Immersion I Lesson Plan Format

Name:
Amanda Bollinger
School: Bayfield Elementary
Grade Level: 4th
Number of Students in Class: ~20
Unit: Anti-Bias
Lesson Duration: ~50 mins
Day, Date, and Time of Lesson:
1. Objective(s): By the end of this lesson, students will be able to state,
elaborate, and give examples of diversity in the classroom according to the books
Wonder and One Green Apple.
By the end of this lesson students will be able to create a
compare and contrast diagram including key concepts and ideas of the books
Wonder and One Green Apple as a group.
Anti-Bias Goal: Student will be able to recognize diversity in the classroom and
develop a clear understanding of how to bring acceptance and friendship in the
classroom.
2. Colorado Academic Standards:
Content Area: Reading, Writing, and Communicating
Standard: 4. Research and Reasoning
2. Identifying implications, concepts, and ideas enriches reasoning skills
Evidence Outcomes: b. State, elaborate, and give an example of a concept.
c. Identify the key concepts and ideas they and others use.

3. Learning Target(s): I can identify diversity and give examples in both Wonder
and One Green Apple.
I can create a compare and contrast diagram with my class
identifying key concepts of the books.

4. Assessment: Each student will create a Venn diagram identifying similarities

and differences of the two books.
Each student will answer the essential question how can we
create an environment in the classroom that supports friendship and acceptance of
diversity?

5. Materials: Books: Wonder and One Green Apple, butcher paper for Venn
diagram, markers, Venn diagram copies for students (attached below)

6. Essential Questions or Big Picture Statement: How does having diversity in

the classroom effect the way people learn?
How can we make those who are different feel at home and comfortable in our

classroom?

7. Introduction/Anticipatory Set: Students have already read the book Wonder

in the classroom. As an opener we will discuss what students remember about the
book and why it is important. We will then read the book One Green Apple.

8. ****Step-by-Step Lesson Process:****

1. (8mins)DiscusswithstudentsthebookWonder,whichtheyhavealreadyread.Ask
studentswhattheyremember,howthemaincharacterfeltandthestruggleshehadto
overcome.Elaborateanddiscusshowtheclassroomenvironmentfortheboychanged
throughoutthebookandwhyitsimportant.
2. (8mins)ReadthebookOneGreenAppletotheclass.
3. (8mins)DiscussthemainideasofthebookOneGreenApple.Discusshowthestudents
feltaboutthemaincharacterandwhatmadeherspecial.Askstudentswhythisbookis
important.Makesurestudentsdevelopaclearunderstandingofbothbooks.
4. (1min)CreatetheVenndiagramonthebutcherpaperandhanginthefrontofthe
classroom.
5. (TWOOPTIONS)(20mins)
a.GivestudentsmarkersandusingcoldcallorstudentstickscallstudentstotheVenn
diagramontheboardandaskthemtoaddadetailaboutoneofthebooksoradetailin
bothofthebooks.Whilethestudentiswritingtheiranswersstudentswilladdthe
informationtotheirpersonalVenndiagramorbrainstormingmoreideas.
b.Coldcallorusestudentstickstocallonstudents,askstudentsforaconceptoridea
fromthebooksandwhereitshouldbeputontheVenndiagram.Fillinthediagram
accordingtostudentsinstructions.Whilestudentsaregivinganswershaveeachstudent
fillouttheirpersonalVenndiagramorbrainstormmoreideas.
6. (5mins)Askeachstudenthowwecancreateanenvironmentintheclassroomthat
supportsfriendshipandacceptanceofdiversity.
7. CollectstudentVenndiagramsforagrade.

Reflection

This lesson was a great way to show students that differences come in many different
ways and that by accepting and embracing differences we can make school a more well-rounded
and safe place for each other. The book Wonder is about a boy who struggles in school due to his
disabilities. The students for my lesson had read this book prior to my lesson and collectively
came up with a synopsis of the book before starting my lesson. If I were to do this lesson in the
future, I would chose a book that I had read with students to develop a clear understanding of
their thoughts and opinions on the book before jumping in. It was somewhat difficult for me to
fill in the Venn diagram on this book because of this. Students help tremendously, but it would
have been more productive if I could have read the book with my students.
The book One Green Apple is about a young girl who moves to the United States not
knowing any English. She attends school mid-year and is surrounded by people who are different
than her in this regard. However, on a school field trip she finds an unlikely place by being aware
of her differences. Although this book was slightly below the reading level of many of my
students, they all enjoyed the book and developed a clear understanding of the story.
We began the lesson by reading and discussing the components of each story. How each
character felt about the challenge they faced and what made them feel this way. With the book
One Green Apple, students were able to explicitly cite examples of their answers in the book. We
discussed as a whole class what it might feel like to be in the shoes of one of these characters.
Students enjoyed being able to relate and understand how being put in this difficult situation can
effect school work and motivation of students.

As we created the Venn diagram together it was great to see students think
outside of the box to come up with creative ideas and details for each book. I struggled with
some students when asking for suggestions of ideas. I wanted to get everyone involved, but some
students didnt have much to contribute. Against my better judgement I began to cold call on
students. I did so a in a purposeful way, however. I made sure not to cold call on studeents who I
know are uncomfortable talking in front of others and voicing their opinions. The cold call
worked to a point in generating ideas. After some ideas were thrown out the ball got going and
spurred details from other students as well.
After students had collective created their Venn diagrams, I had them finish
adding any details to their own personal Venn diagrams. As students did this I walked around to
make sure everyone had some substantial material on their diagrams. I prompted ideas for
students and made sure that each student had a clear and accessible understanding of both books
and how they related. After students completed their Venn diagram I had them turn to an elbow
buddy. Each pair would discuss the books together, one student taking the lead of conversation
for each book. (i.e. Lizzie leads the discussion of Wonder while Alyce leads the discussion of
One Green Apple). After students discussed together I asked them to write a short essay, about
three to five sentences, explaining how these two books related and what they got out of each
story.
In reading students short essays it was clear that the majority of students met the
objective at hand. Students were able to effectively state, elaborate, and give examples of
diversity in the classroom according to the books Wonder and One Green Apple. Students cited
specific examples from the book and clearly explained how the books related. Not only did
students discuss how the books related to an exemplary degree, but they were also able to clearly

identify the themes of the book and why acceptance and celebration of diversity and differences
is important to the success of students in the classroom.