Activities

Lesson 1: The Name Jar Webquest (https://kirstencavanaugh.wixsite.com/thenamejar)

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

look up words from text and provide a definition
use media resources to search for information
answer beyond-the-text comprehension questions

Learning Activities:

Talk about the importance of names in families. Co-construct a list of questions the students have about their own names, on chart paper.

Does everyone have a middle name?
Do all our names put together cover all the letters in the alphabet?
Have you ever been teased about your name?
Why would someone tease you about your name?

You might add a question of your own to push them deeper, but try to let the children ask as many of the questions as possible.

Provide a computer for each students (or let them work in groups). Complete the Name Jar Webquest at the following website: https://kirstencavanaugh.wixsite.com/thenamejar

Assessment

Formatively assess students based on their webquest responses to determine if they are able to look up words from text and provide a definition.

Lesson 2: Story Elements

Objective

Students will be able to:

identify the setting, problem and solution, characters and events in a fiction story

Learning Activities

Use the google document labeled Story Elements below to record responses.
Review (or introduce) the parts of a story.

Setting: the time and place
Plot: main events in the story in order, series of events and actions that relate to the central conflict
Characters: person (s) or animal (s) who takes part in the action of the story
Conflict: struggle between two people or things, a problem
Theme: central idea or belief in a story.

Students could complete the google document in groups collaboratively

Assessment:

Assess students on their ability to extract and record information pertaining to the story elements.

Lesson 3: Exploring Your Name Further

Objective:

Students will be able to:

interview family members about the history of their name using pre-written and spontaneous questions

Learning Activities

Print and send home the name survey or alternatively share the website address which students can then save to USB.
In the small group, students can share as they feel comfortable about their name. This will provide oral practice and preparation for blogging.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed on their speaking ability based on the speaking rubrics in the word document.

Lesson 4: Blogging About Your Name

Objective:

Students will be able to:

write and blog between 1 and 5 paragraphs (depending on age and level) about the history of their name using the writing process

Learning Activities

Students will use the information they gathered from their research and the at-home survey to write up a blog about their name.
Students will then be asked to comment on each other’s work as the peer-editing aspect of the writing process.

Assessment:

Teacher feedback will be provided formatively through comments on the document and summatively at the end of the assignment through a co-constructed rubric.