Charity Bailey

RE 3150

Conventions Lesson Plan

March 7, 2006

 

Learning To Capitalize Is Fun!

 

Concept Under Investigation

 

Today the class will be studying capitalization.  We will specifically look at capitalization of proper nouns.

 

Day__2___ (Which day in the unit?) of __5___ (How many days in the unit?)

 

I decided to do this unit after reading completed written assignments by my students.  I immediately noticed that they were having difficulties knowing what and when to capitalize proper nouns.

 

Competencies and Skills (from NCSCS)

 

EIGHTH GRADE

 

Competency Goal 6

The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.

 

6.02 Continue to identify and edit errors in spoken and written English by:

  • Producing final drafts/presentations that demonstrate accurate spelling and the correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and format.

 

Other goals/objectives (e.g. technology, media literacy, affective):

Students will use the computers in the media center to research a county or region in North Carolina.  This will enable students to become more familiar with the Internet and various search engines.  They will then draw a visual representation of the county or region in North Carolina on a piece of paper and designate any landmarks, bodies of water, large cities, and any rivers.  Students will then write a brief paragraph on why they chose that particular county or region to research.  

 

Materials Needed:

Computers, drawing paper, pens, and pencils

 

Procedures with script:

 

  • Initiating activity/warm-up/mini-lesson

Students are expected to come in everyday and immediately begin their writing journal prompt on the board.

  • Review (if needed)

Review Internet search procedures and search engines.

  • Purpose setting

Students will be able to determine when to capitalize proper nouns.  Students will also understand why they are capitalizing certain words.

  • Introduction for today’s lesson

Students will be given a handout with a paragraph from a fictional and a personal source to examine in small groups of 2-3.  Students will be instructed to look for any capitalization errors and to be prepared to correct them and to explain why they would have made the correction in an in class discussion.

  • Guided Practice (teacher/student)

The teacher will go over the paragraph handout with the class while the students are still divided up into small groups.  The teacher will allow the students to explain any necessary corrections made to the paragraph and will only comment to encourage the students or to further explain a crucial point.

  • Independent Practice (student)

Each student will use the computers in the media center to research a county or region in North Carolina that they are interested in. They will then draw the county or region on a piece of paper and designate any landmarks, bodies of water, large cities, and any rivers.  Students will then write a brief paragraph on why they chose that particular county or region to research.  Students will circle each capitalized word and will be prepared to share why they chose to capitalize that particular word.  

 

  • Closure/Expectations (for tomorrow’s lesson)

I expect that students now enjoy a through understanding of proper nouns and              will be able to apply this knowledge in any future exercise.

 

SPED modifications:

The teacher should use an overhead projector to go over the paragraph handout.  Students will be given additional time to complete assignments. Students with visual problems will be placed in groups that are closer to the board so that they can clearly see what each group has written.

 

Assessment:

 

Formative – I will know that students learned today’s materials and that they are moving toward the unit goals by reading the paragraphs that each student will turn in on the county or region of North Carolina that interested them.  Each student will have circled all of the capitalized words in their paragraph.

 

Summative – The larger assessment that students are moving toward is to choose to write a letter to a congressman, the President, or the editor of the newspaper.  This will give each student the opportunity to be published and to foster a sense of community.  This exercise will also allow students to express themselves about issues that are important to them and to utilize what they have learned about capitalization of proper nouns.

 

Next lesson:

Students will learn the proper use of a semi colon.

 

[NETS-T Indicators addressed in this lesson]:

II.  PLANNING AND DESIGNING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPERIENCES.

 

Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology.  Teachers: design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced strategies to support the divers needs of learners.

  1. Plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.