Sorting Out All This Information Day 1

Common Core Connection

This is the first lesson in the unit covering the standard W1.8 (Research Writing), and this lesson applies to selecting important information from the available research to use in their own paragraph. Breaking this standard down is essential because it is so complex and requires a lot of scaffolding. This is the students' first real experience with research, so each piece has to be explained carefully. Taking it slow and steady is essential to avoiding the frustration level in the learners. Well, really it avoids the frustration level for me too!

Lesson Overview

Since the students are so unfamiliar with what we are doing I start the lesson off by modeling selecting important information in a text. Then we work as a whole class to analyze important information in another text. Last, the students work with their partner to select the important information in their research.

The students work with their Peanut Butter Jelly Partner and engage in Transitions often in my lessons.

Introductory Activity

This is the time I like to engage the class and use some technology. So, I project the lesson image and ask them to discuss how you pick out the important things in all your research. Then I listen. I am hoping they say that they look at bold words, headings, and think about how the details connect to their topic sentence. Then I share their discussions and what I wanted them to say. 

Then we chant the lesson goal to reiterate the focus of the lesson. "I can add describing and defining sentences to my details." I find this is a fun way to make sure my students know what the focus of the lesson is for today.

I have a video of Partner Work Instruction and here is a picture of my Students Working. I also have links to the resources I use:

• Doberman Pinscher Club
• Doberman Pinscher Breed Information
• Doberman Pinscher: Westminster
• Martial Arts:Karate
• History of Karate
• Karate For Kids