Thematic Unit

Thematic Unit Description Paper

Kelsey Hubbert Teac257-007

I. Unit Context 1. First-grade students will be learning to create, write, and illustrate fictional stories. Students will learn how to use word processing and paint/clipart software, as well as Powerpoint, to write, illustrate, and present their fictional story. 2. The target subject area for this thematic unit would be a first grade class learning to read and write, and be creative. 3. During this unit, students will learn several lessons that will be useful later in the year. They will enhance their reading and writing skills. They will learn to edit and correct a story. They will learn to use word processing, paint, and Powerpoint software. These computer skills will be essential to the rest of their educational experience. Students will learn how to express their own creativity, and also learn to present a story and speak in front of the class. 4. Two settings will be used. The classroom will be used for group work, reading, and presentations. A computer lab will be used for individual work when using word processing and paint software. II. Audience 1. In my class I have 24 first grade students. The demographics of my classroom are: 16 White students 4 Black students 3 Latino students 1 Asian student Other characteristics of the students are: 1 ESL student 4 Gifted students 2 Students have a behavioral disorder 6 students are reading below grade level 3 students have a learning disability 14 students are visual learners

2. My students familiar with the basic functions of a computer, and are able to use word processing and paint software, but have not learned to use clipart. They have not used Powerpoint either, but in the interest of time, I will be setting up the PowerPoint’s myself so they only have to click the button to move the slides. My students have not been to the media center yet, or met the media instructor, but have

used computers in my classroom. III. State Objectives 1. The goal of this unit is to teach students how to create and illustrate their own fictional stories. They will learn to brainstorm and organize, and edit their story, and create appropriate illustrations to support their story. Students will also become more familiar with word processing software, and learn to use paint and clip art. They will also learn to present their stories out loud to their class. 2. (a) My first grade students (b) will learn to brainstorm and create a rough and final draft of a fictional story (c) using word processing software. (d) Students will produce a final draft with a minimum of 4 pages of copy, with at least 2 complete sentences per page. 3. (a) First grade students (b) will create illustrations to support their fiction stories (c) using paint and clipart software and their previously written fictional stories, (d) creating at least one supporting illustration for each page of copy story. 4. (a) First grade students (b) will present their fictional stories and illustrations (c) using PowerPoint software. (d) Students will use a different voice for each character of their story, and make eye contact with their audience. IV. State Methods 1. Instructional Strategy: Identify the instructional strategies you might use to deliver this unit with. These are as follow: - Presentation – Tells, dramatizes, disseminates information to learners – is one way. - Demonstration – Learners view example of skill or procedure. - Discussion – Exchange of ideas and opinions between all parties. - Drill-and-practice – Learns are led through a series of practice exercises. - Tutorial – Through the use of a person, software or printed materials learners are given problems the mechanism then requested to respond, analyze the response and gives appropriate feedback to a predetermined level of competence. - Cooperative Learning – Centered around an activity, discuss, topic, or computer students work as a group to resolve a given learn exercise or challenge. - Gaming – A playful environment that allows students with rules while striving to attain a challenging goal. - Simulation – A scaled-down version of a real-life situation, allowing for realistic practice and mastery. - Discovery – Uses inquiry (inductive) by presenting problems to be solved in a trial-and-error manner. - Problem Solving – Lifelike starting point to learning. Real world challenge provides students with knowledge and skill as they grapple with the learning process.

Explain how the methods and media will be used to create the learning environment. Method(s) for objective 1 - Demonstration – Learners view example of skill or procedure. - Discussion – Exchange of ideas and opinions between all parties - Drill-and-practice – Learns are led through a series of practice exercises. - Cooperative Learning – Centered around an activity, discuss, topic, or computer students work as a group to resolve a given learn exercise or challenge. For objective 1, I will begin by reading fictional stories to the class that have been written by the previous year’s first graders. We will discuss what makes a fiction story fiction, and practice writing stories together.

Method(s) for objective - Discussion – Exchange of ideas and opinions between all parties - Drill-and-practice – Learns are led through a series of practice exercises. I will discuss with students about illustrations in “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Children will practice illustration by re-illustrating the book and then illustrating their own stories.

Method(s) for objective 3 - Demonstration – Learners view example of skill or procedure. - Discussion – Exchange of ideas and opinions between all parties - Drill-and-practice – Learns are led through a series of practice exercises. After children attend the presentation from writers and illustrators, they will work in small groups and practice presenting their stories.

LINKS: Tuxpaint.org Kidsdomain.com Storycraft.com