Author:
Richard Schmidt, MSDE Admin, Nancy Schmitt
Subject:
English Language Arts
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Level:
Upper Primary
Grade:
3
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 3 Determination Init

    Overview

    Lesson Overview

    This lesson is designed to help students develop an understanding of determination.  Students will look at pictures and read text that shows determination. Students will identify determination.   They will write and reflect on determination as a real world application.

    Teacher Planning, Examples Response Methods and Materials

    See Full Lesson Plan Attached

    Essential Question and NCSC Essential Understanding

    What are the challenges and barriers faced when people show determination?

    Identify a character, setting, event or conflict.

    Identify the topic of a text or information presented in a diverse media.

    Given a specific purpose, produce a permanent product.

    Day 1

    Day 1:  Introduce determination

    Other suggested text:  Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie DePaola

    ·         Define determination – making your mind up about something, working hard for something (will become more clear throughout the lesson)

    ·         Show set of photo cards- (child reaching for cookies – say “This child is showing determination.  The child wants the cookies”)  (child throwing basketball – say “This child is showing determination.  The child wants to make a basket.”)  (person running a race – say “This person is showing determination.  The person wants to finish the race”)

    ·          Read aloud short stories about determination (Lesson resource ) after reading each story ask the students to identify if the main character showed determination.  Did he/she work hard for something in the story?  (respond yes / no) (e.g., pointing, stating or eye gaze)

    ·         Revisit the definition of determination.  Together create a poster with the word determination, a definition your student understands (e.g., making up your mind about something, working hard for something)  and pictures to help him /her understand the definition (e.g., pictures can be the same as the photo cards, from a magazine or newspaper, or pictures student finds on AT device).  Display this poster for future lessons. 

    Post-assessment: Checklist – Was student able to identify how each character in the story showed determination?

    .

    Day 2

    Day 2:  Identify what the character is determined to do

    ·         Revisit the determination poster.  Review the definition of determination. 

    ·         Review the photo cards showing determination.  Show the cookie picture card.  Say, “This child is showing determination.  She is reaching for something she wants.  What is she determined to get?”  (Picture card - cookie)  Continue showing the other photo cards and ask the students questions about the cards.  The purpose behind asking these questions is to have the students identify what the character is determined to get or achieve. Students should respond to the questions by pointing to, stating, or using eye gaze.

    ·         Reread the determination stories aloud.   After reading each story ask the students to identify what the main character was determined to do or get in the story?  Students should respond to the questions by pointing to, stating, or using eye gaze (picture cards).

    Post- Assessment: Checklist – Was student able to recall information from the text to answer question about determination?

    .

    Day 3

    Day 3:  What are you determined to do?

    **Prior to the lesson gather some picture cards of things that your student might want to do or accomplish (something attainable, based on your knowledge of the child)

    ·         Review definition of determination on poster

    ·         Review one or two photo cards asking what the child in the photo card was determined to do, reread determination stories ask what characters in the stories were determined to do.  Students respond using eye gaze, pointing or stating. 

    ·         Display the picture cards that you have gathered prior to the lesson and talk about each one.

    ·          Ask the student which of these things he/she is determined to do. Students respond by pointing, using eye gaze or stating answer. 

    ·         Together with the student create a written response to the question: What are you determined to do?

    ·         You could provide a sentence fill-in the blank for the student to fill in with words or for the student to create with picture cards or using AT device, depending on the child’s ability. 

    I am determined to _____________________.

    ·         Post the final determination writing piece, we will refer back to this writing piece in future lessons. 

    Post-assessment:  Does the student’s writing sample show understanding of writing for a specific purpose?

    .

    Day 4

    Day 4:  How did the character show determination? 

    ·         Review determination poster

    ·         Revisit photo cards. Examine water fountain card say, “This child is determined to get a drink.  She is showing determination by standing on her tippy toes.  She really wants that drink.   She needs to stand on her tippy toes to get the water.”   Have student point to part of picture where child is on tippy toes. 

    ·         Review other photo cards and have student point to (or eye gaze) or tell how character is showing determination (e.g., child’s arms reaching for cookies )

    ·         Revisit stories and have students tell how characters are showing determination

    ·         Suggested resource: Watch video clip on discovery education of teens competing in a wheelchair race.

    video clip on discovery education of teens competing in a wheelchair race

    Ask how teens showed determination in video clip.  Students respond using eye gaze, pointing to picture or stating response.

    .

    Day 5

    Day 5: How will you show determination? 

    Ahead of time prepare photo cards with things your student might have to do to accomplish his/her goal.

    ·         Review determination poster

    ·         Revisit photo cards and talk about how character showed determination (a review of Day 4 activity)

    ·         Revisit writing sample :

    I am determined to _____________________________.

    ·         Share the previously gathered photo cards that the student would have to do to show determination.

    ·         Have student point to (or eye gaze) the ones he/she would like to do show determination.

    ·         Add to the writing piece.   You could provide a sentence fill-in the blank for the student to fill in with words or for the student to create with picture cards or using AT device, depending on the child’s ability.

     I will show determination by ________________________________________.

    Assessment:  Does the student’s writing sample show understanding of writing for a specific purpose?

    .