Thankfulness Essay Writing Lesson Plan

Learning Standard:

3.A.2 Write paragraphs that include a variety of sentence types; appropriate use of the eight parts of speech; and accurate spelling, capitalization and punctuation.

3.B.2a Generate and organize ideas using a variety of planning strategies (e.g., mapping, outlining, drafting).

Indicate Present level of Performance:

Students have done this before and can organize their ideas by mapping before they write. They know to indent, capitalize, punctuate, and use good grammar, but sometimes need a reminder.

Behavioral Objective:

Given paper and pencil and a topic, the students will write a three point essay using correct capitalization, punctuation, and indentation with 6/8 sentences correct with each.

Assessment of Behavior Objective:

The students will write essays that the teacher will then grade by sentence and paragraph looking for correct capitalization, punctuation, and indentation using assessment form attached

Materials:

Paper and pencil for each student

Over head projector, sheets, marker, and eraser

Accommodations/modifications for students with language needs (ELL):

Provide word bank, provide picture dictionary

Accommodations/modifications for students with physical, cognitive, behavioral, and sensory needs when appropriate:

Physical: Use a computer word program rather than a pencil and paper

Cognitive: As they tell the teacher what they want to say, the teacher will write down, word for word, what they want to write on the overhead for them to copy, only use one subtopic

Behavioral: Use time-out sessions to cool off disruptive behavior and as a break if the student needs one

Sensory: Use oral and visual prompts and directions

Bolded words= read aloud

Lesson Introduction:

1. Attention Grabber: Thanksgiving Riddle: What always comes at the end of Thanksgiving? The letter "g"!

2. Academic and Behavioral Expectations: Thanksgiving is coming soon, so now we are going to write a three point essay about what we are thankful for. I want you to be able to indent, use end marks, and capitalize correctly in your essays at the end of the lesson.

3. Rationale: If we learn to indent, use end marks, and capitalize correctly in our essays, writing will be easier for us and easier for others to read so that we can share our writing.

4. Review: We did something similar to this last week when we wrote about our halloween costumes.

Modeling:

1. I am going to write Thankful at the top of my sheet and underline it because that is the topic of my essay.

2. Then I’ll draw three lines coming down from Thankful and write the three things that I am thankful for, my health, my teachers, and my family

3. Under each subtopic I am going to write details about why I am thankful for those things.

4. I am thankful for my health because otherwise I couldn’t be here with you all right now.

5. I am thankful for my teachers because I have been learning a lot about becoming a teacher.

6. I am thankful for my family because they are very supportive of me.

Guided Practice:

1. Now you all write Thankful at the tops of your papers.

2. What are you thankful for? Write one of their subtopics on the overhead

3. Why are you thankful for those things? Write details down

4. Now, when I start my essay what am I going to do first? Indent

5. Right, indent, and at the beginnings of my sentences what am I going to do? (capitalize)

6. Right, capitalize, and what about at the ends of my sentences? (use end marks)

Modeling:

1. I need to start my essay out with a sentence that will grab my reader’s attention. What is a good grabber?

2. A good grabber would be something like ‘Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful, and I have a lot to be thankful for.”

3. When I write my sentence down I remember to indent, start with a capital, and end with the right end mark.

Guided Practice:

1. Now, while I write my grabber on the overhead, you write yours on your paper.

Independent Practice:

1. Once you have your grabbers written, let me know and I’ll check it, then you can start your essays.

2. After they have written acceptable grabbers, What is the first thing you are thankful for? Write that and then tell why you are thankful for that. (continue for all three subtopics)

Closure:

What did you learn today? Good job, you all are doing great at writing and indenting, capitalizing, and using end marks. Specific feedback: You did all of these things correctly. Review: Remember that you should always indent at the beginning of a paragraph, and capitalize at the beginning and use end marks at end of a sentences. Now, you can turn those in and start on your next activity.

Reflection:

For the accommodation it was better to have the student choose three subtopics, but only write about one. With the reminder at the beginning they did really well to remember to punctuate, capitalize, and use end marks. Maybe they should have a check list that they look at themselves before writing, rather than a verbal prompt.