What It Means To Be An Author: Story Creations

Date: 2/10/15

Subject: Reading

Grade: Fifth/Sixth

Goals/Objectives/Standards (Please include the NETS standards):

Students will learn what it means to be an author and what goes into creating a book. Students will learn
writing and collaboration skills.
NETS1a- Promote, support and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
1c- Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students, colleagues, and
others in face-to-face and virtual environments.
2a- Design relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student
learning and creativity.
3b-Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to
support student success and innovation.
4c- promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of their
technology and information.
Timeline/structure of lesson:
Time
Opening/Framing the Lesson/Introduction/Early Assessment
Monitor/Feedback
To introduce the lesson Cindy Trumbore and Susan Roth the Have the class explain what
authors of The Mangrove Tree will be discussed. The
an author is and what they
background of the authors will be given along with titles of
do.
books that they have written. Then the students will be put
into pairs and each group will be given a book. The
Discuss Dropbox and
students will be informed about the Edmodo post that was
Edmodo to ensure that
made for them to utilize to communicate with their group
students have an
members. On Edmodo there are the guidelines for the
understanding of how to
assignment. Dropbox will also be offered as a tool for
use the tools.
students to share ideas and files about the project.
Dropbox will be explained and explored by students in
Edmodo has the
order to ensure that they know how to use the tool. Links
requirements for the
and instructions to each of these tools will be given in case
assignment.
students forget how to use them. The goal for this lesson is
for students to learn the role of an author while working on
their writing skills to create their own story. Collaboration
will be a main point because students need to work as a
group to create a story.
The Lesson Structure:
Discuss as a class what
After the students are in their groups and each have a
they thought were the
book they can begin reading the book The Mangrove Tree.
strengths
and weaknesses
Each student then needs to come up with three questions
of
the
book.
to ask the authors during the skype. The next day in class
a skype date is scheduled for the class and both of the
Students will use Edmodo
authors Susan Roth and Cindy Trumbore. Students will go
and
Dropbox to discuss with
around, ask their questions, and learn about the authors
their partners and share
inspiration for the story and also what steps they take
files.
when writing a story. The students will then meet with their
partners and make a plan of what kind of story they want
Skype will be used to talk to
to create. Once the students have a plan on paper,
both authors.
Storybird will be introduced and the students will be taught
how to use the tool. The students will then work as a group
Storybird will be used to
to create a story. They will have class time to work on their
create their stories.
projects although time outside of class may be needed.
After the books are created, they will be projected on the
A projector will be used to
board and the students will take turns reading pages of
project
their finished stories
their book to the class.
to the class.
Closing/Assessment

Students will use the

After the books are presented the students are to go back

onto the Edmodo post and list three things that they learned
about what goes into creating a book as an author. They also
need to list two things that the authors did to make The
Mangrove Tree book stronger.

Edmodo post to list three

things they learned along
with two things that made
The Mangrove Tree book
strong

Homework
Students will not be assigned specific homework although they
need to look at their time frame and see if they will be done in
time. If extra time is needed for the project students need to
work on it outside of class.
Self Evaluation of the Lesson
Group discussion
Resources/Materials
Chromebook Lab- Students will use these tools to create their stories on Storybird.
Skype- To communicate with the authors
Edmodo- for students to communicate with group members and also to post their assessment
Dropbox- for students to share illustration and story ideas with their partners
Projector- to project the story on the board after they are finished with their story
The Mangrove Tree- enough books for each group to have one