All About Volcanoes Lesson Plan

Michael T. Labagh

Special Education

Lesson Plan: All About Volcanoes

Subject:

Fountas and Pinnell Reading Series

Topic:

Cause and Effect

Objectives:

·         Given vocabulary, the students will participate and practice new vocabulary words in the story by giving an example of each word in a sentence of their own.

·         Given a text, the students will complete a picture walk and make oral predictions about what may happen in the text or what the text is mainly about.

·         Given the text, the students will complete a read aloud of the text in small groups.

·         Given examples, students will be able to know and identify the cause and the effect

·         Given a text, the students will know and be able to read it while participating in a running record assessment.

Methods:

·         Direct Instruction – Small Group

·         Modeling

·         Guided Practice

·         Application

·         Assessment

Materials:

·         Fountas and Pinnell – All About Volcanoes – nonfiction text – Book 115 – Level N

·         Volcano making and erupting kit

·         http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/weather/2010/11/10/arduino.erupting.volcanoes.cnn.html - video clip about volcanoes

·         Vocabulary Handout

·         Printables

·         Smartboard

·         Internet

·         Fountas and Pinnell Word Bags and Journals

·         Pens and Pencils

Motivation:

Teacher will say, “Today we will learn about volcanoes! First we’ll watch a video clip of actual volcanoes erupting. We’ll read a nonfiction text about volcanoes, learn about cause and effect, complete center work, and when we are finished, will build and erupt a volcano of our own!”

Activities:

After the students watch a video clip on volcanoes, they will…

·         The teacher will introduce the book; All About Volcanoes after the students have made predictions from the a picture that they complete.

·         The students will practice the vocabulary in the text.

·         The students will complete a read aloud of the text.

·         The students will identify causes and effects in a practice activity and an independent activity.

·         The students will complete related activities.

·         The students will complete a running record of All About Volcanoes.

Practice Activity:

The teacher will present the students with cause and effect aspects from the text, All About Volcanoes.

As water heats up, it turns to steam. The teacher will ask the students which is the cause and which is the effect. The students are encouraged to use the cause and effect graphic organizer, but they can also use their journals if they prefer.

Cause – water heats up

Effect – It turns to steam

When lava cools, it becomes hard rock.

Cause – When lava cools

Effect – It becomes hare rock.

Hundreds of lives were saved because people left before the huge blast.

Cause – people left before the huge blast

Effect - hundreds of lives were saved.

Ask the students to provide at least 2 examples of a cause and effect. The students can relate their causes and effects to school, weather, volcanoes, or even a sport if they are struggling to come up with a cause and effect. Monitor as needed and guide as necessary.

Independent activity:

There are three different types of activities a student can do for this exercise. Depending on the choice the student makes, he/she can complete a matching exercise, a bubble in exercise, or writing what the given causes and effects are. As the teacher, you can provide 2 of these exercises as well, or use one to assist a student if they are struggling on the concept being taught. Also, if students prefer to draw pictures and explain what the cause and effect of each picture is, that would be acceptable as well. As the teacher, you can decide the number of examples created by the student.

Evaluation:

·         Participation

·         Completed extension exercises

·         Completed Cause and Effect exercise(s)

Closure:

Before the teacher asks the students what the objective of the lesson was, the students will create a volcano from a volcano making kit and with the teacher, make it erupt. The teacher will then ask the students what they learned throughout the entire volcano exercise. The teacher will review cause and effect and guide students to this response if needed.

Assessment:

The assessment of cause and effect is on-going. The students will have to use cause and effect applications throughout their readings of nonfiction texts, on DRAs, CMTs, when they delve deeper into the scientific method, and when they make inferences in their future texts.