Author:
Richard Schmidt, MSDE Admin, Nancy Schmitt
Subject:
English Language Arts
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Level:
Lower Primary
Grade:
1
Tags:
  • MSDE
  • MSDE ELA
  • Maryland State Department of Education
  • msde-ela
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
    Language:
    English

    Education Standards

    ELA Grade 1 Our Environment Unit

    Overview

    Lesson Overview

    This lesson is intended as a unit opener.  The students will:

    ●     retell the sequence of events in a story.

    ●     answer questions regarding key events of stories.

    ●     Answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words or phrases in a text.

    Teacher Planning, Examples of Response Methods and Materials

    See Full Lesson Plan Attached

    Essential Question

    Essential Question for Unit:  What role do I play in the environment?

    Focus Question for Week 1:  What is an environment?

    Session 1

    Pre-assessment: Assess students’ ability to identify the five senses – teachers will present the 5 senses graphic organizer and engage students in labeling or matching each of the pictures.

    1.    Read The Senses by Annabelle Tan to students and focus on vocabulary the students were not able to label and or match in order to build background knowledge to ready the students for the nature walk

    .

    Session 2

    Session 2:

    1.    Review senses vocabulary.

    2.    Define environment as all the living things that make up an area (use short video clip and/or pictures to support). 

    3.    Take students on a nature walk and have them use their five senses to observe.  Students will record observations using the Nature Walk Checklist.

    4.    Discuss results of Nature Walk Checklist and give examples of five senses that may be used in other environments by using video clips and/or pictures.

    .

    Session 3

    1.    Tell students they are going to read a selection that describes the environment.  Read the title of the selection and show the students the cover of the book.  Ask students to predict what the topic of the book is (depending on student’s learning level answers can be verbal or chosen from a field of 2, 4 or 6 pictures).

    2.    Read aloud In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming.  As you read to the students point out and act out the important events and “stop and jot” events on a sequence chain graphic organizer.  For each important event that is acted out ask students to use their five senses choice board to identify a sense that would match the event.  Additionally, at various points stop to identify the setting/environment the story is taking place in.

    .

    Session 4

    1. Review the definition of environment and the five senses (as needed).
    2. Listen to In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming performed by Music Sparks.  As the students listen pause, point to and act out the important events.  For each important event that is acted out ask students to use their five senses choice board to identify a sense that would match the event.  Additionally, while video is paused identify the setting/environment the story is taking place in.  Lastly, students will take turns in choosing answer choices to complete the class sequence chain/setting organize. 

    .

    Session 5

    1.    Review the definition of environment and the five senses (as needed).

    2.    Re- read In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming to the class.  As you read to the students point out and act out the important events.  For each important event that is acted out, ask students to use their five senses choice board to identify a sense that would match the event.  Additionally, at various points stop to identify the setting/environment the story is taking place in.

    3.    Students will complete individual sequence chain organizers by writing, choosing or pointing to the correct answers.

    .