, tablets, laptop computers) come equipped with free camera apps or software.
- Closing and Assessment A: Complete the shared writing using a word processing tool, for example a Google Doc., or write an email.
Supporting English Language Learners
Supports guided in part by CA ELD Standards 2.I.A.1, 2.I.B.6, and 2.I.C.10
Important points in the lesson itself
- The basic design of this lesson supports ELLs with the opportunity to read closely and discuss complex text. It also supports ELLs through explicit instruction in discussion conventions.
- Some ELLs may find some of the language in What Does School Mean to You? challenging. This is also the first text they will read aloud as a class. Empower students to display an agreed-upon motion or signal if they need to slow down or need clarification.
- Explain the purpose and goals of Conversation Cues to students and that they should listen closely for them, as they will respond to Conversation Cues throughout this curriculum.
Levels of support
For lighter support:
- During Opening A and During Work Time B, where there are opportunities for students to help explain or model an activity for the class, invite an intermediate or advanced proficiency ELL to volunteer to do so.
For heavier support:
- During Work Time B, distribute a partially filled-in copy of page 3 of the What Is School? notebook. This provides students with models for the kind of writing expected and reduces the volume of writing required.
Universal Design for Learning
- Multiple Means of Representation (MMR): During the Closing and Assessment, students will help you add to the Module Guiding Question anchor chart. You can provide options for comprehension by adding a scanned image of Vashti to illustrate "believing in yourself."
- Multiple Means of Action & Expression (MMAE): During Work Time B, students write independently. Vary methods for fine motor response by offering options for drawing utensils, writing tools, and scaffolds.
- Multiple Means of Engagement (MME): Before students choose a character to act out in the Role Play protocol, support them in managing frustration by prompting them to discuss strategies for what to do if their partner selects their preferred character.
Vocabulary
Key: Lesson-Specific Vocabulary (L); Text-Specific Vocabulary (T); Vocabulary Used in Writing (W)
New:
- norms, high-quality work (L)
Review:
- key details (L)
Materials
- Classroom Discussion Norms anchor chart (new; co-created with students during the Opening; see Teaching Notes)
- What Does School Mean to You? (from Lesson 2; one to display; for teacher read-aloud)
- Module Guiding Question anchor chart (begun in Lesson 2; added to during Work Time A; see supporting materials)
- Module Guiding Question anchor chart (for teacher reference)
- Speaking and Listening Checklist (for teacher reference, see Assessment Overview and Resources)
- What Is School? notebook (from Lesson 1; page 3; one per student and one to display)
- Letter to kindergarteners (new; co-created with students during the Closing; see supporting materials)
- Think-Pair-Share anchor chart (begun in Lesson 1)
Materials from Previous Lessons
New Materials
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. Establishing a Discussion Norm: Speak One at a Time (10 minutes)
"When you are talking with your friends, what is something that makes it hard to hear them?" (They are talking too fast; they are talking too quietly; there are too many people talking at once.)
"What discussion norm can help us hear each important idea in the classroom?" (speak one at a time)
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Work Time
Work Time | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Focused Read-aloud, Session 2: What Does School Mean to You? (15 minutes)
"I can ask and answer questions about what school is and why it is important using key details from What Does School Mean to You?"
"What is something we learned about school from our text yesterday?" (School helps us learn new things and treat others well.)
"What makes school important to Jonathan?" (working, learning, playing together)
"Why is school important to Christopher?" (He learns habits from school that he can use in the real world; he can help other people.)
"Do you think school is important because you can learn to help people?"
"What did Lisa say the third-grade class did? Why was it important?" (The third-grade class created scavenger hunt booklets and donated them to the zoo. That helps the zoo teach its visitors.)
"What is the same about Christopher's idea and Lisa's idea?" (They are both about learning to help others.)
"It sounds like there might be something very important about school here! Let's read one more quote and see if we can think of something to add to our chart about why school is important."
"What did Jack say his class did? Why was it important?" (The class planted flowers; the flowers will give clean air to the environment.)
"Think about what Christopher, Lisa, and Jack said in their quote. Why is school important?"
"Can you say more about that?" (Responses will vary.)
"Wow. It sounds like you are saying that school is important because you use what you learn to make your classroom, school, and community a better place. Let's add that to the Module Guiding Question anchor chart."
"What did Jack mention that is also on our chart?" (high-quality work)
"What does Jack think high-quality work is?" (work that shows extra effort, doing more than asked)
"Why do we need to create high-quality work?"
"Can you give an example?" (Responses will vary.)
"Your ideas are making me think we should add something to the high-quality part of the chart. It sounds like creating beautiful and careful work is important."
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"Can you put the first learning target in your own words?" (I can ask questions about What Does School Mean to You?) "How do you feel about that target?" (I am excited because I like the book.) (MMAE)
"What does this sentence mean?" (Responses will vary.)
"What is it in this chunk?" (Doing high-quality work).
"What does it mean for students like you to see yourselves?" (to look at my own face or body; to look in a mirror) "So what does it mean to see yourself as experts?" (to think about ourselves as people that know a lot about something.)
"The word with here means that we are about to see more qualities that we have as experts."
"What else do we have as experts? What is a voice? What do you think having a voice means in this sentence?" (A voice is what we hear when we speak. Having a voice means having an opinion and ideas that matter.) "What is that last thing that experts have? What does it mean?" (The power to make a difference; to be able to change things or make our communities better.) "What are some ways you can make a difference in your community if you are experts?" (Responses will vary.) "How would doing high-quality work help you make a difference in your community?" (Responses will vary.)
"Now what do you think this sentence means?" (Responses will vary, but may include: Doing good work helps us understand how we can change things. Working hard will help us become experts.) "What key details in the sentence help us understand how school is important?" (Responses will vary.)
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B. Independent Writing: What Is School? Notebook (10 minutes)
"What did you learn from the book about what school is and why schools are important? What picture would you draw?" (I learned that you can learn new things at school to make your community a better place; a picture of me planting flowers.)
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C. Making Observations: Evidence in Our Classroom (15 minutes)
"I can speak one at a time when participating in conversations with my classmates."
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Closing & Assessments
Closing | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Shared Writing: Responding to Kindergarteners (10 minutes)
"Are there any students in our school who are just beginning to learn about why school is important?" (new students, kindergarteners) "Do you think there is a way to share our learning with these students?" (a letter)
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