LESSON PLAN Course: Language Arts/Social Studies Unit: The World as a Market Title: Letter Writing (Descriptive Writing)

Grade 3 Big Idea/Essential questions: Throughout our class theme of The world as a market, students will learn the purpose of a letter and will learn how to write letters. Students will explore another way of how literacy is in their everyday lives and the importance of communication. Students will write letters to family or friends discussing a tourist attraction, specific monument or an event that takes place in one of the countries they are studying. Students will be asked to use their five senses focusing on descriptive language to help them begin these letters as we want them to provide as much information /detail as possible. Descriptive writing is important in these letters we want them to show their readers, instead of just telling them- creating vivid imagery. JUICY words. Learning Objectives: (Program of Studies) Language Arts: 1.1 Discover and Explore -Understand Forms, Elements and Techniques- writing letters will allow students to explain understanding of new concepts in their own words, they will experiment with other language forms (ways of sharing ideas/communicating) 2.3 Understand Forms, Elements and Techniques 2.4 Create Original Text 3.1 Plan and focus- Students will have had to gather information/facts and create a letter that is organized and personal 5.1 Respect others and strengthen community- After completing this activity students will appreciate diversity and will learn how to use language to show respect Social Studies: 3.S.8 - demonstrate skills of oral, written and visual literacy: Organize and present information, such as written and oral reports (Writing letters), taking particular audiences and purposes into consideration Science: 3.9- Describe the nature of sound Review1.9- Use the senses to make general and specific observations, and communicate observations orally and by producing captioned pictures. Date: 10/21/2013 2-3 Days- may need more time for final draft Period a day (1 hr.)

Pre-assessment: Students will already have studied and collected information about these 4 countries and have researched their topic for their letter Know Wonder Learned (KWL) chart for letter writing Ask class: What is the importance of letter writing? How do we know it is a letter? What are the components of a letter? Will have read two books prior about letters- 1 factual and 1 picture book

Materials: Resources: Messages in the MailboxHow to write a letter by Loreen Leedy The Jolly Postman or Other Peoples Letters by Janet and Allan Ahlberg Letters From Around the World- India by David Cumming Social Studies Journals with research on their topic Web on 5 senses Language Arts writing journals for rough draft of letter Pencil/Eraser

Participatory Learning: Time Instructor Activities Learner Activities Resources

10 min

Open up with asking questions to class about letter writing - Who has ever wrote a letter? Why? - Importance?

Get them to discuss with person beside them about what they know, then have a large discussion

Chart paper to write down thoughts

10 min

Read parts of the book: Students will listen and How to write a letter ask questions, share - Jot down the format thoughts and ideas - Get students to come up with these

20 min

Show them an example of a letter I have created about attending a market in India describing what I would see, smell, hear or could feel. Get them to go back to desk and have them create a 5 senses web with the facts they have gathered from previous class

Students will work independently creating web with five sensestrying to be very descriptive using notes they have gathered

Social Studies Journal and LA journal Books on four countries Access to class research Computers

20 minRemind them that in these Students will begin Format of letter somewhere ongoing letters you want to be writing rough draft of around class for a until final descriptive and that their letter reminder/visual draft is whoever is reading the complete letter will have an image Assessment: Observing that students are engaged and on task (COPS rubric) Capitalization/Creativity, Organization, Punctuation, Spelling. Reflect back on activity as a large group: What is letter? Why do we use letters? Refer back to KWL chart Documentation of process (videos/pictures) Develop a checklist/class created rubric for final letter

Differentiation: Some students will be given computers or ipads to use. Those students who need extra help with writing can use templates that can be glued into their journals Students have choice in topics Group and Individual work Lesson Summary/Reflection: Next Lessons: After rough draft is complete- Students will read each others and peer edit (3 people), there will be a guideline/checklist for students to use. Come see teacher and then begin working on final letter and will provide an illustration that will be showcased.

What worked well/what needs revision: