Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Wombat Stew- Narratives

Unit plan Year 2

School Name: Primary State School

Unit title: Wombat Stew – Narratives constructing texts

"What makes us want to read stories?"

KLA(s): English, ICT's

(incidental: SOSE, ART, HPE, Maths)

Year level(s): Year 2 

Duration of unit: 5 -10 lessons


 

Identify curriculum  

Ways of working

Knowledge and understanding


 

Students are able to:

  • identify main ideas and the sequence of events, and make simple inferences
  • recognise and select vocabulary to describe subject matter
  • interpret how people, characters, places, events and things have been represented
  • construct simple literary texts by planning and by using prior knowledge and experience to match an audience and purpose
  • make judgments about their enjoyment and appreciation of texts using personal knowledge, experiences and direct references to the texts

ICT's inclusive of all Prac lessons Wombat Stew focus in blue

Inquiring with ICTs

• experiment with different ICTs and select and use ICTs appropriate to the inquiry

Creating with ICTs

represent ideas, information and thinking using digital tools

develop imaginative responses- Talking points, video, talking book

record evidence of their learning- Storybird/ Myths & Legends, audio, Podcast, videos

• reflect on their use of ICTs as a creative tool and identify how their responses could be improved- Procedures, sequencing, speaking session, retell stories, audio recording of personal narratives

Communicating with ICTs

share and communicate ideas, understandings and responses- Blog, movies, Talking Points, Interviews

consider how ICTs can be used to communicate different meanings in different situations – discussions in reflection

apply digital media to communicate- podcast story review, IPod story, movies, retell/ role play narrative

Ethics, issues and ICTs

develop and apply basic protocols and practices for safe, secure and responsible use of ICTs- follow guidelines & school procedures

• follow guidelines for personal safety and information security practices when using ICTs- passwords home & school, signed permissions

Operating ICTs

follow guidelines to use ICTs and associated processes

• apply basic formatting features when using ICTs


 

SP&L

  • The purpose of speaking and listening includes exchanging information, sharing and exploring ideas,

    entertaining, supporting relationships, giving opinions and getting things done

    e.g. sharing a narrative/ recount can be entertaining.

  • Active listeners identify main ideas and information, show interest and respond.

    In presentations, speakers make meaning clear by sequencing ideas and information and using

    visual aids, including objects and pictures

e.g. using audio / video devices students record presentations for review and enjoyment

R&V

  • Words, groups of words, visual resources and images elaborate ideas and information, and

portray people, characters, places, events and things in different ways.

W&D

  • Words and phrases, symbols, images and audio have meaning.
  • Text users make choices about grammar and punctuation.
  • Writers and designers refer to authoritative sources and use a number of active writing strategies,

    including planning, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading, publishing and reflecting

    e.g. referring to wall charts, dictionaries and a variety of spelling resources and strategies to help with

    editing and proofreading.

LE

  • A sentence can be a single clause or a combination of clauses
  • Text connectives are used to link and sequence things, ideas and events

    e.g. She got out of the pool. Then she dried herself. — Then is a text connective indicating

  • Vocabulary describes, labels and sequences, and can represent people, characters, places,

    events and things

  • Auditory, spoken, visual and nonverbal elements provide details necessary for making meaning

    about the representations of people, places and things

L & NL

  • Texts created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples reflect a range of ideas and

    information, relationships and connections

  • Narratives have structural features that include orientation, complication and resolution, and

    descriptions of characters and settings.

  • Phrases including "Once upon a time" and "A long time ago" are characteristic of stories.

Context for learning

School priorities 

Wide range of mixed ability and diversity in class – 2 Aspergers, 2 Autistic, 4 ADD, 2 undiagnosed (possible Aspergers/ oppositional defiant), 5 Indigenous, several low to no literacy skills, 2 very shy non-verbal, 3-4 high achievers. 26 students in class. Behaviour Management main focus of this group.

General Teaching Aim or Goal:

Narratives: Construct, read and analyse texts from shared experiences (looking at setting, problem, decisive moment, turning point, resolution) through: enabling students to work in the four roles of the reader: code breaker, meaning maker, text user and text analyst to talk about and reconstruct text for themselves with open access to digital tools.

Behaviour management – keep students engaged and on task

NB: Focus is on reading Mem Fox books. Students' were very enthusiastic towards Wombat Stew (not Mem Fox) so I chose this as a main focus for the narratives instead.


 

Narratives for testing Year 2 Net and Report cards - Narratives have structural features that include orientation, complication and resolution, and descriptions of characters and settings.


 

"Visible Learning Visible Thinking" School Curriculum Plan- In presentations, speakers make meaning clear by sequencing ideas and information and using visual aids, including objects and pictures as well as the use of digital tools to display learning


 

Indigenous Program "Little Sister Little Brother"- Texts created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples reflect a range of ideas and information, relationships and connections


 


 


 

Develop assessment

Make judgments

Type of assessment 

What will be assessed 

When it will be assessed

Purpose of assessment 

Assessable elements 


 

Assessment instruments:

Group Role play

Podcast

Individual Narrative- final on computer

Mind map story plan

Online Storybird Narrative

Character building

Sentence starters

Adjective building / Wordals

Recordings of individual story building


 

Over whole semester:

Student digital portfolio of evidence


 

Strategies:

Student video recording

Student audio recording

Observations

Checklists

Student reviews

Group work

Individual investigations - stories

Enquiry into Narratives through various Mem Fox books & Wombat Stew

Talking points: create questions HOT- about stories

Listen to Audio books


 

What evidence will be observed in student work?

Character building- able to describe with extensive adjective use

Adjective study - Wordles

Story starters- build complex sentences with prompt

Can construct interesting sentences

Make a story plan using a mind map and use it to build story

Access Internet Storybird and use successfully to build a story using correct narrative structure

Role play(sequence story) and film drama

Use group story building activities to create and build knowledge collaboratively towards better narrative understanding

Record audio of individual stories

*Create own narrative using elements learnt- beginning, middle, end, characters, setting problem resolve and sequence from Mind Map

Start Podcasting book reviews -analysing stories and their structure/ critiquing stories


 

All items throughout the whole Unit with focus on:

Diagnostic:

Reading stories and verbally analysing for structure- beginning , middle end, problem, resolve and sequence

Formative:

Mind map- story plan

Wordles- adjectives

Sentence construction verbal or written

Retell story, role play video record

Analyse stories for narrative features

Can compile stories using correct narrative structure

Summative:

Final copy of story 1 handwritten / computer typed

Or Audio of story


 

Final online story- Storybird or Myths and Legends (or other)

Podcast Book reviews ongoing


 


 

Constructing texts verbally and written from a plan to build an understanding of all components of narratives for meaning and appreciation:


 

  • Narratives have structural features that include orientation, complication and resolution, and descriptions of characters and settings.


 

  • Words, groups of words, visual resources and images elaborate ideas and information, and portray people, characters, places, events and things in different ways.


 


 

Through the study of language and texts (including visual, oral and multimodal) we:

  • develop effective communication skills
  • develop knowledge and understanding of the construction of language and texts (through speaking, writing and shaping)
  • develop knowledge and understanding on how language and texts are interpreted (through listening, reading and viewing)
  • develop an engagement with, and appreciation of, aesthetic texts and the production of imaginative texts.


 

Constructing texts

  • Students interpret and construct texts by exploring and using grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, audio and visual elements, in print-based, electronic and face-to-face modes in familiar contexts
  • Narratives have words and images that tell reader/viewers about places, characters and events and things.


 

  • Discerning and controlled use of language elements and text types in

    literary and non-literary texts to suit audience and purpose

  • Interpreting texts
  • Year 2 Net: Up to Phase D conventional writing


     


     


     


     

Assessable elements and descriptors table (QCAR, 2007) English

Assessable elements and description retrieved June 15, 2011 from

http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/early_middle/qcar_aed_english.pdf


 

QCAR. (2011). Year 2 Diagnostic Net teacher resources retrieved June

15, 2011 from http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/1376.html

Queensland Studies Authority and Queensland Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Framework. (2007). English: essential learnings by the end of year 3. [Brisbane], Queensland Studies Authority.

Queensland Studies Authority and Queensland Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Framework. (2010). Literacy Indicators: by the end of year 3. [Brisbane], Queensland Studies Authority National Curriculum.


 

ICT Indicators focussed skills:

represent ideas, information and thinking using digital tools

share and communicate ideas, understandings and responses- Blog, movies,

Talking Points, Interviews

record evidence of their learning- Storybird/ Myths & Legends, audio, Podcast,

videos

develop and apply basic protocols and practices for safe, secure and responsible use of ICTs- follow guidelines & school procedures


 

  


 

Sequence learning

Learning experiences and teaching strategies 

Adjustments for needs of learners

Resources 


 

Engage

Lesson 1:
"What makes us want to read this story?"
Read Story "Wombat Stew" / alternate with video of story / IPod of audio for individuals

Game – smart moves (repeat each lesson where time outside before coming in) Fruit game substituted with animals from WS story- Circle students numbered 12345, have names of animals from story for each number- have 2 wooden spoons in middle, call out animal name run into centre.

Talk about characters- who, main, others, focus on each. What did they do? Why?

Character breakdown using mind map template- speech bubbles "What is your character thinking?

Lesson 2: Re read 'Wombat Stew' for deeper meaning and evaluation: Focus on setting- analyse Wombat Stew setting for mood, time of day, ...

Drama: Role Play Repeat with another group of actors- 2 Film makers recording

Text Participants / Users: Role Play and film for reflection reiterate that you do not want the questions just answered – retell the story in your own words

Text participant: What is the purpose for reading this text?

  • Focus on beginning, middle, end and characters Activating, expanding and refining prior knowledge

Each group works together discussing parts of story (preferably 5 children

Part 2: Computer Lab- Kidpix settings – evaluate students computer skills and capabilities to take learning further -Find backgrounds, choose one use text tool to start building setting, mood, time,.... character names

Explore

Lesson 3:
"What makes us want to read this story?"
Read Indigenous story before going to Lab- writing by 12 year old girl- "The Outback"

Discuss Dreamtime stories and how they are different, what makes them different are they the same as other narratives – rules?

Computer Lab – Kidpix -find a setting of your choice (backgrounds)

Use writing tool to describe time, mood, where, who is there, main character- name


 

Lesson 4: Re read story Wombat Stew -Use Literacy resource- illustrations to reconstruct story using picture prompts IWB (discuss illustrations - briefly, use words like

  • beginning, next, middle and end or setting, problem, decisive moment, turning point, resolution
  • Use story map to break down story into sections:

Text Analyst: Be a reading detective

Discuss: Did that sound like the story? Is that what happened? Did it make sense? What was missing?

What could you add to fix the problems?

We are looking for students to be Code breakers and Analysts: Review each other's writing, Make sense of the story, How does it relate all together as a whole text? Find meaning in it

Lesson 5:
Explain- Dingo Interview

  • Whole group on mat -Produce texts from shared experiences – questions for Dingo and later solutions
  • Ask Dingo questions related to what else he could have done?, Why did he do it this way?, How does he feel the other animals were feeling?, Each child to ask a question of Dingo (use 2-3 different Dingos)
  • Final – give feedback to Dingo – What might have been a better solution to making Wombat Stew?
    • Alternate endings- and understand the pieces of the story that lead to this: setting, problem, decisive moment, turning point, resolution

Lesson 6 & 7: Group activities – This will be repeated in group activity time each week up to 4 times over the 3 weeks Enquiry: "How can we write a story that others want to read?"

Purpose to build narrative skills in socio-cultural setting & ZPD, with free access to digital technology to display learning and for diversity and extension. Some activities may not be used on alternative days- students choice

  • Sentences starters – Talking points can be used as well for clarification and diversity
  • Character building- talking point instruction alternative- alternative Wordles to build word walls
  • Wombat Stew Pots – labelling, Title, choice soup/ stew alternative- extension: cooking procedure
  • Role Play / film when finished 2 activities properly – teacher to check
  • Silly sentences challenge – use weeks spelling words to make longest sentence that makes sense can be silly
  • Kidpix – describe a setting
  • Audio recording of Story Map to build comprehension of story – self reflection (may ask peer/ class to review)
  • Storybird / Myths & Legends Computers- Narratives: story compositions- save to class groups for me to review
  • Invent a Question: use talking points to create a question about Wombat Stew- the next group answers them and creates new questions e.g. "Why do you think the animals were so mean to Dingo?" "What other ways could Dingo have been stopped making Wombat Stew?"
  • Eventually Podcast when students have completed most activities and ready to start reviewing- This was discussed by students and decided on this way- Start with 3 students' high achievers- introduce 1 new member each time to peer tutor and retain consistency of quality. I will come in end of each week to complete one new book per week. The aim is that students will learn about narratives more thoroughly and hopefully come to a place where they feel the need for a simple script- self motivated writing

Lesson 8 & 9: as Lab is available (usually Wed 12.30) Remind about Indigenous Story 12 yr old girl- you can write a story too. Enquiry "How can we write a story that others want to read?"

Computer Lab –Introduce 'Storybirds'- build a story using the Online Storybird software- focus on narrative structure- Beginning, middle, end, problem resolve and sequencing

Display on main screen in Lab – how features how to manipulate- allow exploration first- then create at least 5 pages including Title page remembering features of narratives

Talk about safety online- refer to posters. Passwords at home. Use class online room for saving.

Use digital tools to display learning about narratives- students given passwords so they can access at home

EVALUATE:

Lesson 10:
Investigate:
"Did we write stories that others / I want to read?"

  • What do we know about stories?
  • Do they have different parts? Allow children to explain each part
  • Did our stories sound right? Sequence
  • If a piece is missing what happens?
  • Did you enjoy these activities?
  • Are there other ways to use our story pieces now?

Think pair share: reflect on learning ideas for future,

PMI- student driven

Group time to reflect and review digital and writing stories, audios, pictures, alternate endings or role play (which was very popular) etc

Metacognition – Use active comprehension strategies to analyse and correct missing pieces or sequence and understand narratives from a personal perspective


 


 

4 Computers used throughout when needed for variety of purposes – flexibility, behaviour management, diversity of learners needs and styles, extension work, early finished students, continuation of Storybirds and Myths and Legends.

Game – smart moves- 2 wooden spoons

Lesson 1: Whole class on mat / desk work/ mat

IPod: My recording of story- audio for individuals/ students missing from class

  • Indigenous students are often out of class
  • 4-5 students have comprehension and writing difficulties)
  • Use template on computers for 4 students (alt)
  • Cooper – use Computer when he has written 5 words
  • Audio Easy Speak- Emelia / Hannah

Lesson 2: Whole class on mat / desk work / mat/ computer lab

Filming -BM assists- students on task and attention – noise level

Computer Lab- password cards


 

Lesson 3: Computer Lab – Kidpix Log on cheat sheet - seat next to more able student

PPP instruction: Partner, Peer, Professional


 

Teacher hovering at all times, hands on head for help after tried the PPP model without success


 

Lesson 4: Mat/ Whole class at desks: IWB – picture prompts

Independent work- Easy speak available for students to retell.

Story Map – template


 

*Need to move around a lot for Behaviour management purposes


 

Lesson 5: Children come back to mat / desk/ mat for Interviews- Easy Speak and video recording

  • Talking book and talking points for later reflection on questions and alternate endings

Lesson 6:
Each group activity is situated in a box ready on back table to use for ease of student access anytime throughout the day.

  • Tables put into groups of 5/ some verandah work

*sentences starters writing books, talking point/ speak easy

*Talking point instructions, template, guides

*Art table, glue, craft – leaves, feathers, gumnuts..., A3 paper, pens, felt pens, ruler, printed beginners abc-word bank to assist some students, pencils

*Drama box- pot, puppets, WS story big book, spoon, leaves etc, box, flip video

*Story map template, easy speak/ computer audacity

*Talking points or talking book

*IPod, Easy speak/computer mic, quite space, template for review, WS small book

Lesson 7: Group activities- some will need to take place on verandah as noise level difficult for recording

  • Talking points
  • Talking Story Book
  • Video & Flip Video
  • Easy Speak Microphone
  • Camera- students are enjoying capturing each other working and reviewing it later
  • Puppets- great for BM and disabilities
  • Shy child, Aspergers, autistic,


Lesson 8 & 9:

**Password cards

PPP approach

Seated next to more capable student

Teacher hovering –assist students with higher needs-

Word banks from Wordles printed out for assistance

Lesson 10:

All resources completed or partially

Students assist each other t display or present learning, group discussions- think pair share to decide on outcome and future ideas,

Wombat Stew

Class Blog focus on 'Food to table' but with page for stories home use (unable to get unblocked for now) parents to interact and add: http://year2mdiscoveries.blogspot.com/p/our-stories.html

Storybird: http://storybird.com/create/

Myths and Legends: http://myths.e2bn.org/

Wordles: http://www.wordle.net/

Students have passwords to save in Year 2m class area for teacher review.

Vaughan, M. K. and P. Lofts (1984). Wombat stew. Sydney, Ashton Scholastic.


 

Author: Marcia Vaughan
Illustrator: Pamela Lofts

"The Outback" by Annaliese Porter

Porter, A. and B. Bancroft (2005). The outback.

Broome, W.A., Magabala Books.


 


 

  • Speech Bubble template- hard copy and digital
  • IWB – mind map of characters and templates hard copy & digital
  • Computers- audacity, Storybird, Myths & legends, kidpix, Wordles, templates –back up usb,
  • Drama box-7 Puppets, Wombat Stew, Pot, spoon, leaves, gumnuts etc.
  • IPhone for spelling
  • Camera
  • Easy Speak Microphone
  • Flip Video- mini tripod
  • Video Camera- tripod
  • Lab: Screen, all computers working – Kidpix
  • Wombat Stew pictures prompts- IWB
  • Story starters – video stimulus
  • Talking Points
  • Talking Book
  • IPod, Belkin Rocket and speakers
  • Group activities in individual boxes as displayed
  • Sentence starters
  • Writing books
  • Glue, craft – leaves, feathers, gumnuts..., A3 paper, pens, felt pens, ruler, printed beginners abc-word bank to assist some students, pencils
  • WS Story map templates hard & digital
  • Own Story map template hard & digital


     


     


     


     


     


     

Story Stimulus Videos for IWB:

http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Primary-ICT-Whiteboard-Literacy-Story-Starts-3006993/

http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Story-Writing-Seven-Dramatised-Clips-6044207/


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

*All resources completed or partially for review and peer critique


 


 

Use feedback

Ways to monitor learning and assessment

Which strategies will be used to provide feedback to students? (e.g. formal: report cards, and informal: annotated work, one–on-one conferencing, feedback from others, peer evaluation and self reflection).

Checklists – skills, activities completed, to what level

Audio for self reflection (and Teacher review)

One to one reflections via Talking book or Easy speak as well as discussions

Peer evaluations – checklist and verbal

Video for review and peer evaluation- story makes sense begin, middle, end has all elements of good narrative work

Word walls – Wordles descriptive word lists for describing characters and settings

Kidpix settings- describe features of setting using appropriate language -mood, when, where

Review Mind Map story plans- for sequencing, meaning, structure

Group activities are individually monitored for understanding elements of building narrative components - checklists

Record Talking point interactions- flip video

Students use Talking book for own clarification of meaning and understanding- and for teacher assessment

Final peer review- audio to put on website

Podcast ongoing – review stories


 


 


 

Reflection:


 

Behaviour management was easier as students were free to move around and access what they wanted. Initially I was worried that they hadn't had any of these tools and may fight for them. This did not happen as they appeared so pleased to have alternatives that they were willing to wait and behave well before they had a turn.

Lab- at first this was intense students couldn't log on the Aide didn't help and the teacher was marking homework. Eventually I got around everyone to make sure it was working. Many computers didn't work or Kidpix wasn't installed properly. I followed this up with IT Aide and again later with an email to make sure it was ready for next time. Students needed more instruction in Logging on which I followed up on next lesson and at the end.

Storybirds and Myths and Legends: I had great feedback from these activities. Students came in easily and used computer every morning from 8 am to write their stories previous to this they only played games. Some students at first thought it was work but once they engaged they all loved it even the children that had difficulties with literacies. Finding the Myths and Legends site s was a blessing as all the boys took to this fantastically. It had warriors and swords volcanos and f dragons. So very conducive to bys. I had to include this website in letters home so that students could work on the, I only had one student that said her Internet at home was too slow so I made special time for her to get computer access as much as possible. I had various parent come in and tell me their children wanted to make stories at home and that they had been on the sites. The parents even commented that they made stories as well. I suggested that they save them to the class site and share them with the children which they were delighted to find out. Most children have not published a story yet and I will need to go back in to help them finalise their stories.


 

One particular child that (Indigenous) that never engaged in work or particularly home work for the first time ever did all his homework 3 days running during my time at Prac. I am not sure what to account for this (the technology or just different work that felt less threatening). It may be a coincidence but he asked me not to go at the end. Students appeared to have a good handle on narratives. Many came up to me with other stories and told me what they had read about and described some features of the book- setting, characters etc.


 

Another group mainly girls but later mixed, came in and used the puppets to role play Wombat Stew this went on for about 5 mornings with different students. Later in the last week this took place again mostly with the boys. Some did ask if they could film it – (unfortunately could not use for evidence too many faces).


 

I think the group work, although the students were not used to it, worked well because of the behaviour problems. Students could move around freely and talk as long as they were on task. The higher end students flourished, middle enjoyed the activities and worked self paced, lower really engaged in activities although did need some extra help or encouragement to use alternatives like Easy Speak- other students were very helpful most times and assisted these children. All over I am very pleased how much we accomplished with a group that had very few skills using digital tools. It shows with interests students will self teach very quickly.


 

No comments:

Post a Comment