8th-grade Inquiry Unit - Share Lesson

 

Lesson Title: How Do We Share Our New Knowledge and What Can We Learn from One Another?

 

Inquiry Phase: Share

 

Grade Level: 8th Grade

 

Essential Questions:

1. What was the impact of the Civil War on Denton County citizens?

2. How can we assess primary source artifacts and secondary source materials in terms of validity and bias and use these resources to support a particular interpretation of historical events?

 

Lesson Plan Objectives:

At the end of these lessons, students will be able to:

1. Present their learning to classmates

2. Pose questions and provide constructive feedback.

3. Assess each other’s presentations and their own with a rubric.

 

Social Studies TEKS (for this lesson):

§113.20. (b) Knowledge and skills.

(30) Social studies skills. The student communicates in written, oral, and visual forms. The student is expected to:

(A) use social studies terminology correctly.

(D) create written, oral, and visual presentations of social studies information.

 

ELA-R TEKS:

§110.18b

(25) Research/Organizing and Presenting Ideas. Students organize and present their ideas and information according to the purpose of the research and their audience. Students are expected to synthesize the research into a written or an oral presentation that: (C) presents the findings in a meaningful format.

(26) Listening and Speaking/Listening: Students will use comprehension skills to listen attentively to others in formal and informal settings. Students will continue to apply earlier standards with greater complexity.

 

Standards for the 21st-Century Learner Indicators:

1.1.9 Collaborate with others to broaden and deepen understanding.

2.4.3 Recognize new knowledge and understanding.

3.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use, and assess (for Multimedia Product).

 

Assessment Tool: Synthesis Essay Presentation Rubric or Synthesis Multimedia Product Presentation Rubric

 

Resources for this Lesson:

 

Option 1:

Synthesis Essay Presentation Rubric

 

Option 2:

Synthesis Multimedia Product Presentation Rubric

 

Estimated Lesson Time: One or Two 50-minute Lessons

 

Instructional Plan Outline:

 

Classroom Teacher – School Librarian(s) Collaboration:

• The classroom teacher and school librarian use think-alouds to demonstrate how to complete the presentation rubrics.

• They demonstrate providing constructive feedback

 

Measurable Outcome or Final Product: Individual students, partners, or small groups present their learning to classmates and provide each other with oral and written feedback and self-assess their own presentations with a rubric.

 

Preparation

• The educators make one copy of the Synthesis Essay Presentation Rubric or the Multimedia Product Presentation Rubric for each student several days before the presentations in order to help students prepare.

• For Option 1: The classroom teacher divides the class into groups of three to share their essays based on the essay content and/or other criteria that promote learning. Each student will need three copies of the essay presentation rubric.

• For Option 2: The librarian makes sure that all students’ multimedia presentations are curated on a Web page where student groups can easily access their work. Provide students with an appropriate number of rubrics based on the number of groups.

 

Motivation

1. Educators lead a discussion related to providing classmates with constructive feedback.

2. Educators post the lesson objectives.

 

Presentation

3. Educators project the appropriate presentation rubric.

4. They use think-alouds and the sample essay or multimedia product (teacher resources) to briefly demonstrate the various criteria and levels of proficiency on the presentation rubric.

 

Student Participation

5. Invite students to suggest feedback or ask questions regarding the presentation.

 

Option 1 – Essay Presentations

6. Students sit in groups of three to present their essays, ask questions, and provide each other with oral and written feedback.

 

Option 2 – Multimedia Presentations

7. Set up the library as a Civil War in Denton County Museum with a station for each group in separate areas of the library.

8. Half the groups rotate through the presentation areas while the other half shares their multimedia presentation.

9. Students ask questions and provide each other with feedback.

10. Switch the presenters and viewers.

 

Guided Practice

11. Educators monitor as students present their learning.

 

Closure

12. Students assess each other and self-assess their presentations using the presentation rubric.

 

Reflection

13. What did we learn from presenting our learning?

14. What did we learn when other students presented their learning?

15. How can multimedia help us present our learning effectively? (for Option 2)

 

Assessment

16. Educators review students’ presentation rubrics.

17. Educators add comments on the back on rubrics for students/groups whose presentations they heard.

 

Lesson Plan Resources

 

For Students:

 

Option #1

8th_Grade_Share_Synthesis_Essay_Presentation_Rubric.doc

 

Option #2

8th_Grade_Share_Multimedia_Presentation_Rubric.doc

 

 

For Educators: Lesson Plans:

 

8th_Grade_Share_Lesson_Plan_Only.doc

 

8th_Grade_Share_Lesson_Plan_Full.pdf