Grade Level: 4-5
Subject Areas: Language Arts, Social Studies, Health
Learner Outcomes:
The students will work together to enhance
their cooperative skills.
The student will write sentences and paragraphs
using exaggeration after the reading of John Henry.
The student will identify the area of West
Virginia the legend of John Henry originated from
The student will read the tall tale of John
Henry
The student will learn healthy exercise guidelines
for life long health practices.
Time Frame: Four fifty minute class periods
Materials:
A copy of
"John Henry" for each
cooperative reading group
Pencils/Paper
A set of twenty pound weights
WV County Map for each student
WV Elevation/Topographical Map for each student
Story comprehension sheet for Day 2 (Word Doc.) (RTF)
Comprehension/Vocabulary worksheet for Day 1 (Word Doc.) (RTF)
WV Elevation/Topographical Map for each student
Story comprehension sheet for Day 2 (Word Doc.) (RTF)
Comprehension/Vocabulary worksheet for Day 1 (Word Doc.) (RTF)
Scrambled word
worksheets for each student
Technology Tools:
Computers with Internet access
Computer printer
Word processing program, Microsoft Word
Teacher Notes:
- Students must have a signed Acceptable Use Policy.
- Students will need a good basic knowledge of using a word processor.
- Printers to be used should have color printing capabilities.
Procedure:
Day One
1. The lesson will begin with a whole class
vocabulary
preview of terms important to the story.
2. The next step will then be the reading
of the book "
John Henry" in cooperative groups of two.
3. On the completion of the reading the students
will answer a comprehension/ vocabulary worksheet.
4. The rereading of the story as a whole
group will follow along with teacher directed questions for discussion.
5. Check the work sheets completed earlier
as further review and then collect them for evaluation.
Day Two
1. Day two will begin with a review sheet
of the vocabulary terms in scrambled word worksheet
form.
2. Next will be a review of the story with
a short comprehension review worksheet.
3. The next step will be the introduction
of a creative writing assignment using exaggeration as found in a tall tale.
4. Step four will be to type the creative
assignment using Microsoft Word or a word processing software program.
5. Once the typing has been completed a spelling
and grammar check will be performed by Microsoft Word before being printed.
6. Step six will be the turning in of the
writing assignment. This will be a time to share the reading of the stories
if the students volunteer to do so.
Day Three
1. Using a large state map of West Virginia
find and discuss the location of the tunnel being built by John Henry.
2. Discuss using the map and the terms of
latitude and longitude. Spend time handing out the pre-printed maps
- county and elevation - and have students identify locations
on the map that they know.
3. Introduce the term elevation to the students
and discuss what it means. Further this discussion by discussing the elevation
of West Virginia and the location of the mountain John Henry was cutting
through.
4. Working in their cooperative groups have
the students locate a town or city in West Virginia and give its map coordinates.
If possible also give the elevation of the town or city.
**This will be done using the computer and a map search using yahoo search engine.
**This will be done using the computer and a map search using yahoo search engine.
Day Four
1. Review the terms elevation, latitude,
longitude and map coordinates orally
2. Discuss what the area around where John
Henry was working must have been like in the 1800s.
3. Students will watch the movie, West Virginia, to observe the working conditions during the 1800s. After the movie have a class discussion about their observations.
3. Students will watch the movie, West Virginia, to observe the working conditions during the 1800s. After the movie have a class discussion about their observations.
4. Discuss what being in shape means to them.
How should we keep our bodies healthy?
5. Discuss what working on a railroad six
to seven days a week would do to your body and compare that to how we work
today.
6 . Have each student lift a twenty pound
weight on the end of a barbell. How strong would John Henry have to have
been to do the work he is given credit for?
7. Take a walking field trip. Before leaving
instruct students on how
to take their pulse. Walk up a nearby hill or steep slope to get the students
a little work out. On completion of the walk have students check their pulse
again and then discuss the shape a person would have to be in to just get
around from place to place in West Virginia.
Modifications:
Students with signed IEP's will need to have
modifications made according each students individual needs.
When creating the reading pairs for
the reading of the book some students may need to be placed with higher
functioning students for help in reading or just listening to the story.
Students may need extra time to complete
the creative writing assignment and shortened assignments in the completion
of the comprehension as well as the vocabulary assignment.
Enrichment Activities:
1. Students will research the location of
any place on a world map and bring in the map coordinates along with the
elevation to share in class.
2. Students will create and present in class
any art work they might want to do dealing with John Henry.
3. Students will write poetry about John Henry
and read it orally in class or turn it in to be read by the teacher.
4. Students will write another exaggeration
story.
Evaluation/Assessment:
Students will be evaluated and assessed based
on the following criteria:
1. Working well in their cooperative groups
in the completion of the story through teacher observation
2. Completed comprehension and vocabulary
worksheet
West Virginia Content Standards for 4th and 5th grade:
Language Arts: RLA.4.1.3, RLA.4.1.4,
RLA.4.1.7, RLA.4.1.13, RLA.4.2.1, RLA.4.2.2, RLA.4.2.3, RLA.4.2.7, RLA.4.2.8,
RLA.4.2.9, RLA.4.2.10, RLA.4.2.11, RLA.5.1.1, RLA.5.1.2, RLA.5.1.5, RLA.5.2.1,
RLA.5.2.2, RLA.5.2.3, RLA.5.2.4, RLA.5.2.5, RLA.5.2.6, RLA.5.2.7, RLA.5.2.8,
RLA.5.2.9, RLA.5.2.10
Social Studies: SSWV.4.1, SSWV.4.9,
SSWV.5.2
Health: HE.4.1.4, HE.5.1.6, HE.5.3.1,
HE.5.6.2
National Standards:
Language Arts:
Writing
1. Uses the general skills and strategies
of the writing process
3. Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions
in written compositions.
Reading
5. Uses the general skills and strategies
to understand and interpret a variety of literary texts.
Social Studies:
2. Understands the historical perspective.
Health:
2. Knows environmental and external factors that affect individual and community health
2. Knows environmental and external factors that affect individual and community health
7. Knows how to maintain and promote personal
health.
References:
www.teach-nology.com
www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/west_virginia.html
www.amazon.com
John Henry by Julius Lester
Author: Thomas Lamb
tlamb@access.k12.wv.us
B-U Intermediate School
