This unit plan is intended to be used with an 8th grade English Language Arts class. More specifically, this unit has been designed for use in a resource room setting with students who have been identified with one or more exceptionality and who are currently receiving special education services based on their needs and as documented in their IEP.
This unit is intended for use with students who have their own, district issued laptop or interactive tablet. Furthermore, a "SmartBoard" is intend to be used by the educator for demonstration purposes when necessary. As the activities are being presented online, an Internet connection is also needed. This unit plan can also be modified to be used in a computer lab setting.
The students should have a general knowledge of the technology they are utilizing. Experience using word processors, web browsers and digital presentation tools, such as Power Point or Keynote, is necessary. Students with identified exceptionalities may need help navigating the Internet, organizing the information they find or attending to a task for an extended period of time. It is important that the educator be aware of these weaknesses and available to help as it is the role of the educator to facilitate learning.
Nature of the Class:
As is described on the web site, this lesson is designed to be completed in one week in a resource room ELA class. Prior to this lesson, students should be familiar with the elements of a plot, the different types of characters, and various themes from related readings(i.e. segregation from "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry").
All material presented online or through the use of technology needs to be available in hard copy format. This is to ensure that every student has access to the academic material and, therefore, has the same opportunity to succeed.
Content of Unit:The goal of this unit it to increase background knowledge pertaining to the novel "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. At the end of this unit, students should be able to identify and describe the various themes of the novel, identify and describe the setting (time and place) of the novel and identify and describe the author of the novel. Furthermore, students will use critical thinking skills, as well as their developing technology skills, to create artifacts that display their knowledge of a given topic. This unit also addresses a number of Language Arts standards. The following standard will be addressed:
- Use organizational strategies (e.g., notes and outlines) to plan writing.
- Use available technology to compose text.
- Apply tools (e.g., rubric, checklist and feedback) to judge the quality of writing.
- Deliver formal and informal descriptive presentations that convey relevant information and descriptive details.
- Apply active listening strategies (e.g., monitoring message for clarity, selecting and organizing essential information, noting cues such as changes in pace).
Materials and Technology Needed:
As previously stated, this unit requires access to the following materials and technologies:
- SmartBoard
- Student computer or tablet
- Access to the internet
- Word processing software
- Presentation software
- Printed content (for those with no access to needed technology)
- Loose leaf paper and pencils
Teaching and Learning Activities and Assessment:
The following activities will be completed during this unit:
- Web-Quest and accompanying Power Point (Or other electronic presentation)
- Final product assessed based on the provided rubric
- Informational Brochure
- Final product assessed based on the provided rubric
- Short Story
- Final product assessed based on the provided rubric
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