4 class periods of 45 minutes each
Large Groups
Communication
Lesson begins with introductory "fake spelling test." Then they complete two practice activities. Finally, students are evaluated using an online test,
Uploaded the attachments below.
If a computer lab is available, this lesson sure does adapt to it well.
Rules of possessive and plural nouns.
Basic spelling.
If computer lab is used, skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and general computer skills.
Student will correctly apply rules for possessive and plural nouns.
Lesson Plan (rough draft) Activity for Week #3--Smart Tools Nathan Welch I.
Intro a. The fake "Spelling Test"
i.
dog
ii.
*dogs'
iii.
**dogs
iv.
dog's
v.
cat
vi.
cats
vii.
cat's
viii.
cats'
ix.
***bus
x.
bus's
xi.
buses
xii.
buses'
xiii.
****foot
xiv.
*****foot's
xv.
feet
xvi.
feet's As you give the answers to
each word, organize them on the board, so they fit into the following
grid. This gives a great opportunity to
teach the given rules. It also sets up
the creation of their "algorithm" PowerPoint. regular Singular Plural does NOT end in "s" Singular cat bus foot Possessive cat's bus's foot's Plural cats buses feet Both cats' buses' feet's *Hopefully a student will
ask you to use it in a sentence. Teacher
responds, "Why?" in an effort to get students thinking about possessive verses
plural. If no student asks, then preface
the correcting of dogs' with "I'll bet that over 90% of the class missed this
one." **From here on out, you
comment as the students request that you use it in a sentence. ***At this point, you are
introducing a new rule where the singular noun naturally ends in "s." ****At this point, you are
introducing a new rule where the plural noun will not end in "s." *****When students ask for
you to use it in a sentence, you will point out that you don't need to use it
in a sentence because there is no such word as "foots." II.
Practice 1 a. MS Word doc III.
Practice 2 a. MS Word doc IV.
Evaluate http://205.118.2.9/~welch/TeachingTools/Writing/Possessives/Test.htm a. Online b. analyze data V.
Remediate and
Extend a. Extend--PowerPoint algorithm
Background for Teachers
Student Prior Knowledge
Intended Learning Outcomes
Instructional Procedures
ends in "s"
If you have access to a computer lab, the beauty of this lesson is that you are able to provide more practice to students who need it, while the other students work on their "extensions" project--PowerPoint.
Students create PowerPoint showing the "algorithm" for possessive-plural rules. Other extensions might be creating a brochure to "Vote for..." a given rule, etc.
Visit web site below. Results are sent to a "sortable" database where general and specific weaknesses can be identified.