Aimee Archibald
Lesson Plan (From Thematic Unit on Zoo Animals)

I. Objectives

Goals:
 B.4.1 Create or produce writing to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
 Write expressive pieces in response to reading, viewing, and life experiences (narratives, reflections, and letters) employing descriptive detail and a personal voice.

Student Objectives:
 Student will express their opinions through dialog journals about what they consider to be their favorite animals.
 The will clearly convey their ideas to their classmates to the best of their abilities.

II. Materials

 Journals and pencils

III.  Procedure

 Teacher will briefly do a think-aloud journal about a favorite zoo animal; will mention specifically why this is a favorite animal.
 The teacher will then assign students to work in pairs.
 The students will complete a dialogue journal over the course of a week about their favorite zoo animals. Each student will have his or her own journal with the other student’s replies in it.
 The journal should appear more developed as the week progresses because the students will be learning new information about zoo animals throughout the week that could be incorporated into their journals.
 Higher level questions: Why do you think people like some animals more than others? What would it be like to live in a country where your favorite animals lives in the wild?

IV.  Evaluation
        
Evaluation is based on having thoughtful journal entries and responses through out the week.