Spring Arbor University School of Education Lesson Plan Format

Title: Vocabulary of Friendship

Grade Level: 4th

Time Allotted: 30-45 minutes

Materials Required: Thesaurus, two sheets of lined paper

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Common Core Standard: ELA-Literacy. RF 4.3- Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Objective(s): Stated in terms of Blooms taxonomy (level/verb) Students will identify a word and look up synonyms for that particular word The student will {Blooms taxonomy verb} 1 .The student will list the synonyms on a separate sheet of lined paper 2. On another sheet of lined paper, the student will select one of the synonyms and apply it to the mood, setting, or character(s) in the book. Purpose of lesson: Students will know how to refer to a thesaurus to find synonyms for unfamiliar words and apply these words to certain elements of story. _____________________________________________________________________________________

Instructional Procedure: What information do students need to accomplish the objective? Time Allotted 1. Anticipatory Set: I will put a picture on the Smartboard. It would probably be a still picture from the movie Because of Winn Dixie. I will then ask the class to give me some words describing how the person or people may be feeling in that picture. After they say their words, I will tap the Smartboard and make a two tier word appear, letting the students know that is a possible description of the scene, and that the words they provided were the synonyms of that word. Essential Elements

1. State Purpose and Objective(s) of Lesson: a. I want the students to learn how to use a thesaurus as a resource.

b. Using a thesaurus is important because when a student is writing, they sometimes need more colorful words to describe what is going on in their narrative. c. It will be known before the lesson not to blurt out the answer, but to raise their hand instead. Also, when doing small group work, they need to keep their conversations at a low volume. Everyone needs to stay in their groups and not wander around to other groups. 2. Instructional Input Plan: a. Modeling: i. I will write the word melancholy on the whiteboard. ii. I will write sad as what it means and clarify it is a synonym for that word.

b. Guided Practice: i. I will instruct students to turn to the person next to them, take a piece of

lined paper and their thesaurus, and look up other synonyms for the word melancholy. They may keep the word sad if they wish. ii. I will walk around the room to make sure everyone is on task and be available for any questions.

c.

Independent Practice: Students at this point will now break up into groups of three or four, depending on the attendance. They will pick one of the synonyms for the word melancholy and write a few sentences describing whatever the element of the book I give them (group 1, use this word to describe the setting.) A homework assignment to keep with the theme of friendship would be to come up with one thing they would do to change it from the word they chose to the opposite of it (if the Preacher is sad, what is one thing you would do to make him happy?) Include an illustration so it can be put into a collage dedicated to the book on the wall.

3. Differentiation Considerations (accommodations): a. Students who finish early can look up synonyms for the vocabulary words on the word wall. b. Students who are struggling can continue working with their other group members, or seek assistance from the early finishers. 4. Assessment: As a possible summative assessment, students can be given a synonym worksheet. This worksheet is called Identify the Synonym. They will identify the synonym in each sentence and turn it in before the next transition. 5. Closure: a. I will tell the students to refer back to their first sheet of lined paper and provide

all the synonyms for the word melancholy. b. I will remind them to always use a thesaurus to expand on words they already know, or to look up an unfamiliar word and get a replacement adequate for the sentence.