If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur...

Name: Eden Peters

Date: Thursday February 16, 2017

Grade: 1/2 Split Class

Unit/Subject: Personal Narratives – Literacy – Working with the entire class

Materials

• The book “If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur” by Linda Bailey and Colin Jack

• Papers that say: (each in the shape of either ice cream or parts of a burger)

• First

• Then

• Next

• After

• Finally

• Pencils

• Markers/crayons

Objectives

• To ensure the children have grasped the concept of what a personal narrative is and what the different elements are (5 W’s, feelings, transition words)

• To enhance the children’s understanding of how to fill in the components of a personal narrative and then create the narrative itself

• To solve any confusion regarding writing personal narratives and aid the children in the preparation for their unit test

Anticipatory Set

Before I introduce the story, I will review the elements of a personal narrative with the students. We will then talk about their love for dinosaurs and then I will introduce the story.

Guided Practice

Once I have read the book, the class will create a personal narrative together about what would happen if they had a dinosaur (this will also be the model for the lesson)

Checking for Understanding

In order to ensure the children understand the concept, I will have them create their own personal narrative about what would happen if they had a dinosaur (the object of their narrative can change, it does not HAVE to be a dinosaur)

Questioning Strategies

While the children are creating their stories, I will ask them several questions that will encourage them to use their 5W’s

• Who is the story about?

• What is happening? What would the _______ do?

• Where would you take it?

• Why would you do that?

• How did you feel when you did that?

• What would happen next?

Creative Component

• Once the children have filled in all the parts of their ice cream or hamburger, they will cut out the pieces and put it together to look like the food item

• If there is time, the children can decorate their work

Closure

• To close the activity, they will hand in their creations and move on to their next lesson

Independent Practice

I believe that the teacher has created a test that the children will be taking soon to ensure they understand how to write personal narratives, so I will encourage them to practice writing them at home

Reflection:

Rather than using an ice cream or hamburger organizer, they used an already prepared organizer that the teacher had used with them before. I feel that the end result of the activity was successful, however the process of explaining the assignment was somewhat difficult. The purpose of my activity was to encourage the children to create a personal narrative using their imagination, however they did not quite grasp the idea of writing a pretend story right away. Once they understood that, they were able to write really interesting and creative stories.