Grade: 2

Subject: Language Arts

Length of Lesson: 30 minutes

Topic/Theme: Creative writing

Purpose:

• to connect reading and writing experiences
• to become familiar with the elements of the writing process
• to write for an authentic communicative purpose

Materials, Resources, Methods, Classroom procedures:

• “The Party” by Barbara Reid
• Chalk and chalkboard
• Writing folders
• Construction paper, markers, crayons, tape, glue, and other materials for making invitations
• Methods used - process writing approach

Background Knowledge:

The students will read “The Party”, a book about a party. They will then connect their reading experience with a writing experience by starting a writing activity that relates to the book. In this class, they will complete prewriting and drafting activities, two of the five elements of the writing process. The draft will go into their writing folder and the students will revise, edit, and perhaps publish this work in subsequent classes. Another writing activity that will take place in this class is creating party invitations. This activity serves an authentic communicative purpose since the students will actually inviting another class to their party. The class that they will be inviting is a grade five class that comes in to read to them from time to time.

Body of Lesson:

Prewriting activity - Introduce the name and author of the book, “The Party”. Explain to the students that after reading this book, they will be writing about a party that they attended. Read the book to the students. After reading the book, brainstorm possible writing ideas. Write the students’ ideas on the chalkboard or on chart paper. Ask the students what kind of parties they might write about. Ask them how their party is the same as the party in the book and how it is different. By asking these questions, it helps to relate the writing activity to the reading. If students are having trouble remembering a party that they went to, remind them of last week’s in-class Halloween party.

Drafting - Have the students write about a party that they went to. After they are finished, have the students put their draft in their writing folder. Explain that they will be revising each others’ work next class.

Activity for authentic communicative purpose - When the students are finished their draft, tell the class that we will be having a party of our own. Tell them that we will be inviting our grade five reading buddies to our class as a thank you for reading to us all year. Ask the students how we might invite the class to our party. Hopefully, someone will suggest that we make invitations to send out to the class. If no one comes up with this suggestion, suggest it yourself. Have the students begin making the invitations using construction paper and other materials provided.

Closure of Lesson:

Realistically, the class probably won’t get past the drafting part of the lesson. If the students don’t finish their draft, they can work on it next class. The invitations can also be done next class.

Assessment:

The students’ work will go into their writing folder. This will be collected from time to time to check for students’ comprehension of the learning activities. Eventually, the students will select their best work to go into their portfolio and which will later be evaluated.