Introduction

This lesson was developed as part of the Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 Millennium Technology Mini-Grant Engaged Learning Project 2000.  Completion of this web-based project took place in May, 2000.

This lesson coincides with the story "Itsy Bitsy Spider" by Iza Trappani. Skills reinforced through this lesson are adjectives, cause/effect, story writing, and writing strategies.  Prior to beginning the Web Quest,  several rereadings of the story should be done for a variety of purposes.  A comprehension discussion of the story should take place, focusing on the causes/effects in the story, and any "spider encounters" the children may have had.   The children will then use the web quest and web links to stimulate and motivate creative ideas. Then they will use word webs during prewriting, to organize thoughts and sequence story events.   Last, the students will write their own spider story using desription, cause/effect, and writing strategies.  Editing will be done with teacher help.  The final draft will be created by students in book form on a story writing computer program.  Books will be sharerd with other grades and placed in the class library for the class to enjoy during self-selected reading time.

Content Area and Grade Level

This is a Reading/Language Arts lesson for first  grade students.  It was originally designed to accompany the Houghton Mifflin Invitations to Literacy Reading Program; Theme, Creepy Crawlies.  Yet the skills covered in this lesson are included in the Illinois Standards for early primary.  This project can be adapted to use in these grades or any related theme you may cover.

Curriculum Standards

Illionois State Reading Standards addressed in this project include...

3.A1    Construct complete sentences using appropriate punctuation and spelling of high frequency words.

3.B1a  Use prewriting to generate and organize ideas.  Organize writing in beginning, middle, and end.

3.B1b  Demonstrate organization, focus, and elaboration inn written composition.

3.c.1a  Write narratives.

In addition to the standards addressed, the children will also use  critical thinking processes such as syntheis, analysis, and elaboration.

Implementation Overview

The lesson can be pace according to the blocks of Reading/Language Arts time the teacher wants to devote to it, yet the lesson will probably span a week.  The students can complete tasks # 1-3 simultaneously during computer lab time or in pairs during centers time at the mini-lab. Tasks 4-6 can be done during writing time in class. Task # 7 can be completed simultaneously during computer lab time or in paris at centers time at the mini-lab.

Resources Needed

Class set  of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" by Iza Trappani

Easy Book by Sunburst  (or any story book creating program)

Templates of Word Webs (available on Student Web Page)

Spider Books and copies of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" by other authors (available for children at self-selected reading time)

This lesson can be done in a one teacher classroom.  Depending on the writing and computer level of the children involved, the teacher or parent volunteers may need to do much of editing involved in writing and type the text in the story writing program.  Then have the chidlren just complete the illustrations.  Middle first grade and second grade children can complete these tasks.

Entry Level Skills and Knowledge

The children must be comfortable with writing their thoughts and stories.  They must also be  famaliar with the writing process (Brainstorm, Rought Draft, Edit, Revise, Publish).

The teacher needs to be comfortable teacning the writing process, with spelling approximations,  setting the age appropriate writing goals, and grading writing using a rubric.

Evaluation

The teacher can evaluate the students writing progress using the rubric and compare these rubrics with those of earlier writing samples in the students' portfolio.

Conclusion

This project directly reflects the type of student writing and rubric grading that is necessary for ISAT writing in the upper grades.  The Reading and Writing processes are reciprocal and devotion to both creates better lifelong readers and writers.  It is NEVER to early to start writing!!!!!