Grade:Kindergarten

Subject: Language Arts

Length of Lesson: 40-50 minutes

Topic/Theme:Celebrations

Purpose:

The purpose for this lesson is to establish the important connection between reading and writing. Also, this lesson will provide the students with a sense of writing for an authentic purpose. Even though others may be unable to read the students writing, it is still of great meaning to the child. This beginning writing is one of the valuable steps within the writing process. This particular lesson, once we have completed our read-aloud, will allow the child to interact with this reading and writing process.

Materials, Resources, Methods, Classroom procedures:

The materials needed for this lesson will include: the literature selection entitled The Party written by Barbara Reid, white paper; pre-glued to construction paper for each student, crayons, markers, pencils, flipchart paper and marker . Also a sample of the learning activity, will be shown to the students to demonstrate what we will be accomplishing.

I will begin the lesson using a read-aloud method framework. During the writing activity the method framework of language experience writing activity will be used, from chapter seven. The steps within this method involve encouraging students to draw a picture, writing something about the picture, and then sharing their work with the class.

Background Knowledge:

The students most likely will have all experienced some form of a party. I will ask the children if they understand what a party is. If some do not understand then we will spend some time discussing when people have parties, what goes on at a party, have they attended parties, and the various types of parties.

Body of Lesson:

To begin our lesson I will ask all the children to join me in the reading corner. I would tell them that I will be reading a book called The Party . I will tell them who the author and illustrator is for this book. Also we will spend a minute looking at the pictures as they are very unique and Barbara Reid has won awards for her plasticine artwork illustrated within this literature. I will read this book to the children pointing out and discuss any vocabulary words the children may not be familiar with. These words may include: cooler, stitches, launcher, parachute, lifeboat, anchor, hedge, tidal wave and red rover. During the reading, I will also ask the students to predict what type of party they think this will be, who it is for and what sort of activities might happen. Predictions will be verified and discussed as we discover them. Once I have completed reading this story we will spend a bit of time discussing the story. I will ask children to respond to the story. What did they like about the story? How did these children in the story seem to feel while at the party? What about when it was time to go home? After each child has been encouraged and had a chance to participate in the discussion, the writing activity will be explained in a very clear step by step manner.

For the writing activity, the children will be told that we will be having a class party. Each of them needs to make a party invitation or card to invite one person to our pretend class party. To explain each of the steps I will show the students the various parts of my sample invitation. Students will first need to draw a picture on the front of the card of something that you expect to see at a party and label what the picture is. Next, the children need to write the name of the person who is being invited on the inside of the card. They will also need to write where, when, and what time the party is going to happen. Another picture can be placed inside the card as well as the child’s name so the person being invited will know whom the card is from. After the instructions have been very carefully explained and I feel each child understands their task, I will ask them to return to their seats so that we may begin our activity. My sample will be placed on a table so the children may look at it if they need to. Students will also be informed that once the invitations have been finished each will have a chance to share their card with the class.

When the students are settled in their seats I will repeat what should be included in their invitation by writing the headings on the flip chart. These headings will include: pictures and words describing pictures, invited person’s name, where, when, what time, why or what for and students name. While the children are working on their invitations I will walk around the room providing assistance when needed. Once everyone has had plenty of time and have completed their cards we will all gather at the reading corner to share these invitations. Each child will be given the opportunity to share their work with the class and to explain what has been written on their card.

Closure of Lesson:

Once each child has had a chance to present their invitation, we will have a short discussion about the activity. I will ask if the children enjoyed this activity and if they would like to display their invitations on the classroom bulletin board which would be labeled “Celebrations” or if they would rather take them home. I might suggest displaying them for awhile and then taking them home.

Assessment:

Student assessment will be in the form of observation during the learning activity. I will assess whether or not the children understand that writing has an authentic purpose, that they understand that the meaning is in the print on the invitation. Also the students will be assessed on their comprehension of what is to be accomplished and whether or not they can follow directions, which will be given both orally and written on the flip chart.

Note: If the children become too restless during the time it takes to complete the learning activity, we may put it aside and start something different. The activity will be returned to at a later time for completion.