Bringing Books Alive with Technology

Created and Presented by Mary Kate McNulty GRIT 671 May 2, 2013

Course Description
This hybrid course will be for 4th-6th graders who love to read and are interested in becoming better readers. We will read high-interest text, and then use technology to understand, connect, analyze, and evaluate the text independently, in small groups, and all together. Students will have a final project that has them working in small groups and using video technology. This is a hybrid class so some meetings will be together in a computer lab, while other assignments will be on the internet at home.

Standards Common Core

RL.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
RL.4.3 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).

SL.4.1A Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation and other information known about the topic to explore ideas under discussion.
SL.4.1C 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.

Primary Objective
Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to use a wide variety of strategies, tools, and media to comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate gradeappropriate text.

Secondary Objectives
Gather, organize, and present information through various forms of media. Identify and explore the elements of literature, such as characters, setting, plot, conflict, and problem/solution. Make inferences about characters in text and compare the characters traits. Create a character avatar and description and present to the class. Respond to shared text during group discussions and online blog posts. Synthesize and critique ideas through small group discussions. Develop oral presentation skills by presenting small projects to classmates. Develop arguments about the text and support ideas with evidence from the text. Use a flipcamera and software to show their understanding of the novel.

Textbooks
Various novels at appropriate reading levels for students. Lightening Thief City of Embers

Resources
Computer Lab Powerpoint Kidblog.org Google Linoit Word Podcasts Flipcam

Doppleme.com Animoto Microsoft Paint Prezi

Grading
Weekly Assignments Blog Posting
Attendance/Participation Final Project

45% 15%
10% 30%

Grading Scale: A= 90-100 B= 80-89

C= 70-79

D= 60-69

F= 0-59

Unit 1 Introduction What is a Book Club?

2 Weeks spent on this unit

Week 1
Objectives Students will be able to gather, organize, and present information through various forms of media. Students will be able to respond to shared text during group discussions and online blog posts. Students will be able to synthesize and critique ideas through small group discussions. Learning Activities Introductions/ getting to know you activities Look at various novels and read summaries Choose a book Meet with Book Club expectations, assign roles within book club, getting to know you matrix, make predictions Teach how to use the blog and students practice making a prediction on the blog. Students respond to other students posts Research author of novel using google and other websites Assignments Completed blog entry Book Club meeting Participation in author research

Rubric - Weekly Blog Posts

Unsatisfactory Emerging Proficient Accomplished

There are no entries or responses to other students blogs. Posts are completely irrelevant and show little or no understanding.

Write one blog entry each week and respond to one other students blog each week. Posts show some understanding of what was read but are short and irrelevant.

Write at least one blog entry each week and respond to at least one other students blog each week. Posts show an understanding of what was read but may contain irrelevant material.

Write at least one blog entry each week and respond to more than one other students blog each week. Posts show insight and understanding of what was read.

Week 2
Objectives Learning Activities Assignments

Students will be able to gather, organize, and present information through various forms of media. Students will be able to respond to shared text during group discussions and online blog posts.

Meet with Book Club review expectations, discuss book (provide starter questions if needed) Use Linoit to write post it notes to collaboratively respond to questions Each student listens to a podcast of the beginning of each novel he is reading. Respond on blog: How is listening to it as a podcast different than reading it?

Blog entries Linoit post-its

Rubric Book Club Discussions

Unsatisfactory Emerging Proficient Accomplished

Students do not come prepared. Students lack in at least two of the following areas: ask questions, contribute to the discussion, analyze the text, and show responsibility.

Students come somewhat prepared. Students lace in at least one of the following areas: ask questions, contribute to the discussion, analyze the text, and show responsibility.

Students come mostly prepared, ask questions, contribute to the discussion, analyze the text, and show responsibility.

Students come prepared, ask questions, contribute to the discussion, analyze the text, and show responsibility.

Unit 2 Setting of the Novel

1 Week spent on this unit

Week 3
Objectives Learning Activities Assignments

Students will be able to identify and explore the elements of literature, such as characters, setting, plot, conflict, and problem/solution. Students will be able to develop oral presentation skills by presenting small projects to classmates.

Meet with Book Club discuss book - focus on setting (provide starter questions if needed) Using paint or another art program, recreate the setting of a scene in the novel Present and share setting design with the class

Blog entries (at home) Created setting of a scene Presentation to the class

Unit 3 Character Analysis

2 weeks spent on this unit

Week 4
Objectives
Students will be able to identify and explore the elements of literature, such as characters, setting, plot, conflict, and problem/solution. Students will be able to make inferences about characters in text and compare the characters traits. Students will be able to create a character avatar and description and present to the class. Students will be able to develop oral presentation skills by presenting small projects to classmates. Students will be able develop arguments about the text and support ideas with evidence from the text.

Learning Activities
Meet with Book Club discuss book - focus on character analysis (provide starter questions if needed) Use doppelme.com to create an avatar for a character in the novel Write about a character on the blog

Assignments
Blog entries Avatar created Description and explanation of avatar Create Prezi/Powerpoint Presentation to the class

Rubric Create an Avatar

Unsatisfactory An avatar was not created or there was no presentation to the class about the avatar and no presentation tool is used. Emerging Create an avatar with little accuracy. Presentation to the class is unclear as to why the avatar was created that way and no presentation tool is used. Proficient Create a somewhat accurate avatar using information from the text. Explain to the class why the avatar was created that way and put information into a powerpoint or prezi presentation. Accomplished Create an accurate avatar using information from the text. Explain in detail why the avatar was created that way and put information into a powerpoint or prezi presentation.

Week 5
Objectives
Students will be able to identify and explore the elements of literature, such as characters, setting, plot, conflict, and problem/solution. Students will be able to make inferences about characters in text and compare the characters traits. Students will be able to create a character avatar and description and present to the class. Students will be able to develop oral presentation skills by presenting small projects to classmates. Students will be able develop arguments about the text and support ideas with evidence from the text.

Learning Activities
Meet with Book Club discuss book focus on character analysis and character development (provide starter questions if needed) As a Book Club, compile all avatars in a Prezi or Powerpoint and write a brief description about each character. Explaining why the avatar is designed this way. Each Book Club presents their Prezi/Powerpoint to the class. Create a paper Facebook page for a character.

Assignments
Blog entries (at home) Description and explanation of avatar Create Prezi/Powerpoint Presentation to the class Paper Facebook page for a character

Rubric Character Facebook Page

Unsatisfactory
Facebook page is not written in first person, is not completed, and does not provide any accurate information.

Emerging
Facebook page is not completely written in first person, is less than halfway completed, and does not provide accurate information.

Proficient
Facebook page is written in first person, is mostly completed, and provides mostly accurate examples.

Accomplished
Facebook page is written in the first person, has a completed profile page, and provides accurate examples.

Unit 4 Novel Analysis

5 weeks spent on this unit

Week 6
Objectives Learning Activities Assignments

Students will be able to identify and explore the elements of literature, such as characters, setting, plot, conflict, and problem/solution. Students will be able to develop oral presentation skills by presenting small projects to classmates. Students will be able develop arguments about the text and support ideas with evidence from the text.

Meet with Book Club discuss book (provide starter questions if needed) Independently create an Interactive Story Map on readwritethink.org Compare these with others in the same Book Club and present these to the class

Blog entries (at home) Created Interactive Story Map Presentation to the class

Week 7
Objectives Learning Activities Assignments

Students will be able to identify and explore the elements of literature, such as characters, setting, plot, conflict, and problem/solution. Students will be able to synthesize and critique ideas through small group discussions.

Meet with Book Club discuss book focus on plot (provide starter questions if needed) Within Book Club - write a script from a scene of the book or write a commercial to sell the book to other students Type script in Microsoft Word

Blog entries (at home) Script for final project

Week 8
Objectives Learning Activities Assignments

Students will be able to identify and explore the elements of literature, such as characters, setting, plot, conflict, and problem/solution.

Meet with Book Club to finish script for scene or commercial Rehearse script

Blog entries (at home) Script for final project

Week 9
Objectives Learning Activities Assignments

Students will be able to identify and explore the elements of literature, such as characters, setting, plot, conflict, and problem/solution. Students will be able to use a flipcamera and software to show their understanding of the novel.

Learn how to use a flipcam Students video scene/commercial Use basic video software Animoto to put together video

Blog entries (at home) Video created

Rubric Final Project

Unsatisfactory Video does not present information of the novel clearly, logically, or accurately. It shows students minimal understanding of the novel. Video is not a commercial for the novel. Emerging Video presents information of the novel somewhat clearly, logically, and accurately, but there are parts that are unclear. It shows students minimal understanding of the novel. Video is a commercial for the novel. Proficient Video presents information of the novel clearly, logically, and accurately, but one part may be unclear. It shows students understanding of the novel. Video is a commercial for the novel. Accomplished Video presents information of the novel clearly, logically, and accurately. It shows students understanding of the novel. Video is a commercial for the novel.

Week 10
Objectives Learning Activities Assignments

Students will be able to identify and explore the elements of literature, such as characters, setting, plot, conflict, and problem/solution. Students will be able to gather, organize, and present information through various forms of media.

Presentation of final video projects to the class Course evaluation and reflection

Blog entries (at home) Presentation of final videos to the class

Sources for Images

http://www.mycutegraphics.com/graphics/technology/ kid-reading-on-ipad.html
http://www.hooverwebdesign.com/free-printables/bookclub-clipart.html

http://mg.rockhill.k12.sc.us/facultystaff/mediacenter.aspx
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/clip/ani_th inkingcap.html