Writing+Mini-Lesson+Set+1

Jenn Schellenberg ELD 308 February 14, 2012

**Lesson Plan: Writing Mini-Lesson**


 * Grade:** 4


 * Time:** 15 minutes

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
 * Standards:** Writing Standards K-5


 * Objective:** By the end of this lesson, students will be able to write a personal narrative in the first person point of view.


 * Materials:**
 * //Henry’s Freedom Box// by Ellen Levine
 * Chart paper with the heading “First Person Point of View”
 * Chart paper with the heading “Sample Personal Narrative”
 * Chart paper with second portion of sample personal narrative
 * Markers


 * Lesson Sequence:**


 * **Lesson Introduction/ Anticipatory Set (Engagement):**
 * “Boys and girls, do you remember the two different points of view that we discussed? Yes, that’s right, there is first person and third person point of view. First person point of view is when the author uses I, me or we. Third person point of view is when the author uses he, she, or they.”


 * **State Objective and Purpose:**
 * “Today, we are going to focus on the first person point of view. We are also going to discuss the possible reasons why an author may write in the first person point of view. Having an understanding how and why authors write in first person will allow us to write our own person narratives later on in the mini-lesson.”


 * **Teach and Model:**
 * Have chart paper ready with the heading “First Person Point of View.”
 * “There are several different reasons why an author may choose to write in the first person.”
 * Write “reason” on chart paper. Then make a dash and list “(1) to make the story personable, (2) to connect the readers with the protagonists, (3) to make the stories more reasonable, (4) to help develop the character, and (5) to create a clear perspective for the reader.
 * Skip a line and then write “first person” on chart paper. Then make a dash and write, “I, we, me, us, my, mine, our, and ours.”
 * “Since we have an in depth understanding of what writing in the first person looks like, I am going to model what a personal narrative looks like. A personal narratives are a piece of writing in which you can write about yourself and/or the experiences that you have encountered, read, or heard about in your life.”
 * Have another chart paper with the heading “Sample Personal Narrative”
 * On that piece of chart paper, begin writing a sample of a personal narrative. Write, “Many years ago, when I was about 10 years old, I was playing outside on the playground when I broke my arm. I was having a ton of fun playing with my friends that day and we loved playing the game tag. During that game, I went up to go down the slide and unfortunately, I wound up falling off the slide and onto the ground, therefore breaking my arm.”
 * Point out the parts in this section that make it a personal narrative and explain the reasoning to the students.


 * **Guided Practice:**
 * Have a piece of chart paper ready with the continued personal narrative that was beginning to be told.
 * Call up six students and have them each circle a word that makes the piece of writing a personal narrative. Have each of the students explain their reasoning.
 * Then, call three different students to the board and have them write down a sample sentence of something they would incorporate into their personal narrative. Once again have the three students explain their reasoning.


 * **Independent Practice/Assessment:**
 * “Boys and girls, today during our writing period, I want you to take out your writing journals and begin brainstorming ideas for your personal narrative. After you are done brainstorming ideas, you may begin writing your personal narrative. Just remember that since you are writing about your personal experiences, your writings should be in the first person.”


 * **Closure:**
 * “What are some words you can use in a piece of writing that make it in the first person point of view?”
 * “Can someone remind me of what we should be doing during our writing period today? Great job paying attention and learning today!


 * **Assessment:**
 * I will know students are successful when I read their personal narratives in their writing journals. Students who understand first person point of view should have well written personal narratives.