Lesson

Plan Template

Using Kid Blog Online in the Classroom for Iditarod themed

Journal Writing
Developed by:
Laura Wright
Discipline / Subject:
Reading/Language Arts and Technology
Topic:
Writing analyzing a journal question, writing your opinion, and supporting your
opinion with reasons
Grade Level:
This lesson is for 3rd grade but can be modified for nearly any grade
Resources / References / Materials Teacher Needs:
1. http://kidblog.org
Lesson Summary:
Students will blog online using the safe site kidblog set up by their teacher. They will
use the idita-Kid journal questions from our news show to comment and write about
their thoughts using opinions and supporting their opinions with reasons.

Standards Addressed: (Local, State, or National)

1. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1.a. - Introduce the topic or text they are writing about,
state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.
2. CCSS ELA-Literacy.W.3.1.b Provide reasons that support that opinion

Learning Objectives:

Assessment:

To use opinion in an online blog to answer Did the student use reasons to support
Idita-Kid news journal questions
their opinions?

Procedural Activities
1. Teacher should create an account on Kid Blog.org for the students and be
familiar with the set up
2. Share the video about facts vs. opinions with your students
http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/factsopinions/factsopinions.html
3. The classroom teacher should set up the journal question in the Kid blog
ahead of time
4. students watch the Idita-Kid news and watch for the journal question of the
week
5. go online and sign in to Kid Blog and answer the journal question that the
teacher has set up for them
Materials Students Need:
Internet access
Tablet device or computer

Technology Utilized to Enhance Learning:

Kid Blog.org
Internet access
Tablet or computer access
Other Information:

Modifications for Special Learners/ Enrichment Opportunities:
The classroom teacher with special needs students can write their opinion blog as a
class together
Or, the teacher can start the beginning of the sentence, and require less writing


Additional Information

Lesson Plan Calendar

** my year long theme highlights the Idita-Kid News, and would have a similar format with
the students reporting about the Iditarod with lesson plans, a word of the day, math, writing,
science and art projects, and sharing their perspective in their videos. I would then post their
newscast video, and have my blogging and lesson plans attached.


Month
Lesson Theme or Topic

July

Introduce myself as the Teacher on the Trail and share my classroom set up for
teachers to prepare the school year for teacher the Iditarod in the classroom.
This would include web sites and apps that they can familiarize themselves with
before the year starts.
Iditarod Summer Facts I would start sharing what they mushers and dogs are
up to in the summer months in preparation for the Iditarod and create a
Nearpod app presentation that teachers can download and share with their
students when school starts

August

Idita-Kid News my students would begin the year with their first newscasts
sharing facts about the race, and journal questions that students could write
about or blog online about
This would include a math, science or art lesson for the classroom teacher

September

Idita-Kid News- my students would continue to share facts about the Iditarod
and then include lessons in math, science, art or social studies that the
classroom teacher can use or adapt in their classroom.
I would also like to highlight any teachers in EISD that have great Iditarod lessons
to share in other grade levels as well
This would also include a journal question for writing or online blogging

October

Idita-Kid News - my students would continue to share facts about the Iditarod
and then include lessons in math, science, art or social studies that the
classroom teacher can use or adapt in their classroom.
I would also like to highlight any teachers in EISD that have great Iditarod lessons
to share in other grade levels as well
This would also include a journal question for writing or online blogging

November

Idita-Kid News - my students would continue to share facts about the Iditarod
and then include lessons in math, science, art or social studies that the
classroom teacher can use or adapt in their classroom.
I would also like to highlight any teachers in EISD that have great Iditarod lessons
to share in other grade levels as well
This would also include a journal question for writing or online blogging


December

Idita-Kid News - my students would continue to share facts about the Iditarod
and then include lessons in math, science, art or social studies that the
classroom teacher can use or adapt in their classroom.
I would also like to highlight any teachers in EISD that have great Iditarod lessons
to share in other grade levels as well
This would also include a journal question for writing or online blogging

January

Idita-Kid News - my students would continue to share facts about the Iditarod
and then include lessons in math, science, art or social studies that the
classroom teacher can use or adapt in their classroom.
I would also like to highlight any teachers in EISD that have great Iditarod lessons
to share in other grade levels as well
This would also include a journal question for writing or online blogging

February

Idita-Kid News - my students would continue to share facts about the Iditarod
and then include lessons in math, science, art or social studies that the
classroom teacher can use or adapt in their classroom.
I would also like to highlight any teachers in EISD that have great Iditarod lessons
to share in other grade levels as well
This would also include a journal question for writing or online blogging

March

Idita-Kid News - my students would follow me during the race, sharing insights
along the trail from me, and the GPS tracker.
I would try and interview children along the trial to add to our newscasts
This would still include a journal entry for writing or online blogging

April

Idita-Kid News - As the race is coming to an end, the news cast would especially
highlight the red lantern winner, and I would love video of me coming back to
Eanes and sharing that on the web site on our news show

May

Idita-Kid News - The news team would have a final interview with me, asking me
questions about my time as the Teacher on the Trail and sharing that with the
world.
Final journal question for writing or online bloggin