Do you belive?

Day 1

Benchmark Focus:

• Inflections: -s, ies, ies (y to i)

• Predict Outcomes

• Self Correct

HOTS: Knowledge" What are some ways of finding out the meaning of a word you do not know?
Strategies/Activities

• Oral Language: Read a Christmas Story to the class

• Comprehension/Application

  • Build Background about the North Pole and Santa

• Vocabulary

  • Introduce Vocabulary PowerPoint with words

• Students will use Circle (Word Map) to write definitions. If you have different Vocabulary Words, click here for an empty Word Map.

  • Interactive PowerPoint Word Card/Map. The students can type vocabulary word information in the PowerPoint. (Model Lesson)

• Phonics -s, -es, -ies, -ies (y to i)

Evaluation: Class discussion, Teacher Observation, student responses to questions

Day 2

Benchmark Focus:

• Inflections: -s, ies, ies (y to i)

• Predict Outcomes

• Self Correct

HOTS: Synthesis: What seems to be  happening in the pictures?
Strategies/Activities:

• Oral Language:

  • Read a Christmas Book to the class.

• Comprehension/Application

  • Focus Skill: Figurative Language

  • Prereading Strategies: Set Purpose
    Reading the Selection: Read the Polar Express to the students. (Students may also listen to the Online Story read by Lou Phillips Diamond.

    • Listen to the Polar Express from Story Online as Lee Diamond Phillips reads the story to you. (Click "on" captions to see the words too! Click here for Teacher's Guide!  More stories here!

    • Hand out "Plain Language and "Figurative Language Sheet". Read page by page and pick out the figurative language phrases in the book and write them on the figurative language side.  Then on the side of "Plain Language" have them explain what it really means. (Also in as a PDF File and a MS Word Interactive Template)

      • Interactive PowerPoint (Teacher may want to type in responses in the interactive PowerPoint.

• Vocabulary

  • Create sentences using Vocabulary Words

    • Students may also review Vocabulary Words

      • Interactive Vocabulary Set 1

      • Interactive Vocabulary Set 2

      • Do a Matching vocabulary activity. MS Word document. (or PDF File)

  • Phonics -s, -es, -ies, -ies (y to i)

Evaluation: Class discussion, Teacher Observation, student responses to questions

Day 3

Benchmark Focus:

• Inflections: -s, ies, ies (y to i)

• Predict Outcomes

• Self Correct

HOTS: TSW compare and contrast North Pole to their home.
Strategies/Activities

• Oral Language: Read a Christmas Story to the class

• Comprehension/Application:
  Reading for Fluency

• Using the Train Hand Out, students will retell the story. (Using beginning, middle and end)  Several versions are available below:

  • Vermilion Parish Polar Express Interactive 2 (Beginning, Middle, End)

  • Kidspiration 3 (Beginning, Middle, End) Vermilion Parish (Students could complete these on the computers).

  • Vermilion Parish Mapping Story MS Word Interactive Template  (Beginning, Middle, End) Interactive MS Template

  • Printable Versions MS Word and PDF File.

  • Favorite Polar Express Character Vermilion Parish (Kidspiration 3)

• Phonics -s, -es, -ies, -ies (y to i)

Evaluation: Class discussion, Teacher Observation, student responses to questions (Need more help? Click here!)

Day 4

Benchmark Focus:

• Inflections: -s, ies, ies (y to i)

• Predict Outcomes

• Self Correct

HOTS: Choose the word that best fits the sentence.
Strategies/Activities

• Oral Language: Read a Christmas Story to the class

Comprehension/Application:

• Focus Skill Figurative Language. Students will pick their favorite figurative language phrase (done on Day 2) and illustrate it. They will then construct their own figurative language phrases

• Vocabulary: Write words in Context. (Vocabulary Word Passage)

• Interactive Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle Online or Print

• Story Sequence: Hand out the Story Sequence Handout. The students will cut the strips and put those in order.

• Film Strip Printable (Students can draw and write about six scenes in their story Film Strip.

• Retell the Polar Express Story Vermilion Parish

Evaluation: Class discussion, Teacher Observation, student responses to questions (Need more help? Click here!)

Day 5

Benchmark Focus:

• Inflections: -s, ies, ies (y to i)

• Predict Outcomes

• Self Correct

HOTS: Application: Make a sentence using words from the word wall.
Strategies/Activities:

• Oral Language:

  • Re-read the Polar Express

• Vocabulary Test/Comprehension Test

• Vocabulary:
  Application of vocabulary - Choose a vocabulary word (write a synonym, antonym, sentences using the word and the meaning of the word.

• Interactive PowerPoint Word Card/Map. The students can type vocabulary word information in the PowerPoint.

• Word Map for Polar Express Vermilion Parish (Kidpiration 3 Template)

• Comprehension Interactives are also available to complete online.

  • Vermilion Parish Polar Express Interactive (Easy Level) Vermilion Parish)

  • Vermilion Parish Polar Express Interactive 1 (Answer questions online) (Vermilion Parish)

Evaluation: Class discussion, Teacher Observation, student responses to questions (Need more help? Click here!