Module 11: Animal Friends-Language Arts 3 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, learners will explore the world of "Animal Friends" while building stronger reading and writing habits. We will focus on improving spelling by learning the rules for hard and soft sounds in words, and learners will grow their vocabulary by using context clues and exploring different shades of meaning. The writing focus for this unit is a descriptive essay, which learners will plan, draft, and polish into a final piece. Additionally, we will practice grammar by learning about different types of pronouns, and learners will continue to practice their cursive handwriting for the letters v and y. By the end of the module, learners will be more confident in their ability to summarize stories, cite details from the text, and express their ideas clearly through their own descriptive writing.

Module Materials:

Lesson # Lesson Title Material(s)
1 11.1 Animal Friends timer
Language Arts Notebook
highlighters (assorted colors)
2 11.2 Animal Friends Language Arts Notebook
tape
note cards
3 11.3 Animal Friends timer
Language Arts Notebook
4 11.4 Animal Friends Language Arts Notebook;
5 11.5 Animal Friends Language Arts Notebook;

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 11.1 Animal Friends
  1. Apply the phonics rules of hard/soft g and hard/soft c spelling pattern words.
  2. Use context clues to find the definitions of vocabulary words.
  3. Define a summary.
  4. Describe reciprocal pronouns and distinguish them from subjective, objective, and possessive pronouns.
2 11.2 Animal Friends
  1. Summarize a text.
  2. Classify reciprocal pronouns in sentences.
  3. Construct a rough draft of a descriptive essay.
  4. Demonstrate proper letter formation of lowercase cursive letters v and y.
3 11.3 Animal Friends
  1. Identify shades of meaning words for vocabulary words.
  2. Use a summary to infer theme.
  3. Revise sentences by inserting pronouns.
  4. Revise a descriptive essay on a topic.
4 11.4 Animal Friends
  1. Cite text evidence to answer questions about a text.
  2. Analyze and justify editing choices to improve a descriptive essay.
  3. Demonstrate proper letter formation of lowercase cursive letters v and y.
5 11.5 Animal Friends
  1. Summarize a story by retelling the main events and key details.
  2. Revise a paragraph by identifying and correcting errors in nouns and pronouns.
  3. Create a published version of a descriptive essay.
  4. Demonstrate fluency with grade-level text.

Module Key Words:

Key Words Spelling Words Vocabulary Words
context clue
fluency
graphic organizer
summary
reciprocal pronoun
descriptive essay
rough draft
revise
descriptive writing
edit
publish
 goose
gumdrop
guitar
garden
magic
danger
giraffe
gentle
carpet
candle
cocoa
picnic
cereal
city
bicycle
center
 impatient
overlooked
wry
found
devoured
sullen

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 11.1 Animal Friends Students will work with the soft and hard <em>c</em> and <em>g</em> sounds as they learn their spelling words. Help your learner practice this skill by saying a word (such as <em>giraffe</em> or <em>cat</em>) and having them identify which sound they hear. Students will also practice summarizing a story. Provide additional practice by having your learner summarize familiar stories. In this week’s writing project, learners will research and describe an animal. Help your learner locate online sources and/or library books to support their research.
2 11.2 Animal Friends Students will practice all four types of pronouns. To reinforce learning, you may wish to have your learner create a chart with the pronoun types, pronouns, example sentences, and how each type is used (possessive pronouns show ownership, reciprocal pronouns show mutual action, etc.). Remind your learner to refer to the chart as they work with this grammar skill during the week.
3 11.3 Animal Friends Encourage practical use of pronouns by having students identify the pronouns they use in everyday speech and conversations. Create a chart on the wall with columns for each pronoun type. As your learner identifies the pronoun they used, have them write it on a sticky note and stick it on the correct column in the chart.
4 11.4 Animal Friends Students are moving toward mastery of the module’s skills at this point in the week. As your learner completes interactive games, encourage repetition to achieve mastery! Students will spend time writing a summary of a short story. If necessary, provide an active break before the activity so that your learner is ready to work with a fresh mind and calm body.
5 11.5 Animal Friends Students will think of a story that is very familiar to them to use to practice telling a summary. While they could use a book or a movie, encourage them to think hard about a familiar book instead. It can be a picture book or a chapter book. To help your learner choose a story to summarize, prompt them with questions like these: “What book is your favorite?” “What book had the best ending?” “What book have you read that had the best characters?”

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
11.1 Animal Friends
  1. What is a descriptive essay?
11.2 Animal Friends
  1. What is a reciprocal pronoun?
11.3 Animal Friends
  1. How can a summary help you determine the theme of a story?
11.4 Animal Friends
  1. How do you cite evidence when answering questions about a text?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing
1 Take your learner to the zoo to observe different animals. They could choose an animal they observe to write their descriptive essay on.