Getting to Know You (Lesson Plan)

Class Content: Language Arts

Unit of Study: Writing

Audience:

9^th grade boys and girls of different ethnic backgrounds, different levels of English language proficiency. 11 boys 13 girls. There are 3 new students from the Philippines who have never been to an English speaking school. One student is in a wheelchair but is academically proficient. One student is a special education student who does not have an aide. Students have been in the class for two weeks and are just getting comfortable with each other but don’t really know each other.

State Objectives:

1. Students will gather information about each other using interview-type questions and convert the interview responses into a biographical narrative.
2. Students will publish a newsletter of their narratives that introduces themselves to school personnel, parents and classroom visitors.
3. Students will be use technology (digital cameras, video cameras, computers, scanners, etc.) to incorporate pictures, graphics, and other visuals in their narratives and in the newsletter layout.

Select Media, Materials, and Methods

• Digital cameras for taking pictures
• Computer with a publisher software program for developing the newsletter layout and for downloading graphics, pictures and other visuals. Also for processing the narrative articles.
• Internet access for downloading clipart, pictures, etc.
• Color printer to print narratives and newsletter
• Interview questions
• Writing paper and pens/pencils

(Optional Equipment):

• Scanners for existing pictures that are not downloadable to the computer.
• Video cameras as an option for taking pictures and to document interviews
• Recording devises if available (as in digital cameras, mini recorders, etc)
• Graphics software (Print House, Print Shop, etc)

Utilize Media, Materials, and Methods

The class desktop computers (2) will be used by students to electronically produce their biographical narratives and to input pictures, graphics, or visuals to their narratives. They will also be used to develop the newsletter layout and to format the newsletter for production. Pictures, visuals, graphics that are not downloadable will be scanned and saved for later use in the production of narratives and the newsletter. Several students have personal laptops and digital cameras and/or cell phones with camera features that they are willing to bring to class for this project.

Require Learner Participation

1. Students will be told that they will be interviewing each other to produce a class newsletter that will introduce them to parents, class visitors, and school personnel.

2. Students will be prepped for this activity by using interviews from previous years or from magazine and newspapers which are read and discussed. The writing process (prewriting, writing, revising, and editing will be discussed along with the guidelines for writing biographical narratives.

3. The class will brainstorm interview questions to ask during the interviews. Students will not be limited to the amount of questions they can ask so that they are able to get as much information as possible.

4. Once students have some ideas for interview questions to ask, they pair up and conduct their interviews. They are encouraged to take notes during their interviews so they will be able to remember the information.

5. Students use their notes to write a biographical narrative about the person that makes them come alive to the reader through creative use of dialogue, action, and specific details.

6. Once the students produce a rough draft, they will go through the writing process to produce a final narrative. They can ask classmates to read their narrative and to make suggestions for revision.

7. After the articles reach the final drafts, they are organized to produce a newsletter that is developed and published as a class project. All students will provide input on the layout and design.

8. Newsletters will be shared with parents, school personnel and classroom visitors.

9. An extension to this activity could be the publishing of the newsletter online, creating a class blog, or developing student web sites.

Evaluate and Revise

1. Student performance will be monitored by the teacher.

2. Student narrative will be evaluated using a rubric for writing traits.

3. Students will evaluate the activity and make suggestions for improving the activity

4. Teacher will ask for parent, school personnel, and visitor input on the quality ofthe newsletter.