Lesson Title: Fireworks
Lesson Author: Karolina De Vrgna
Grade Level: Year 5 (5th year of EFL learning)
Subject Area: 5th year of EFL learning (Primary school)
Time Allotted for the Lesson: within 1 day; students work in their own time
Short Description of Lesson: in this lesson, the students will practice their reading, listening and writing skills. They will expand their vocabulary on fireworks and reinforce their knowledge on Simple Present Tense. Throughout the topic they will learn about different customs and traditions.
Classroom Layout and Grouping of Students: The students will learn online partly individually and partly as a whole group (depending on the part of the lesson)...
State Curriculum Standards met in this lesson:
The students will be able to:
• discuss the main ideas and significant details of readings
• create, present, and discuss readings in the EFL for various situations;
• develop an appreciation for traditions and customs of the target countries.
• use verbal language appropriately to enhance communication as the circumstance dictates;
• expand on written communication through writing
• analyze the nuances of meaning of words and expressions for different contexts;
• use new information and perspectives to analyze and appreciate the differences between other cultures and their own.
• use target language topics in other school subjects and activities including sports, music, fashion, history, math, and art to produce interdisciplinary topics;
• assimilate background information, materials, and technology from other disciplines to use in target language classroom interaction;
• use the language being studied to comprehend and express ideas about various relationships to the cultures being studied;
• appreciate differences across communities within the cultures being studied.
• use appropriate vocabulary to express personal reactions and feelings about the text
• use appropriate cultural responses in diverse exchanges ( expressing gratefulness, extending and receiving invitations)
• use appropriate verbal strategies and cues (e.g., rephrasing, circumlocution, summarization) to communicate a message in the target language.
National Education Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S) met in this lesson:
Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:
a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.
c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by finidng out about different customs
Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students:
a. plan strategies to guide inquiry.
b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
d. process data and report results.
Digital Citizenship Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students:
a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
c. demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning.
d. exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.
Technology Operations and Concepts Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students:
a. understand and use technology systems.
b. select and use applications effectively and productively.
d. transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.
Instructional Objective(s):
1. After reading/listening to the Firework story, students will be able to identify and explain the meaning of a chosen idiom from the story on our class blog.
2. After revising Present Simple Tense students will be able to use the correct forms of the tense in two exercises.
3. After reading/listening to the Firework story, students will be able to create a 4th of July greeting card on www. search123greetings.com
4. After reading/listening to the Firework story, students will be able to summarize the story correctly using Present Simple test and send it to a teacher's email.
Materials, Resources and Technology:
Materials and resources needed for this lesson.
1. Internet resources
Technology resources needed for this lesson
1. Computer
2. Internet connection
3. An access to a class blog/forum
4. An email account
Web Addresses needed for this lesson:
1. http://www.manythings.org/listen/se-ws-fireworks.html
2. http://search.123greetings.com/cgi-bin/search/search.pl?query=4th+of+July
3. http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresent.html
4. http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/presentsimple/exercise1.swf
5. http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/presentsimple/exercise3.swf
Student's Present level of Performance and Knowledge:
Students should be able to read EFL and listen to EFL independently. They should be familiar with the use of Present Simple. Students should have an access to the Internet and the knowledge on how to explore it. They should also have an access to the class blog/forum and have the knowledge on how to post a comment on it. Students should be skilled in using an e-mail.
Instructional Procedures
Lesson Set:
Before the beginning students should get familiar with the ground rules they need to obey.
The topic of the lesson will be explained in the title of the class blog page.
Students will brainstorm on fireworks on our Class blog. They will find questions to help them: 'Describe in your own words what fireworks are? What comes to your mind when you hear the word fireworks? Why? When and where did you watch your last fireworks? Describe the event! ' (It is important to obey the posting rules e.g. taking into account what previous students had said).
Techniques and Activities:
Students will read/listen to a Firework story.
They will now determine the world fireworks on our class blog (add a final meaning to brainstorm posts)
After another listening they will identify the idioms (that include word fireworks) and choose one to write about in our class forum: 'Choose an idiom and explain what it means. Write a sentence containing an idiom of your own choice.'
Students will find an article/video on 4th of July and share a link with others on our class forum (links-fireworks), so that other can explore them and find out more.
As the text is mainly in Present Simple students will revise on it using a link: http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresent.html
Afterwards, they will have an opportunity to put their knowledge into practise doing the two exercises following the links:
1. http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/presentsimple/exercise1.swf
2. http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/presentsimple/exercise3.swf
They will now create an invitation/ a greeting card for the 4th of July and send it to a teacher's e-mail.
Lesson Closure:
The students will summarize on the Firework story using the correct forms of Present Simple and send it to my e-mail for correction.
Adaptations for Special Learners: every step of the way will be explained in detail
On additional forum pages students will be able to find broadened instructions and clear guide steps. On another page they will be able to ask question and get an instruction/answer from a teacher.
Supplemental Activities:
Extension: Students will explore links that others listed on the forum and choose one to write about using Present Simple Tense.
Remediation:
Students will be able to get a frame to help them with their summary. Teacher will also support them with additional grammar exercises (links).
Assessment/Evaluation:
Formal (grade)
Blog post 1(20%)
Forum comment I 1(20%)
Forum comment II 1(20%)
Greeting card 1(20%)
Summary e-mail 1(20%)
Total 5
70-77% satisfactory
78- 85% good
86-93% very good
94-100% excellent
Student Products: The students will summarize on the Firework story using the correct forms of Present Simple and send to my e-mail for correction. Students will discuss and comment, find links on 4th of July topic and create a greeting card.
