Newspaper: Read All About
It!
Grade Level: 7
Subjects: English/Language
Arts, Science, Computer Technology
Learner Outcomes:
-
Students will understand that to survive
within an ecosystem, an animal must be physically and behaviorally adapted
to the conditions of its environment.
-
Students will identify physical and behavioral
characteristics of animals living in the desert that make them well adapted
to the desert environment.
-
Students will read and gather information
from articles to answer the question "What adaptations help animals survive
in a desert environment?"
-
Students will be able to use vocabulary
from the novel in context
-
Students will use the five W's and How
in reporting on an event in the novel
-
Students will design, write and publish
a newspaper
Duration of Lesson: 5
Days
Materials:
Handouts:
5
W’s and How
K-W-L
Chart
Library
reference books on Desert Animals
Technology Tools/Courseware:
MS
Word
Encarta
Teacher Notes:
Arrange
a time for student use of computer labs and instruction in formatting Newspapers
Ask
Librarian to help locate books and resource materials on Desert Reptiles
and Amphibians
Procedures:
Day 1 Classroom
-
After reading the novel, Holes
, by Louis Sachar, tell the students that
for their final project each person will name, design, write, and publish
their own newspaper about Holes. Explain to them that they will
work in the classroom on the title, rough draft, and editing of the articles
for 2 days and in the computer lab and library on research and publication
for 3 days.
-
Ask students to list the names of newspapers
they know. Explain that this is called the Banner. Each student
should choose a banner for his/her paper.
-
Tell students they will write 4 articles
for their paper.
2.) An informational article about a desert amphibian or reptile
that answers the question, "What adaptations
help this animal survive in a desert environment?"
3.) A word find using the personal vocabulary
list each student made as she/he read the novel
4.) free choice article or Trivia quiz
about the story.
-
Today write the 5 W's and How
article. Each student should choose one event from the novel and
imagine they are a newspaper report who will write an article for the paper
about the event he/she chose.
-
Give students the 5 W's and How handout
and review the rules for writing a newspaper article. Students fill
in chart for the details of the event and then write the article.
Day 2 Classroom/Library
- Today
students will choose a desert reptile or amphibian and use the library or
classroom to research and write a nonfiction article that answers the question,
“What adaptations
help this animal survive in a desert environment?”
- Review
the names of the desert animals in Holes. Have the students add as
many other amphibians and reptiles as they can to the list. Add
to the list from Desert Animals and Wildlife list. Each student chooses
an animal.
- Have the Question for the Day posted or on
the board. Have students fill
in a K-W-L chart for their animal by going to the library to research their
animal and find a response to the question for the day. Students
should write an article for their newspaper about the animal they researched.
Day 3 Classroom/Computer Lab
- Students will do peer editing on their
Event Article. Encourage students
to use catchy titles.
- Students will come to the computer lab to
learn how to format their newspaper using Microsoft Word.
- Students will create their Banner and set
up 2 columns for their paper. Students
will type in their event article.
- Students who are ready will type in their
Informational article about a Desert Animal.
- For tomorrow students should have a list
of their personal vocabulary words for use in making a word find.
Day 4 Computer
Lab
- Today students will create a word find for
their personal vocabulary words using software such as Crossword Companion.
- They will finish typing the articles for
their newspapers.For their free choice
article they will either choose something to write about or include a computer
graphic that fits in with the theme of the novel.
Day 5 Computer Lab/Classroom
- Today students will finish their newspapers
and post them.
- Each
student will draw a name out of a container and “deliver” the paper to the
person chosen.
Modifications:
Assistance will be provided based
on individual need. Additional time can be allotted to students need
it or the number of articles can be reduced. Follow IEP guidelines
for Special Servies Students.
Students with reading difficulties
may benefit from listening to the tapes of Holes ISBN 0-8072-8162-X
available from the Listening Library
of Random House Audio Publishing Group, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York.
Enrichment Activities:
Students who finish early may go
to bookmarked interactive internet sites for Holesif
they have permission to use the internet.
Some students may enjoy doing more reasearch
on desert animals.
Evaluation/Assessment
Rubric(code
number 361707)
West
Virginia Standards:
Reading Comprehension:
7.19, 7.25
Writing:
7.51, 7.57, 7.60, 7.61, 7.62, 7.64, 7.156
Computer Technology:
7.165, 7.169, 7.173
National Standards:
Science:6
Understands relationships among organisms and their physical environment
Reading:
5 Uses the general skills and strategies
of the reading process
6 Uses reading skills and strategies to understand
and interpret a variety of literary texts
7 Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret
a variety of informational texts
Writing:
3 Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions
in written compositions
4 Gathers and uses information for research purposes
References:
Teacher Resources:
List
of Desert and Wildlife Animals
How
Do Desert Animals Survive?
Louis Sachar Teacher
Resource Page
Student Resources:
Microsoft Encarta
How
Do Desert Animals Survive
KWL
Chart
|
Overview
|
Lesson
1
|
Lesson
2
|
Lesson
3
|
Lesson
4
|
Lesson
5
|
|
I Am Poem
|
Biopoem
|
Read All About It
|
Here's the Scoop
|
Baby, It's Hot Outside
|
| |
Three fifty minute
sessions
|
Two fifty minute sessions
|
5 fifty minute sessions
|
Two fifty minute sessions
|
Two fifty minute sessions
|
Linda Dobbs
Carol Grimes
Michelle Meca