LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE

Your Name: Kaelyn Buffard

Title of Lesson: Poverty in Arizona
Grade: 5
STANDARDS

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1
o Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2.b
o Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and
examples related to the topic.
LESSON SUMMARY/OVERVIEW

This lesson provides students with the opportunity to reflect on what they can do to help alleviate
poverty in Arizona. This lesson allows students to work together to brainstorm ideas before working
individually. They will be able to share their opinion on the best way to help this topic.
OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to construct form ideas on what they can do to help alleviate poverty in
Arizona.
Students will be able to create an opinion piece of writing that includes supporting details and
facts about poverty.
ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION

The students will complete a 4-paragraph text that expresses their opinion on the best way to alleviate
poverty in Arizona and includes concrete details and facts. Each paragraph must have at least 5 sentences
to get full credit.

Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Opinion on the best way to alleviate poverty in Arizona.
Paragraph 3: How they plan to incorporate this into their own lives.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion
PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE

Prior to this lesson, students need to know what poverty is and some of the reasons people are living this
way. This will allow students to form opinions on what they can do to help. Students will be able to refer
back to their notes from the lessons throughout the entire week. Students also need to know what an
opinion is and how to form their ideas into an essay. The expectations for what should be included in the
essay will be written on the board.
MATERIALS

Notes
Writing Paper
Pencil
Colored Pen for Revision
Whiteboard
Dry Erase Marker

Poverty: is general scarcity or dearth, or the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material
possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution refers to the deprivation of basic human

VOCABULARY/KEY WORDS

needs, which commonly includes food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care and
education.
Alleviate: make less severe.
Opinion: a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
TEACHING PROCEDURES

1. Teacher will announce that the students will be writing an opinion essay during the writing time
scheduled.
2. Give the students the opportunity to meet with groups of four people to discuss their ideas on how
to lessen the amount of poverty in their area. This allows them to form opinions on the best way to
do so.
3. Walk around the classroom to make sure that students are all sharing their ideas. Meet with
groups to prompt deeper thinking.
4. The class will come together to share ideas. The teacher will use one side of the board to write the
class ideas.
5. Students will now break out of their groups and return to their seats to prepare for independent
work. The teacher will write all of the criteria on the whiteboard.
6. Explain to students the importance of strategic thinking while writing about poverty. They will
be using this to form their plan of action on alleviating poverty. Allow them the opportunity to ask
questions to clarify strategic thinking and how to use it in their essays.
7. Students now have time to work on their writing. When they are done with their brainstorming
and outlines they will have the teacher check it off.
8. Students are now able to write their rough draft. Teacher will walk around to ensure that every
student is working and not wasting time. Students will be able to take this home over the weekend
if they have not finished their writing.
9. After the weekend students will bring back their completed drafts. They will be reminded of the
criteria or having four paragraphs with 5 sentences each, details, and a strong opinion. Students
will switch papers and peer edit. When they receive the marks they will edit their paper again on
their own.
10. Students will rewrite their final copy and turn it in for grading.
RESOURCES
N/A
WAYS OF THINKING CONNECTION

This lesson connects with the strategic way of thinking because the students need to be able to think
about what they need to do in order to accomplish their goal. They will start understanding how they are
able to use this form of thinking throughout their daily lives, and how this allows them to create a plan of
action in order to more successfully reach their goals. This will also allow them to fully develop their
ideas in order to create a well thought out paper.