Lesson: Bold Beginnings

Brittany M. Humber

Where and Why?

22ndnd Grade, Cherry Hill Elementary, Alpine Grade, Cherry Hill Elementary, Alpine School DistrictSchool District

Lacking creativity and fun in all aspects of Lacking creativity and fun in all aspects of writingwriting

No organizational skillsNo organizational skills

2nd Grade Core Standard

Standard 8, Objective 2a: Draft ideas on paper Standard 8, Objective 2a: Draft ideas on paper in an organized manner utilizing words and in an organized manner utilizing words and sentences (e.g., beginning, middle, end, main sentences (e.g., beginning, middle, end, main ideas; details).ideas; details).

I focused on organization of thoughts, I focused on organization of thoughts, specifically the beginning of stories.specifically the beginning of stories.

We had already mapped out our stories about We had already mapped out our stories about a trip that each of us had taken. a trip that each of us had taken.

30 seconds of the movie Ratatouille by Disney’s Pixar and an overhead projector. I used the movie clip to show what a fun and exciting “BOLD Beginning” can look like. I used the overhead projector to project some

of my own writing and show them my expectations for their writing.

Technology Used

How did it go?

Ratatouille by Disney’s Pixar

The students were very The students were very excited, TOO excited!excited, TOO excited!

Better management Better management techniques were neededtechniques were needed

BUT, it was something BUT, it was something they remembered and will they remembered and will stick with them stick with them

Overhead Projector

Students were ahead of Students were ahead of me…me…

But pretty well-behavedBut pretty well-behaved

My beginnings got them My beginnings got them excited to learn more, excited to learn more, which was the pointwhich was the point

Four Principles of Effective Technology Integration

1. S

tudent

1. S

tudent

use

of

use

of

Tech

nolo

gy

Tech

nolo

gy

2.

2.

Tech

nolo

gy

Tech

nolo

gy

Use

is U

se is

Esse

ntia

lEsse

ntia

l

3. Fo

cus o

n

3. Fo

cus o

n

Learn

ing

Learn

ing

Task

Task

4. A

dded

4. A

dded

Valu

Valu

ee

Student use of Technology

The students did not use technology in this The students did not use technology in this lesson. lesson.

The technology promoted ACTIVE learning. All The technology promoted ACTIVE learning. All students were participating and a part of the students were participating and a part of the class discussion.class discussion.

Students were required to write.Students were required to write.

Technology Use is Essential

It was important for the students to SEE a bold It was important for the students to SEE a bold beginning, to remember, and understand that beginning, to remember, and understand that writing can be exciting!writing can be exciting!

My examples on the overhead took the idea of My examples on the overhead took the idea of Ratatouille’sRatatouille’s bold beginning, and put it on bold beginning, and put it on paper. It was the link between the two. For all paper. It was the link between the two. For all my visual learners, all students need to be my visual learners, all students need to be able to see the words on the board.able to see the words on the board.

Focus on Learning Task

Students made the connection that what is Students made the connection that what is shown on the movie can also be written down. shown on the movie can also be written down.

Though technology was used, students Though technology was used, students learned about writing and not movies.learned about writing and not movies.

Added Value

Technology was used in this case to bring our writing alive. Technology was used in this case to bring our writing alive.

Students got to see the application of writing in one of it’s Students got to see the application of writing in one of it’s finest forms, or a form that they very much enjoy. They finest forms, or a form that they very much enjoy. They made connections. made connections.

The use of this movie was essential to their learning The use of this movie was essential to their learning experience.experience.

For the overhead, it wouldn’t have been economical to For the overhead, it wouldn’t have been economical to print 20 sheets off with my bold beginnings only to take print 20 sheets off with my bold beginnings only to take them away so that they didn’t copy my ideas word for them away so that they didn’t copy my ideas word for word. word.