Unit Plan - Technology Rich Classrooms

Grade Level &Subject AreaState & TechnologyStandardsAuthor’s Purpose by Kathy Abdul-Hameed4 th Grade ReadingState Standards:Reading1.4.11 The student reads and comprehends text across thecurriculum. Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a variety oftexts (narrative, expository, technical, and persuasive). Studentidentifies the author’s purpose.‣ Persuade‣ Inform‣ Entertain‣ Technical/DescribeTechnology Standards:1. Creativity and Innovation: Students demonstrate creativethinking, construct knowledge, and develop products andprocesses during technology.4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making:Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research,manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisionsusing appropriate digital tools and resources.Objectives:5. Digital Citizenship:Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues relatedto technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.The student will be able to identify the author’s purpose forwriting a text (to inform, persuade, or entertain).The student will demonstrate their understanding of author’spurpose by creating a quiz, in PowerPoint, to help others identifyauthor’s purpose.Blooms Level (s):Timeline:Essential/Unit/Content Questions:Overview:Remember, Understand, Apply10 Days, 1 hr per dayList the reason’s authors write different types of literature.What is the author’s purpose in writing this article?After reviewing the various reasons authors write pieces ofliterature, students created a test for 3 rd grade students to use tobetter understand the concept of author’s purpose.

graphic organizer with clues for each purpose.Follow-up with a class discussion where articles are shared andthe justification of an author's purpose is explained.Day 3Review Author’s Purpose with PowerPoint and add to P.I.E (D/T)charts. Hand out Author’s Purpose Practice 1, and follow the IDo, We Do, You Do strategy (In other words, show students howto do something by modeling the skill first. Next, try it alltogether through a guided practice. Finally, allow students to trythe skill on their own.)I Do:Question 1. HAMSTERS FOR SALE: Braxton Pet Store,Northwood Mall: We have a large selection of hamstersfor sale this week. They are interesting pets and you willenjoy having one. They are only $17.99 this week. Comeand buy yours today!Highlight the clues:‣ For Sale‣ You will enjoy having one‣ $17.99‣ Come and buy yours today(All clues come from persuade – check our posted P.I.E D/Tcharts) Then allow the students to do the next question in pairsand finally finish out the rest of the activity on their own.Day 4:Review P.I.E. Charts created by the class; remind students that asthey think of things to add this list can keep growing as we learn.Divide students into groups of 4, students will select an author’spurpose and prepare a short skit (3-5 minutes) to help us identifythe purpose when we are reading. Skits will be presented to thewhole group. Non-presenting groups try to guess the author’spurpose based on the clues they have identified.

suggestions for corrections. Students will make changes to theirown PowerPoint as needed.Day 10Digital Citizenship:Materials Needed:Closure/Reflection:Websites Used:Sharing with the 3 rd grade students. Third grade teachers will usethem in their teaching of author’s purpose. I also let them knowthat 4 th grade students are willing to come into the classroomand present their quizzes and/or lead center groups.Students created a resource page where they cited the sourcesof the paragraphs they used in their PowerPoints. Teaching thestudents that it is important to give credit to the sources theyused in their PowerPoint is very important in creating arespectful digital citizen.Joke book, SPCA poster, instructions for playing checkers, Chartpaper, newspapers, magazines, Author Purpose 4-square graphicorganizer, Author Purpose TrackStar (#432121), PracticeWorksheets, Author Purpose Powerpoint Template, computer,laptops, pencils, highlightersClosure on the lesson is done with students reviewing theirPowerPoint using the class created rubric before presenting it tothe 3 rd grade class. They will conference with the teacher as wellas their peers to reflect on their learning of author’s purpose.Extension Assessment: Extension Author’s Purpose Assessment– TSW determine author’s purpose after highlighting andidentifying clues.http://www.woodland.k12.mo.us/faculty/rgarner/Reading/Authors%20puropse.htmhttp://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/h/authorpur.cfmhttp://www.internet4classrooms.com/skill_builders/authors_purpose_language_arts_fourth_4th_grade.htm