Standard/GLE

Alignment:

In keeping with the addendum of Gifted/Talented Instructional Strategies defined by the State of NH the following instructional techniques will be used in this class:

Directed Study Group (focus on comprehension, discussion and analysis of text)

Differentiated Instruction (individual choice of final projects based on student's strengths - individual research for short story)

Interdisciplinary Unit - poetry and science.

Focus

and /or

Essential Questions:

What is the magic that allows someone or something to become Real?

Do we have this magic inside?

How can we imagine this magic happening to an animal in our life?

How many creatures can live under one rock?

Skills:

Recalling facts from the story.

Responding to quality literature with a written personal narrative.

Comprehending the characters and events of a story.

Applying the story ideas to our own lives.

Analyzing what the story means.

Evaluating what it means to become Real.

Creating a short story (beginning, middle, end) about a stuffed animal that becomes real using the Picturing Writing curriculum.

Research project on insects.

Writing rhyming couplets of poetry that include scientific facts.

Content:

Read The Velveteen Rabbit: readers’ theatre, silent reading, reading aloud.

Comprehension questions; open-ended questions using application skills.

Vocabulary skills, compound words, word meanings, homonyms, synonyms.

Sharing real life stories – exploring emotions about the story.

Discussions, oral and written, about what “being real” means.

Brainstorming, planning story ideas - creating watercolor illustrations.

Writing a rough draft.

Revising/editing/publishing a short story.

Reading stories to a real audience – primary classes or student assembly.

Read Under One Rock - each student researches an insect that lives under a rock and writes two rhyming couplets that give facts about the insect.

Assessment:

Journals

Vocabulary handouts.

Discussion – participation.

Open-ended questions in writing.

Writing process – plan, draft and final copy.

Oral reading and presentation.

Modifications:

Enrichment:

Remediation:

Support individual students where needed with abstract concepts and ideas.

Encourage individual students to think about the deeper meaning of becoming real as it applies to their own lives.