Lesson Plan
Summertime
| Subject: | Literacy |
| Grade span: | K to 2 |
| Duration: | 60 minutes |
Description:
This lesson is one example of how you can implement a read-aloud. Read-aloud activities are a great way to reinforce reading skills at any age. You will engage students in a story, model fluent reading, discuss the themes of the story, and then students will illustrate their ideas in drawings and dioramas.Learning Goals:
- Learn to recognize fluent, expressive reading
- Review and read a new book
- Learn new vocabulary words from the story and understand their meanings
- Use words and ideas from the text in other activities
Materials:
- Summertime: From Porgy and Bess, by Dubose Heyward and illustrated by Mike Wimmer
- Chart paper and markers for new vocabulary words and song lyrics
- Tape or CD player, and tape or CD with the song, Summertime, performed by Billie Holiday
- Paper and pencils
- Art supplies for diorama including colored paper, shoe boxes, markers, colors, yarn
Preparation:
- Review story and song
- Identify new vocabulary words to review
- Write song lyrics on chart paper and post on a wall
What to Do:
- Review the title and book cover, asking students to predict what it's about
- Read the text, Summertime, aloud to the group, pausing to ask questions about particular words and their meanings
- After reading the story, ask students questions, including what they liked best, what surprised them, and about their own summertime experiences
- Lst new vocabulary words on the wall
- Next, play the song, Summertime, following along with the lyrics on poster paper
- Engage students in a discussion about how the story relates to the song and how the music makes them feel
- Divide students into small groups, based on grade level and ability
- Younger students can create dioramas illustrating word meanings and summertime activities from their own experiences
- Older students can work together to write their own song about summertime, based on the story and their own experiences
- Finally, students share their dioramas and song with the group
Evaluate (Outcomes to look for):
- Student engagement in reading, questions, and song
- Comments and answers that reflect an understanding of the story, song, themes, and word meanings
- Comments and answers that reflect students' ability to connect the text to their own lives and the world around them
- Collaborative group work
- Final presentations that reflect an understanding of the text, theme, and new word meanings
