BES Formal Lesson Plan

Date: April 21, 2016

Teacher: Tricia White

Unit Topic Title: Opinion Writing on the

Ipads- Elephant or Piggie?

Subject: Writing/ELA

Depth of Knowledge (Essential) Questions

Lesson Hook (Why do we need to know
this?)
1. How and why do we share our opinions?

Key Unit Vocabulary Terms

fact
beginning
opinion
reasons
conjunction
conclusion
sentence

Hook: Would you rather have Elephant or

Piggie for a friend?
I have read a select number of the kids
favorite Elephant and Piggie books, by Mo
Willems, at the beginning of each lesson to get
them thinking. We have also already done
some studying of character traits.
Clear Learning Objectives/Learning Goals (GLCE, CCSS)
I can or We can Statements
Writing Goal:
I can
Write an opinion piece, stating my opinion, the reasons for my
opinion, and a conclusion.
Use an IPad to publish my writing, working together with my
classmates
CCSS:
1.W.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or
name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a
reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
1.L.1f Use frequently occurring conjunctions
1.W.6 With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of
digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in
collaboration with peers.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Teaching, Modeling, Demonstrating (Focused Instruction)

I began with the hook from above for several lessons in the past
couple of days.
I plan to explain that we will be giving our opinion for the question,
Would you rather have Elephant or Piggie as a friend? today.
I will explain that we will be using IPads to publish our writing and
that we are going to create a comic strip, similar to Mo Willems style.
I will read our writing goals for the day and review the IPad rules.
I will then show the class my example of my comic strips
I will give clear directions for what their comic strip must have
Opinion statement, Reason(s), conclusion, their chosen character,

Tools/Resources/
Notes

Class set
of Ipads
Kids
FriendStrip
Pro App
Elephant
and Piggie
books, by
Mo
Willems
ORC page,
from
previous
lesson
Cut out
Elephant
or Piggie
on
cardstock
for comic
strip
Teacher
example of
final

BES Formal Lesson Plan

complete sentences and try to include a conjunction (and, or, but)
7. I will give directions for using their paper characters, preplanned
ORC (which stands for opinion, reason(s), and conclusion), and
Ipads. I will also tell them that they will be working with a partner to
make it easier when they have to take pictures of themselves.
Guided/or Independent Practice
1. After gathering materials, passing out Ipads and choosing partners,
the students will spread out in the room, and possible the hall, to
work on their projects.
2. I will monitor, guide and help as needed.
3. If the need should arise, I will stop the whole group and being them
back to talk or correct any misconceptions that pop up.
4. As students complete their comic strips, I will view their work to
check it and have them sit with a different partner to share and edit
their writing.
5. To conclude the lesson, we will share several exemplary comic strips
with the whole class via Apple TV.

Noticing: Check for Understanding (Formative/Summative

Assessment)
Teacher observation
Peer sharing and editing
The completed comic strip opinion piece
Checking final product for a clear opinion statement, reason(s), and
some sense of closure
Possible student misconceptions/misunderstandings
Some students may still confuse fact and opinion statements.
Some students might use a reason for their conclusion statement.
Some students are unclear in their reasons for their opinion.
Some students may not have a clear opinion statement in their
piece.

product
for
demonstra
tion