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Language Arts Technology Lesson Plan

© Melissa Johnston

Each month my article will feature a technology integration lesson plan focusing on a variety of subject areas and technology processes. I hope to offer both student and teacher activities and welcome your comments and suggestions after you've tried out my lessons. Managing Technology in the Middle School Classroom, (Teacher Created Materials, Inc.) argues that when teachers use technology in their classroom, their role changes from the "sage on the stage" to the "guide on the side". Technology serves as a "real world" tool aiding the teacher and student in gathering and communicating information.

This month I'm including a lesson using word processing that involves creating newsletters. In the student activity, participants process information at a higher level of thinking by becoming news reporters.

TECHNOLOGY LESSON PLAN STUDENT ACTIVITY

WORD PROCESSING

Students (news reporters) create a one-page story newspaper/newsletter based on a story or book they have read in class or independently

This lesson can be used after students have read a book or story as an alternative to the standard book report

OBJECTIVES:

¨ Determine a text's main (or major ideas) and how those ideas are supported with details

¨ Summarize text to recall, inform, or organize ideas

¨ Recognize and analyze story plot, setting, and problem resolution

¨ Produce reports in effective formats for various audiences

¨ Produce communications using technology or appropriate media such as developing a class newspaper, multimedia reports, or video reports

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Word processing software

Story or book

Teacher-created report guidelines

Examples of newspaper articles

REQUIREMENT SUGGESTIONS:

Have students write three or four news articles relevant to the story or book

Students summarize the main idea by writing headlines for each article they write

Students choose pictures/graphics appropriate to the topic

PROCESS:

1. Students complete reading of story selection or book

2. Students recognize the elements of the story (main idea, plot, summary, etc.)

3. Teacher displays sample news stories from a local paper and reviews/teaches news writing

4. Students learn to use the word processing newsletter wizard and/or work with columns

PUBLICATION:

*Circulate newsletters to other grade-level language arts classes

*Display newsletters on bulletin board in class or in school library

I hope you'll try out this lesson plan and let me know what you think! I look forward to hearing from you. Good Luck!