Literature Circle Zombie Zone: Day 1

Objectives Minnesota Language Arts Benchmarks Addressed:

4.1.3.3 4.8.1.1 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a characters thoughts, words, or actions). Engage effectively in a rand of collaborative discussion (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts building on others ideas and expressing their own clearly. b. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles c. Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.

Content Objectives After being introduced to the guidelines and expectations of a literature circle students will -Pay attention to others ideas and thoughts. -Respond to others ideas and thoughts. -Learn how a literature circle operates. After being introduced to the illustrator role in literature circle students will -Be able to draw a picture that represents what they just read. Language Objectives -I can share my ideas and thoughts about a story using key details from the text. -I can discuss key details of a text. Materials
-The book The Zombie Zone by, Ron Roy (1 for each student and yourself).

-Master copy of guidelines and a copy for each student. -Literature circle Binder (to keep student work and guidelines etc.). -Illustrator role worksheet (1 done to show students, 1 for each student not completed). -Reading prompt packet #1.

Instruction
-Gather group Good Morning 4th graders. Today we will begin our first of 4 literature circles. -Mini Lesson: How to have an effective lit circle. (10 minutes; 1:051:15) Literature circles can be very fun and interesting, but in order for that to happen we have to have some rules and guidelines. I have printed a contract that will help us follow those guidelines. Lets read through these together. Read through Guidelines together. Now we are all responsible enough to know that that we must follow these. We are going to use this master copy of our guidelines as a contract. When we sign this we are agreeing that we are all going to try our best to follow these guidelines. Ill keep this master copy in our official literature circle binder that I will keep and bring to every lesson. Our goal for today is to really work hard on following these guidelines. Sign master copy of guidelines and have children do so also. -Twenty minutes of silent reading. (20 minutes; 1:15-1:35) Prompt students to read to the end of chapter 1 or page eight. When they are finished reading have them make a list of things they expect out of literature circle. Im now going to allow for 20 minutes of silent reading time. I would like you to use this time to read until the end of chapter1. If you finish before the 20 minutes is over you will write a list of things you expect out of literature circle. For

example I expect to learn the jobs of a literature circle. You may begin reading. -Discussion (10 minutes 1:35-1:45) Discuss the key details of chapter 1. As the teacher lead this weeks discussion. Pose questions such as. How do you like the story so far? Who do you think are the main characters so far? How do you know? How does the setting of the story compare to where you live? What do you think the zombie zone is? Why? -Introduction to roles within lit circle and the one focused on for week 1. (10 minutes 1:45-1:55) Introduce the fact that during literature circles, there are roles that a different person does each week. Each week everyone completes a role. After introduce the role of the week that they all will be completing for next week. In a literature circle there are roles that should be completed each week. Once you get used to literature circle and all the roles, every person will do a different role each week. This week we are going over the role of Illustrator. When you are the illustrator you make a detailed drawing that explains what happens in the section that you just read. After you draw your picture write why you chose to draw that. When you come to your next lit circle meeting you will share your picture with the group. Here I drew Dink on the ground seeing the Zombie Zone sign for the first time. Look at all the detail in my picture. I used the whole space and I used color. For next week, I would like each of you to complete this role. Ill give you this sheet to help you. -Closure (5 minutes 1:55-2:00) Review todays goal. Did we accomplish it? Assign before reading prompt. Lets think back to the beginning of our time. We set a goal out for today to really work hard on those guidelines on our group contract. How do you think we did on that goal as a

group? How do you think you yourself did on that goal? What could we do to improve? Allow for discussion. Your homework for this tonight is to compete your role as illustrator and to answer the first question in your first reading prompt. The question wants you to describe what you think a zombie zone looks like, feels like, and sounds like. Please remember to use complete sentences. I really enjoyed our time today! I cant wait for literature circle number 2!

Evaluation
The evaluation for this lesson will be their drawings and response to question number one on the first reading prompt.