Time Frame
4 class periods of 30 minutes each
Summary
Use the book Mole's Hill by Lois Ehlert to create a interactive letter writing activity with the class and learn about problem and solution. Students will choose a character and write a letter.
Materials
- Mole's Hill, by Lois Ehlert
- Chart Paper (three column-chart, letter, etc.)
- Butcher paper and colored construction paper for art activity (Teacher's Choice)
Background for Teachers
Teacher needs to know the Interactive Writing procedures.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- be able to participate in interactive writing of a letter.
- participate in recognizing problems or conflicts and offer, as well as identify solutions.
- create a display of their learning.
- learn the importance of following directions.
Instructional Procedures
DAY 1
BEFORE:
Query- Read the statements and have students discuss whether they are true or false. (The purpose of a Query is to initiate discussion and create background knowledge, not to resolve the true or false issue.)
- Friends always get along with each other.
- A mole looks like a giraffe.
- Everyone likes to be bossed around.
- You have to have a shovel to dig a hole.
DURING:
- Read the story and identify the problems as they come up. Record them on a three column-chart.
- Offer suggestions (student generated) to solve problem and record on the Three Column-Chart.
- Record actual solutions on Three Column-Chart.
DAY 2
BEFORE:
- Brainstorm and discuss some problems and solutions that students have experienced. (student generated)
- Review the chart and discuss problems and solutions from the story.
DURING:
- Reread the story.
- Discuss the letter that Fox, Skunk and Raccoon wrote to Mole. Why did they write it instead of talking to him? Why would we want to write letters?
- Optional: Make a list of reasons to write a letter or note.
DAY 3
WRITING ACTIVITY:
- Review the list of reasons to write a letter.
- Choose a character from the book to write a letter to.
- Prewriting: What do you know about your audience (character)? Why are you writing the letter, or what do you want to say?
- Interactive Writing
- Independent Writing Activity: students write/draw/label a letter for display.
DAY 4
- Reread the story.
- Art Activity: make a display of Mole's Hill using colored butcher paper and construction paper for hill and flowers. Students create their own samples of flowers with stencils, pre-cut dies, etc. for the display to go with their writing.
- Class creates a tunnel as the final addition, which is the symbol of the solution in the story.
Assessment Plan
- Teacher observation of student contribution to the charts.
- Students writing shows knowledge of the letter writing process.
- Teacher observes that student follow directions during writing and art activities.
Bibliography
Ehlert, Lois; 1994, Mole's Hill, a Woodland Tale. Scholastic.
Created: 08/01/2005
Updated: 02/05/2018
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