Grade: Grade 5 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Amanda Sheppard Lesson Length: More than 3 hours Keywords/Tags: Reading, Writing, Discussing, Change Lesson Description: By the end of this lesson the students will be able to use their own ideas just like the writer in the story "Trees". In this lesson the students will learn new vocabulary words along with the contextual meaning, respond and discuss on specific topics with their peers, and use the knowledge they gained about the story to create their own story of change. By reading, discussing, and writing about the steps it took to get trees in the writers community, my goal is for the students to understand what the writer did to have this change happen. Once, they understand I would like them to be able to choose their choice of a change in their community and write a letter to the mayor just as the writer did.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.5.4a: Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.1d: Review the key ideas expressed and draw conclusions in light of information and knowledge gained from the discussions
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Lesson Content: Reading
Instructions: Please read the following reading passage as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the passage if needed.
More Trees
When my teacher asked me to write a letter to the mayor asking for a change, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say. I considered the changes I would like to see in our community. The first thing that came to mind was that I wanted a playground. We used to have a playground, but the community got too crowded, so they built homes where the playground used to be. I would also like to have a library. We had a library once, but it burned down. People said it required too much money to rebuild it. What would the best change be?
My teacher said I need to choose just one thing I want, and write about that one thing. So after I thought about everything, I decided on one particular change I wished to see. I chose trees, because I want more trees in our neighborhood. If we have more trees, the city will be much cooler in summer.
Trees will also make the city much more beautiful, too. During wintertime, we can hang lights on the trees, which will make the city much brighter. This was a change everyone would enjoy.
I wrote my idea to the mayor, and I also told my family about it. My mother told the block club the idea, and they all liked it.
The members of the block club called a city office and requested trees to plant on our block. Although it took several weeks to get an answer, eventually the answer came. Our neighborhood received ten trees!
One Saturday, the people in the block club planted our new trees. To plant them, we needed large holes, and it was difficult work. City workers used big machines to dig them. Then, we had to water the trees. People took very great care of the trees.
The trees started out quite small, but over time they started to grow. Birds even came to nest in them, and now in the morning I can hear birds singing. I knew the trees would be pretty, but I didn’t realize there would be more birds. What a difference I had made. The trees really changed our community.
I’m glad I wrote the letter, and I’m especially glad I told my mother my idea. I hope the mayor puts trees all over the city. We already have got them on my block, and they make the block a better place. One thing I learned is that a change starts with you.
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity
(20 points)
Instructions: Please complete the following vocabulary activity by choosing the correct meaning of each word selected from the passage and use of each word correctly in a sentence.
Vocabulary Questions
Word/Phrase: community | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q1
In the sentence, "I considered the changes I would like to see in our community." What does the word "community" mean?
A. A home.
B. A school.
C. A group of people who live in the same area. *
D. One person.
Choose the correct use of the word, "community" in the sentences below.
A. A community consists of a one person household.
B. Samantha enjoys her community's October fall festival because she gets to see her friends. *
C. The baseball field is a community.
D. A red fence is a community well painted.
Word/Phrase: block club | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q2
Here is a sentence from the passage, "My mother told the block club the idea, and they all liked it." What does the phrase, "block club" mean?
A. Residents that have formed a group to maintain a safe and beautiful neighborhood. *
B. A group of people who enjoy reading books.
C. Children who like to play with books.
D. Parents who get together to talk about school activities.
Choose the correct use of the word, "block club" in the sentences below.
A. On Sunday night we have to pick up Uncle Mark because he wants to get some carrots that are on sale at the block club.
B. Next Thursday at nine in the morning Sammy has a block club meeting to get groomed.
C. My block club has different kinds of books that vary in subjects, colors, and pictures.
D. I am going to the block club meeting on Tuesday to discuss paving our road. *
Word/Phrase: change | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q3
The writer wrote, "When my teacher asked me to write a letter to the mayor asking for a change, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say." What does the writer mean by the word, "change"?
A. To keep things the same.
B. To make a difference. *
C. To have a set of rules.
D. To do nothing.
Which sentence below uses the correct form of the word "change"?
A. My father said I could change the color of my room from white to hot pink. *
B. The glass changes its name everyday.
C. The statue changes its position from time to time.
D. Only change can be used in the soda machine.
Word/Phrase: considered | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q4
The writer says, "I considered the changes I would like to see in our community." What does the word considered mean?
A. A quick decision.
B. Ignored the questioned.
C. Forgotten.
D. Thought about. *
Which sentence uses the correct form of the word "considered"?
A. April considered with Al's answer.
B. David considered the gummy worms from the store.
C. Layden considered what he wanted to eat for dinner. *
D. Theresa considered with her mother.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.4,
Task 2: Discussion Activity
(40 points)
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.
Topic Title
Replies
Trees for a change, please.
Why do you think the teacher asked a student to write a letter to the mayor asking for a change? Why can the mayor help with the students request for more trees in the community? Who ended up helping the writer get his or her change?
Sent on: Feb 23, 2014 by: Amanda Sheppard
0
What's the point of this story?
What is the main idea of this story? Use an examples from the story to support your answer.
Sent on: Feb 23, 2014 by: Amanda Sheppard
0
Lights on trees? Why?
In the story the writer says,"During wintertime, we can hang lights on the trees, which will make the city much brighter." What is the writer talking about? What is the reason they would hang lights on the trees in the wintertime?
Sent on: Feb 23, 2014 by: Amanda Sheppard
0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.5.4a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.1d,
Task 3: Writing Activity
(40 points)
Instructions: Think about what we have discussed about this story. Remember your peer responses and discussions. What changes would you like to have in your community? Consider your answers and pick the one most important change you would like to see in your community, then write a 500 word essay to the mayor of your town. Be creative and persuasive with your answer.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1,
