GASC+Lesson

Lesson Plan Subject: 7th Grade Reading Topic : Understanding informational reading materials Time: One Class Period Overview: Students will examine the organization and purpose of different types of informational materials. Materials: seven different types of informational materials (such as history textbook, newspaper, newsmagazine, manual for a DVD player, encyclopedia volume, TV listings guide, foreign language dictionary); seven rulers; copies of //Earthling Document Analysis// handout Procedure: · Activate prior knowledge by asking students to list different types of printed information, record each type on the board. Be sure to point out less obvious ones, like menus, maps, and report cards.  · Discuss some of the documents in the list, identifying the purpose and how it meets that purpose. Also talk about how each piece organizes its information. (Abstract Sequential)  · Break students into groups of three to four per group. (Abstract Global) Directions for the assignment will be written on the board for students to refer to throughout the assignment. (Concrete Sequential)  · Have students imagine that they are all teams of detectives from another galaxy. Explain that they read some English, but they do not know much about the different informational pieces that Earthlings produce. Their task is to examine an Earth publication and report on it to their colleagues (the larger class). (Abstract Global)  · Each team will get one type of publication to analyze. Teams will look at how information is organized and determine what the purpose might be.  · Each group will be given one publication, a ruler and each student will complete a copy of the Earthling Document Analysis. They will measure the artifact, and study the layout. (Concrete Global)  · When students have completed their forms, have each group designate a spokesperson.  · Have the spokesperson read one answered item at a time to the class without showing the publication that was analyzed.  · After a group spokesperson reads an analysis, give the class a chance to guess what type of publication is being described.  · As a class, discuss how well the organization of the piece meets its purpose. (Abstract Global)  · To end the lesson, have students break apart and individually answer the following questions:  · Why do different publications organize information in different ways?  · What kind of book or publication might organize information alphabetically?  · How was information in your publication organized? Why was it organized in this way?  (Abstract Global)  - Special Populations will be guided through this lesson with help from their classmates. As groups are divided up I will assign students with difficulty to groups in which their will be classmates that can help them through the process and help them to feel successful. As students answer the open ended questions at the end of the lesson I will assist these students and guide them through the thought process to answer the questions.