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Palms and Literature

by Rose Campney
rcampney@mpsomaha.org

Grade Level: 5-6 Content Area: Reading
Students will use a variety of Palm applications to enhance their comprehension and understanding of the Civil War through the literature selection Charley Skedaddle. They will also work on building vocabulary.

Downloads
PiCoMap  WordSmith
Vocab Tests and Answer Keys Sketchy
Project Evaluation Sheet Guided Reading Questions RTF File
List of Vocabulary Words RTF File Quizzler
Vocabulary Quizzler Quizzes for Chapters 1-5, 5-9, 9-13, and 13-17
Download the files from above all at once in .sit format here. Use StuffIt Expander to uncompress the files.

Lesson Goals

    • Students will learn about the Civil War.
    • Students will increase awareness and understanding of new vocabulary in each chapter.
    • Students will use PicoMap to map events in the story. Each group will also do a PicoMap concept web of an assigned character.
    • Students will explain the story through the use of Sketchy.

    Procedures

    1. Day One: Distribute books, Charley Skadaddle, and make predictions about the book using the book and the blurb on the back cover.
    2. Divide the class in to groups of three heterogeneous grouped students.
    3. Assign a character for each group to make a PicoMap about as they read.
    4. Go through Chapter procedure:
      1. Beam 3-4 vocabulary words from the chapter for the students to look up and add to their vocabulary database stored in the Palm's Address Book built-in application. They can use Noah Lite Dictionary or the school dictionary to find definitions.
      2. Assign the chapter to be read for the day. The students may read individually, or as a group. Students must respond using WordSmith (or MemoPad) document about what they read. This can also be done individually or as a group.
      3. Beam 1-2 questions to the group to discuss, write a collaborated answer, and beam back to me.
      4. Work on ideas for the group Sketchy project to be presented at the end of the book.
    5. Next Day: Start class with a review of vocabulary from the preceding day(s), and discuss what they wrote in their response to their chapter, talk about ideas some are putting into their PicoMap webs or Sketchy animations projects.
    6. Repeat each day with a new assigned chapter, vocabulary words, and questions. Observe how groups are working together.
    7. Use Quizzler of the vocabulary words for students to use as a study aid.The words are divided into groups by sections of chapters: Chapters 1-5, Chapters 5-9, Chapters 9-13, and Chapters 13-17.
    8. Culminating Activities:
      1. Presentation of their PicoMap concept webs of story events and their character development.
      2. Presentation on their Sketchy animation project to summarize their story.
      3. Timed race on Quizzler to see how well they know vocabulary. (Kids love this!)
      4. Give written vocabulary test if needed.
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