Intro/Background Information:
November is the beginning of Quarter 2 and the start of the ELA Research unit called ‘Reading the Weather, Reading the World’. Below is a link to the ‘Preparation Checklist for Classroom Teachers’ shared within their curriculum documents. Module 1 typically takes 3-4 weeks to complete. During this Module, classroom teachers will be modeling how to research using the topic of Droughts. At the start of Module 2, students will be expected to choose a natural disaster of their own to research with the end product being a google presentation about their chosen topic. While the below lessons are meant to support this project as well as check off some items on the linked checklist, please differentiate based on the needs of your students and staff to best support them in their specific areas of need.
Lesson 1: Intro to World Book Students/Research Site
Start by explaining that this quarter in the classroom they will be doing some research on extreme weather, if they haven’t already started. Today, they are going to review a google site with some resources they will be using, and then take a closer look at a newer online resource they haven’t really used before. Project the ‘Q2 Research ELA 4th’ app in classlink. (Teachers need to add the app by going to the + sign towards the top left of classlink, students already have it). Review the homepage, showing the different types of extreme weather/natural disasters that they will be choosing from once they start researching on their own. Choose ‘Drought’ as that is the topic they will be studying in Module 1. Point out that each page is organized in the same way (Epic books, online resources, articles, and videos) While they may have had a lot of experience with resources like Epic, Britannica, and Brainpop already, some are going to be newer, like World Book Student. You can tell them this is the ‘grown up’ version of Worldbook Kids that they may have used in the past. Click on the World Book student link for droughts. Explain that this link takes them directly to the article and that each article will be set up similarly. Point out features such as the ‘read aloud’ icon, showing them that once they click on the ‘ear’ it will begin reading immediately. While they can’t pick the middle of a paragraph to begin listening to, they can skip to specific paragraphs. If they pause it, it will start up again at the beginning of the paragraph again, despite pausing in the middle. (Model for a short period). Point out that anything with a link is another related article in World Book. Explain the tabs at the top and which ones will be more helpful. Once you feel confident they can maneuver through an article, show how to get to the World Book homepage by clicking on ‘World Book Student’ at the top. Scroll through the different parts of the ‘homepage’ highlighting the search bar since they will have a specific topic they will be searching for and that will be the most helpful. Explain that today they will be exploring World Book Student, searching for information they find interesting. To explore they can use the ‘Featured’ articles, Current Events, Biography Center, Featured Media, and/or Browse by Subject.the rest of the Give students time to explore on their own before checking out books. At the end of the library you could have students share articles they found that were interesting, or create an exit ticket for them to do independently. This could be as simple as a question posted in google classroom asking the name of the article they read, or 1-2 interesting facts they learned.
Prior to having students use Book Creator the LMT will need to create a new library to generate a code for students to join. It is up to the LMT if they would like one library per class or just have each class in the same library. It may also be a good time to discuss with 4th grade teachers if they would eventually like their students to use book creator to create a nonfiction book on their natural disaster topic as a final project.
Lesson 2: Intro to Book Creator!
Let students know that today they are going to be exploring another great tool they can use to create digital work - Book Creator. For this first lesson, walk students through how to add book creator to their classlink homepage by clicking on the + sign and searching for it if necessary. Next, model adding a new book, discussing the different layout options as well as templates. Give some direction on adding images, text, shapes, making sure to point out that in order to format any text or shape it must be selected and then students click on the i icon. Give students time to join book creator library, choose a layout or template, and practice adding media. Make sure they know this is just a ‘practice’ book and next library they will begin their actual book.
Lesson 3: How to Make Thanksgiving Dinner
This week students will create a 'How to' book using book creator. Each student will develop their own version of how to make a Thanksgiving dinner. This can be what they actually make and do to celebrate Thanksgiving, or it can be completely fictional.
Lesson 4: Continue with 'How to' book
Students will continue to add information to their book as LMT facillitates. Those that finish can share out.
Standards for the Month:
I can be safe, legal, and ethical when sharing information using technoloy and media. AASL 6.2
I can demonstrate and encourage respect for intellectual property with both print and digital media when using and sharing the work of others. ISTE 2C
I can understand the concepts of technology and appropriately use technology. ITL EL2
I can research and take notes on my natural disaster topic. KUSD R.I.4.1