#3272. Still Life Predictions

Reading/Writing, level: Elementary
Posted Tue Oct 26 18:18:30 PDT 2004 by Angela Stone (sesars@netzero.com).
Liberty Elementary, Liberty, USA
Materials Required: magazine pictures, paper, construction paper, markers, pencils, scissors, Balto, the Dog Who Saved N
Activity Time: 1-2 Lessons
Concepts Taught: Predicting and Writing

Title: Still Life Predictions
Submitted by Angela Stone
Subject: Language Arts
Grade Level: 3rd
Objective: The student will be able to make predictions using prior knowledge, textual, and picture clues.

Materials: magazine pictures, paper, construction paper, markers, pencils, scissors, Balto, the Dog Who Saved Nome, and glue sticks.

Background: Predicting is an important aspect of reading. Predicting Students will use their background knowledge and visual cues to help them create a group story.

Standard: South Carolina Standards 3W2.2, 3C1.8, 3C2.2, 3R1.7

Procedure:

Focus: The teacher will focus the students' attention by having a blind folded individual reach into the mystery bag and feel an item such as an eraser. The teacher will have the students make predictions based on the volunteer's description of the item.

Input: The teacher will explain how to make accurate predictions using story clues, character traits, and prior knowledge. The teacher will read Balto, the Dog Who Saved Nome. The students will make predictions using picture clues and textual information. The teacher will ask the students to predict and confirm their predictions.

Modeling/Guided Practice:
The teacher will record the information using a graphic organizer with the following headings: What I Already Know, Clues in the Story/Illustrations, and My Predictions. The students will be given an opportunity to come to the chart and write down his or her predictions.

Check for Understanding:
Ask the students to give examples of how information they already knew helped them make a more accurate prediction. Discuss how their predictions were confirmed to if they were changed based on new clues.

Independent Practice:
1. The teacher will place students into groups of three to four students.
2. The teacher will give each group a picture. The students will look at the picture. Then, they will discuss what they know and predict the events that may have occurred.
3. The students will brainstorm ideas on paper, organize thoughts, and write a story based on their ideas.
4. The students will write the story and create a "still life" of their prediction. They may cut, color, and manipulate the picture into a still life that describes their writing.
Closure:
The teacher will discuss how we make good predictions using story clues, character's traits, and prior knowledge. The students will share their stories.

Expected Outcomes:
The students should be able to work effectively in small groups to discuss and write a group story. They should discover that predicting not only uses clues from text, but it also comes from what we know about the world around us.

Assessment: The teacher will review students' written responses and ability to make predictions using background knowledge and pictorial clues.