What Happens Next?

Designed by: Priscilla McPheeters, Caughman Road Elementary

Grade Level: Fourth     Subject: Language Arts

Core Curriculum Objective: Sequence events and/or steps in a process using dramatizations, retelling, pictures, charts, media. (4-CM-5)

Overview: The teacher and student's will read a story on their grade level, then break up into small co-operative groups based on their preference of retelling the story through dramatization (live or a puppet show), art (through pictures or mural), or media (computer side show using Broderbund's Kid Pix software). Each group will analyze the story and create a flowchart of eight events they have selected to reconstruct the story. The students will give a "dress rehearsal" of their collaborative projects where they will receive constructive criticism from their peers and the teacher. The students will be assessed by the rubric given in the culminating assessment. The students will share their projects with another lower grade level and administration.

Focus Question: How can we creatively sequence the events in this story?

Time Frame: Six hour class periods.

Resources/Materials:
Craft sticks 
Tag board 
Puppet eyes 
Tri-fold display board 
Bulletin board paper 
Construction paper (assorted colors) 
Glue 
Staple gun, duck tape 
Broderbund kid pix software 
4 copies of the story

Culminating Assessment: The students will analyze the story and sequence eight events to reconstruct the story. The groups will be allowed to choose the eight events themselves. The students will each individually write a paragraph explaining why they chose the eight events in their groups. The presentations and written portion will be assessed using the following rubric.

Sequence Rubric Presentation 

Written Portion

0 No evidence 
1/2 attempted but some mistakes 
1 completed

Score____________/11

Instructional Activities: 

Activity One
The teacher should be sitting on a chair or other routine place that stories are read. The students should be gathered around close to the teacher. The teacher asks the students "What is a sequence?" Discuss what a sequence is and from the discussion write the agreed upon definition on the board. Bring out the book and discuss with the students that they are going to sequence the events of this story and create a creative presentation through drama, art, or with the computer.

Ask the students to try and keep track of the sequence of events, as the story is read to them. Read the story.

Discuss how many events there were in the story. What is the fewest number of events that could be sequenced to reconstruct the story? Handout and discuss with the students the project rubric and talk about the timeline.

Timeline- The teacher will give the groups three days to work on their projects before the dress rehearsal. The teacher will work with each group (drama, art, and computer) for a class period. (I recommend beginning with the computer group the first day then the art group and working the last day with the drama group).

The teacher should allow the students to chose which group they wish to work with. Depending on the size of the class and the interest more than one group for a particular area may be created. I suggest four students to a group. This means you may have two drama groups or two computer groups etc. Have the students meet in their groups for an organizational meeting so they can decide who will be the manager, the secretary, the timekeeper and the supply person for the next class period.

Activity Two-Four
The teacher will make sure each group has a copy of the story and a graphic organizer flow chart provided at the end of this lesson. The teacher should give each group an outline of what they need to accomplish. One for each group is provided at the end of this lesson or you may create your own. The groups will first work on analyzing the story and filling in the flow chart with their eight events to reconstruct the story. The teacher will walk around answering any questions.

As the groups finish their graphic organizers they will begin to work on their presentations in their chosen mediums. The teacher should have materials for each group available, so that each group knows where their materials are.

Drama- Depending on what the students decide to do a play or puppet show, they need to chose parts. Then create a dialogue for their characters. They then need to decide on what type of costumes or puppets they wish to make. I have found the stick puppets work very nicely. The students can draw and color their characters and then glue them on to craft sticks. They can glue on eyes to really make them special. The students then can take the tri-fold display board and create their stage. They can decorate the board to resemble the setting of the story.

Art- The students need to decide if they are going to be drawing their events or creating them three dimensionally. They must delegate the work to each member of the group. If they are going to do a three-dimensional mural, a large wall space must be available for the students to create their events. The students need to have their materials available so they can begin their artwork. Suggestions for a mural: The students will need chart paper and construction paper of different colors.

Computer- The students need to decide who is going to use the mouse when! This needs to be decided fairly. The teacher needs to have loaded Broderbunds Kid Pix software onto the computer. The teacher needs to work with this group on the first day to aquatint them with the software. The students using their flowchart will create slides in the "stampinator" section of the software. They will choose a background, stamp set and sound. The students then save each side they create for a "Slideshow". When all the slides are saved the students will create the slideshow from the saved slides. The students will then chose cuts in between sides in the slideshow section. The students will then narrate their slideshow for their presentation.

Activity Five
Dress Rehearsal Each group will give their presentation. After each presentation their will be a question and comment session where students can give each other feedback on their presentations. The students can use the remaining time in the class to revise their projects.

Activity Six
The students presentation will be assessed by the rubric given. The teacher and two students will evaluate each group. After the presentations the students will sit down and write their paragraphs. The teacher will assess the paragraphs with the given rubric.

A share fair can be arranged to share the student's projects with younger classes and the administration.

________________________ Group Positions

Slide Show

Your group is going to create a slide show from the eight events you chose in your flow chart to retell the story.

Pictures

Your group is going to retell the story through pictures or 3-D art. You will use the flow chart outline of the eight events you chose.

Theatre

Your group is going to create a puppet show or act out the eight events you chose in your flow chart.

Flow Chart to Sequence Eight Events from the Story