Learning Activity Template

 

Title:  Whale Information Mini-book                                                                                                     

 

Curriculum:  Reading                                                                                                                            

 

Grade-Level Span:  Grade 2                                                                                                                

 

Authors Names & School Districts: __

Pamela Fritch-Hieb and Renee Michalski

Proctor Public Schools

 

 

PURPOSE:

To extend student learning about whales after reading, “Henry’s Wrong Turn” from the second grade reading curriculum.

 

DESCRIPTION:

After studying proscribed vocabulary, reading the story, “Henry’s Wrong Turn,” and learning about cause and effect and sequence of events, students will be taught how to create a mini-book on whales using a template, word processing, and clip art; and incorporating research from the internet to expand their knowledge of humpback whales.

 

 

ACTIVITIES

Curriculum Standards

Minnesota Technology Standards

ISTE-NETS

Information Literacy Standard

Big 6

Evaluate Prior Knowledge—make a word web on whales.

 

 

 

 

2.1

Introduce vocabulary—bridge, courses, harbor, noticed, ocean, signaled, whale—have children list examples of each word that it reminds them of.  List their examples in a chart.  Complete vocabulary skill page 105 in the practice book together.

Reading and Lit.

I B 1

 

 

 

 

Set purposes by teaching about cause and effect.  As the teacher and students read the story, “Henry’s Wrong Turn,” list what happens and why together.  Have students complete practice book page 111 on cause and effect.

Reading and Lit.

I A 4

 

 

 

 

 

Review the story and create a story map together to show the sequence of events and what might have caused the events in this story.  As a group, complete the skill of sequencing on practice book page 108.  Have the students independently complete practice book page 112 to check story comprehension.

Reading and Lit.

I C 3 4 5

 

 

 

 

Brainstorm a list of questions that students will use when locating information about humpback whales.  Have students choose three things they will write down to find when researching on the internet.

 

I A

1 2 3

S-1   I-3

1.2

Introduce students to various websites designed for age-appropriate research on whales.

Writing

II D 1

II A  III A

IV B C

1 2 3

S-1  I-4

S-2  I-4

2.2

3.1  .2

Using the template of the minibook, teach the students how to use word processing and clip art to help in creating their own personal book on humpback whales.

Writing

II C 3-7

II E 2

II A

 

S-3  I-1,4

S-5  I-2,3

4.1  4.2

5.1

Students will share their minibooks with each other.   

 

 

Evaluation of minibook project (self, peer, teacher) 

III A 1

 

 

I A

 

 

2

S-9  I 1,2

 

 

 

5.2

 

6.1, 6.2

 

TOOLS AND RESOURCES:

Template for whale web.

Template for cause and effect.

Template for cycle of sequence.

Better Together (Macmillan/McGraw-Hill) second grade reading curriculum.

Cheri Peterson’s template for the mini-book on the presentor’s folder (www.atlas.arcc.org)

www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Humpbackwhale.shtml

www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/origami/whale/

Appleworks or Microsoft word programs

Spotlight books (Macmillan/McGraw-Hill) A Whale of a Show by Robert Campbell,

Gift of the White Dolphin by Joyce Durham Bennett, My Buddy by Audrey Osofsky

 

ASSESSMENT:

 

Comprehension test on cause and effect, sequencing, and vocabulary for the story, “Henry’s Wrong Turn.”

Completed eight frame mini-book about whales.  Must have a title, name,  information on the three questions the students researched, and two or three pictures incorporated from clip art.  All words must be spelled correctly, with the sentences grammatically correct.

Student checklist for the whale minibook project.

Teacher rubric for the whale minibook project.

 

 

CREDITS (INCLUDING CONTACT INFORMATION):

Pamela Fritch-Hieb www.pfritch@proctor.k12.mn.us

Renee Michalski www.rmichals@proctor.k12.mn.us

 

 

COMMENTS:

This unit has been taught previously without the research/minibook/evaluation part.

This extended technology/research activity linked to the literacy part should enrich and broaden the students’ knowledge.

 

 

 

Used with permission of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Project (http://www.iste.org or http://cnets.iste.org)  Contact:  Lajeane Thomas, Louisiana Tech University, P.O. Box 3161, Ruston, LA 71272;   Voice: 318 257-3923  Email:  lthomas@latech.edu