For the second year in a row, I've had students read articles and then present to their classmates in groups about various human impacts on the environment. They are asked to identify what the humans are doing, what the problem is, and how to solve the problem.
This year, I had them log onto newsELA and all read the same article about Fossil Fuels to start off the lesson. Then, they went in and read the article assigned to their individual tables. They independently read and then answered two questions about the articles. I then told them that they need to talk with their group members about the various articles and put together a poster project about the article they read. Once they present, I will be able to score the projects and then we can hang them in the hallway for the rest of the school to enjoy.
Even writing this lesson plan out, it seems so efficient and brilliant and easy-going. For some reason, it has been SUCH a struggle to get these kids to go from reading the article independently to talking/working with the groups on the poster part of the project! What I wanted to take 3-4 days will take us at least six, if not seven days to get through!
I think a few things might be helpful when I do this project next year:
1. Dedicating a day to TALK (and maybe teach speaking frames with it) about the articles at the table.
2. Have students write out the Human impact, the problem and the solution on a sloppy copy to make sure they are on the right track.
3. Show examples of what the human impact posters could/should look like.
4. Provide questions (INDIVIDUAL and GROUP) as a handout on each table.
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