by Sheila Bolmeier
sbolmeie@mpsomaha.org

Grade Level:3-6

Content Area: Language Arts

• Students will learn the difference between Fiction and Non-Fiction.
• Students will learn the names of five sub categories, or genre, for various fiction and non-fiction selections. This background knowledge is necessary for many classroom reading experiences as well as participation in our school
• Golden Sower and Newbery reading programs.
• Students will become familiar with various aspects of Slideshow to Go.
• Students will learn how to complete a story in Gone Mad!, or review how to use Quizzler.
• Students will create an idea map to show their new understanding of genres as categories with sub-categories and characteristics.

 

Procedures

In a previous lesson, students have categorized a random group of books and discovered various possibilities for organization of books in a library. They have been introduced to the Dewey Decimal System for organization.

1. Pass out Genre Preview Sheet and explain to large group. Students complete the “before” true/false section individually.
2. Beam the “Genre” slideshow to students. This will be their first experience with "Slideshow To Go", so modeling using an Elmo will be necessary.
3. Features to discuss through short discovery sessions –
• slide numbers at bottom of screen
• forward/back arrows (bottom right hand corner)
• plus/minus sign functions (bottom of screen)
• outline/slideshow view (top of screen)
• drop down menu for slides (top right corner)
4. At this time, explain to the students that following their time to view the slideshow, they will have a choice on a practice activity that will be completed with a teacher determined partner. Demonstrate Gone Mad! and beam to all. Students have already experienced Quizzler, so only a short review is needed. Students demonstrate their preference for the practice activity by signing the corresponding sheet. Once the students have committed to the practice activity, the teacher uses Name Pick to pair students that have selected the same method of practice. Partners may determine whether they want to view the slideshow together and help each other on their preview sheet, or do this independently and then meet as a team for the practice. Students view the slideshow and change or verify their true/false answers on preview sheet. Evidence for each statement should be recorded by slide number.
1. Student pairs work to complete the Genre Gone Mad!story or to answer questions on the Quizzler. This may end a typical 45-minute class period.
2. To review for the next class, or to transition, the teacher can use the Name Pick to select two students to share part of all of the Gone Mad! stories and two or three students to share a Quizzler question on the Elmo for those that did not use Quizzler.
3. The teacher will introduce and model the use of Idea Pad using the Elmo. Use the example of a school day with two main sub-headings for Recess and Learning. Beam the program and have students practice creating the example with the teacher.
4. Explain the assignment to create an Idea Pad file about what they have learned in their study of genres. Display minimum requirements. Students will export the Idea Pad file to a bit map for printing and teacher assessment.
5. Differentiation – students that complete the Idea Pad file can add to the Quizzler questions for the Genre practice.

Minimum Requirements for the Idea Pad File

• Main Heading – given to students – Categories of Literature
• Student should have two sub-headings.
• Each sub-heading should have at least one category.
• Main heading, sub-headings, and categories should have connecting lines.

Extensions

• Student provides more than one category for sub-headings.
• Student provides details for each category (characteristics).
• Student shows through editing of color and shape an in depth understanding of the concepts and organization of Idea Pad.