Four Square Vocabulary

This strategy helps develop student knowledge of vocabulary by allowing them to make connections to real-world or personal experience. The student will Visualize, Define and use the word in a Sentence in order to better understand what the word means.

Classroom Computer Set Up 

• PowerPoint (prepare a template with a Table with four cells; saved as read-only) 
• File Save location for student project 

Activity Procedure 

Students will prepare a slide from their vocabulary word as follows:

• Section 1. Type the Vocabulary word 
• Section 2: Type the Definition  
• Section 3: Locate a photo or image that represents the vocabulary word
• Section 4: Write a complete sentence using the vocabulary word

Students will change font and add color to cells if time allows

Display

Slides may be printed full size and posted on a word wall

Alternate Procedures

Class Booklet: All slides may be combined into one PowerPoint then printed as a "mini book" for the students to review. Print Handouts, "6 slides vertical" and Portrait Orientation. Cut out slides, leaving a little margin for stapling.

Individual Booklet: Instead of creating one slide for each word, have students create four separate slides, and print them out on one page by choosing "4 slides horizontal" and Landscape Orientation.

Multiplication Models

How many ways can you represent a multiplication equation? While the Equation (as seen in the sample) is Basic to us adults, we have to remember that these are symbols that represent numbers and processes.

This activity gives students the chance to create visual representations of the computation process. By breaking down equations several different ways will help students visualize what the number equation represents. 

 

Classroom Computer Set Up

• PowerPoint (prepare a template, saved as read-only)
• File Save location for student project
• Printer - Teacher may want to control the printing
• Create a shortcut to Dice Roller on Random.org on student computers or use Symbaloo

Activity Procedure

1. Students will be given two integers for their multiplication equation. For fun, let them use the Dice Roller from Random.org. to pick their numbers. 
2. Students will prepare four slides from their integers as follows:
• Slide 1. Type the basic multiplication fact
• Slide 2: Type the repeated addition equation in the text box 
• Slide 3: Select shapes and create a pictorial model of equal sized groups
• Slide 4: Create an array using shapes 
3. Students will change font and add color to slides if time allows
4. Students will print mini-book by choosing "full page slides" and then choose "2 slides"

Putting Things in Order

What comes first, second, third? What happened next? What came before that? These are questions we use when putting things in order - events, ideas or even objects. For some students, sequencing is not all that easy. This activity will give students practice with putting events of a story in order.

 

Classroom Computer Set Up

• Create a shortcut to the Sequence Chain on student computers or use Symbaloo 
• Set up Printer or File Save location
• Make headphones available if using a Read-Aloud website

Activity Procedure

The Story
Students will listen to "The Night I Followed the Dog" on Storyline Online. These videos are hosted by YouTube, so you may need to choose another Player at the top of the Storyline Online web page if it is blocked for your students.

Alternatively, use a story from Tumblebooks, if you have a subscription or one of the books from Reading is Fundamental Book Zone such as The Fox and the Grapes. The RIF books are viewed in the browser and require Flash.

The Graphic Organizer
Students may complete the Sequence Chain from Holt McDougal Online - Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers. These are fillable pdf forms that can be filled out digitally or printed and completed with pen or pencil.

Students complete the chart with three events in the order they came in the story.

The completed file will be saved, printed or turned in to an LMS for grading.

Alternative Resources

Here are some suggestions for books to check out and use for this activity if you want students to read instead of listen to the story.

• Sequencing Books from Goodreads
• Suggested books for Sequencing from Reading Rockets

Main Idea Graphic Organizer

Sometimes the Main Idea of a passage is explicitly stated and sometimes it is inferred. Graphic organizers can help students break down the passage and then determine the important details that lead to the Main Idea.
In this lesson, students will use the Main Idea Chart to find supporting details in the passage and then write their conclusion from them.

There are a variety of templates from Holt McDougal Online - Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers. These are fillable pdf forms that can be filled out digitally or printed and completed with pen or pencil.

Classroom Computer Setup

• Create a shortcut to Main Idea Chart on student computers or use Symbaloo 

• Set up Printer or File Save location

Introduce the Activity

1. Read aloud a passage from one of the class read alouds. Ask students to work in pairs or small groups to discuss and identify one detail from the passage.
2. Display the fillable graphic organizer on the board and use the student ideas to complete the Supporting Detail boxes.
3. Model writing the Main Idea in front of the class with a "think aloud" or ask students to come up with their own main idea to share with the class and explain how the details support their statement.
4. Discuss how to save, print or turn in the completed file.

Student Activity

1. Students will use their own book or a selection from a reader assigned by the teacher to complete a digital copy of the Main Idea Chart.
2. The file may be saved to a general location, printed or turned in using LanSchool or an LMS assignment.

Extension Idea

1. Select a news story from a site such as this one from NEWSELA. Copy text from a selection - but leave out the subtitle. 
2. Print or save the selection as an image and put in a location the students can access. Click the image below to see an example.
   
3. Have students complete the graphic organizer
4. Compare students' main ideas with the subtitle from the article

If you have some worksheets such as this one from K12 Reader that include a passage, cut off the quiz part and use the worksheet answer to compare student responses.