Unit of Study

Celebrating Friendships

 

Content Standards

Summary and Understanding

Essential Questions and Key Knowledge

 Assessment Plan

Learning Activities

 

 

Topic Area Grade Level
Communications/Language Arts Special Education
Time Frame Key Word s
2-3 weeks Friendship, friends, Frog and Toad Are Friends
 

 
Link to SD Content Standards
Communications/Language Arts
Students will read at increasing levels of complexity for a variety of purposes.
Students will write effectively for different audiences and specific purposes.

 

SD Content Standard Indicators
READING
Indicator 1: Students will use various reading cues/strategies to interpret and comprehend text, e.g., context, semantic, syntactic, and graphophonic cues.
Indicator 4:  Students will access, synthesize, and evaluate information from a variety of sources.
WRITING
Indicator 1: Students will use appropriate mechanics, usage, and conventions of language.
Indicator 2: Students will use appropriate style, organization, and form in technical, transactional, creative, and personal writing.

 

SD Content Standard Benchmarks
READING
Indicator 1
a.  determine which cues are the most effective for making predictions about and clarifying meaning of   text.
b.  select the appropriate cues and/or strategies needed for comprehension of specific types of text.
c.  use prior knowledge to interpret unfamiliar information/materials/text
Indicator 4
a.  examine numerous information/reference sources for a variety of purposes, e.g., Internet, CD-ROM,  print materials, video materials, library.
b.  determine the usefulness of specific factual and technical materials.
c.  gather and sort specific information/sources to make informed decisions.
WRITING
Indicator 1
a.  apply fundamental conventions of language in written work.
b.  use descriptive vocabulary and proper spelling in written work.
c.  revise and edit written work using fundamental conventions of language.
Indicator 2
a.  use appropriate organization based on the established writing purpose and intended audience.
b.  use appropriate writing style based on the established writing purpose and intended audience.
c.  use the writing format required for a specific type of publication.

 

Brief Summary of Unit
In this unit the students will be exploring friendships through the literature novel Frog and Toad are Friends.  It includes activities to increase vocabulary, decoding skills, and reading comprehension.  Students will make comparisons and write friendly letters.

 

Students will understand?
Students will understand:
1.  that the similarities and differences among friends makes each friendship unique
2.  that friends experience a variety of emotions, both positive and negative
3.  the importance of compromise to a friendship and examples of compromising situations
4.  how cooperation benefits both friends
5.  the qualities that a good friend possesses

 

What essential questions will guide this unit and focus teaching and learning?

What is a friend?

What are the qualities of a good friend?
What does it take to be a good friend?
How are you like your friends?
How are you different from your friends?
What would it be like if we were all alike?
What are ways that you have fun with your friends?
How do you show that you are a good friend?
What would you do for your friend?  What wouldn’t you do?
How do you feel when you are with your friends?

 

What key knowledge and skills will students acquire as a result of this unit?
Students will:
1.  use decoding and word recognition skills, e.g., suffixes, prefixes, vowel patterns, syllable breaks,        word families, sight words
2.  demonstrate literal, interpretive, and/or critical comprehension by answering various how, why, and   what-if questions
3.  make predictions about information/events in text, reread to extend initial impressions, and use  prior knowledge to confirm or reject predictions       
4.  use reference tools to locate information, e.g., dictionaries, maps and globes, encyclopedias, periodicals, Internet   

 

Assessment Plan
Students will be assessed based on:
1.  oral reading samples
2.  guided reading questions
3.  vocabulary and comprehension questions after each chapter
4.  Internet research sheet
5.  completion of two Venn diagrams
6.  webbing activities on Inspiration
7.  completion of the Cooperation Wheel
8.  completion of friendly letter to Toad
9.  creation of individual Power Point presentation

 

Learning Activities
1.  oral reading of Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
2.  complete vocabulary and comprehension questions after each chapter
          -Spring
          -The Story
          -A Lost Button
          -A Swim
          -The Letter
3.  research frogs and toads on the Internet and record findings on a fact sheet
4.  use research findings to complete the Frog and Toad Venn diagram
5.  complete ‘All About Me’ sheet
6.  pair up with a friend and complete the Friend Venn diagram
7.  create a web using Inspiration about the emotions you feel towards your friends*
8.  complete the Cooperation Wheel*
9.  make Friendship Necklaces*
10. write a friendly letter to Toad
11. create a web using Inspiration about Fun Times with Friends
12. complete modified ‘My Best Friend’ activity (use digital pictures of the students faces)*
13. create a friendship Power Point presentation based on my sample

 
Notes
This unit is designed for implementation in a Resource Classroom.  Activities will be modified to meet the individual needs of the students.  Activities with an asterisk have been adapted from Teacher Created Materials “Friendship” Thematic Unit.  Students will take turns using the digital camera when needed for projects.  I have enough computers in my room so each student will be able to search the Internet independently.
The frog/toad research Internet site:  http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/commerce/account/frogs/frog.htm

 

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