ALEX Learning Activity

  

A Day in the Life of John Lewis

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Nicole Tudor
Organization:-1
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 3057
Title:
A Day in the Life of John Lewis
Digital Tool/Resource:
John Lewis
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

After researching and reading about Senator John Lewis, students will demonstrate their comprehension of the informational text, "John Lewis," by illustrating an important day or moment in the life of the senator. Then they will create a description of the illustration in 2-3 complete sentences to accompany the image with citations from the informational texts.

 

This learning activity was created as a result of the ALEX - Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) Resource Development Summit.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 4
14. Demonstrate comprehension of literary and informational text by utilizing its content when discussing or writing in response to the text.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
14.
  • Comprehension
  • Literary text
  • Informational text
  • Discussing
  • Writing
  • Response
Knowledge:
14. Students know:
  • Comprehension of text can be demonstrated by referring to the text in discussions or written responses.
  • Informational text is nonfiction text, and literary text is fictional.
Skills:
14. Students are able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of literary and informational text by referring to the text in discussions.
  • Demonstrate understanding of literary and informational text by referring to the text in written responses.
Understanding:
14. Students understand that:
  • They can show that they understood literary and informational text by discussing or writing about specific content from the text.
Learning Objectives:

1) Students will illustrate characters, settings, and events in a story by using evidence from the informational texts that the class has read.

2) Students will describe the scene using pertinent details from the text and citing details about the location, people involved, and the time period.
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:

  • Introduction (5 minutes):

    • Review what students learned in the previous lesson about John Lewis through picture books and AVL articles

    • Explain that in this lesson, students will have the opportunity to draw a picture of an important moment in John Lewis's life.

  • Selection Process(10 minutes):

    • Review with students the biographical maps that they created in the previous lesson and ask them what events stood out to them.

    • Engage students in a discussion about the chosen moment, asking questions to deepen their understanding and encouraging them to share their thoughts and reactions.

  • Drawing Activity (30 minutes):

    • Distribute drawing paper or sketchbooks and drawing materials to each student.

    • Instruct students to choose the moment they find most compelling and draw a picture of John Lewis during that moment.

    • Encourage students to pay attention to details, expressions, and actions in their drawings.

  • Writing Activity:  Descriptions (10 minutes):

    • The students will create a description of the illustration in 2-3 complete sentences that summarize their selected event from John Lewis’s life and cite evidence from the text to support the main idea of the informational texts we have read.

    • Remind them to write clearly and concisely, providing enough details for others to understand the importance of the chosen moment.

  • Gallery Walk and Group Discussion (15 minutes):

    • Arrange the students' drawings in a designated area, creating a gallery walk.

    • Allow students to walk around the room, observing and appreciating each other's drawings.

    • Form small groups and have students discuss their drawings, sharing the moment they chose and why they find it significant.

    • Provide opportunities for students to ask questions and engage in meaningful conversations about John Lewis.
Assessment Strategies:

Teacher will assess students’ comprehension of informational text by reviewing their illustrated scenes and written descriptions for supporting details and evidence cited from the text.
Advanced Preparation:

The approximate time for this lesson is 45-60 minutes.

The students will need to know the main idea of the informational texts read in the previous related learning activities

Teachers will need:

Teachers will provide students with:

  • Copies of Biographical map created in the last activity https://www.canva.com/design/DAFlue4qrc4/YJoL541enkevQcvS6yQNSA/edit?utm_content=DAFlue4qrc4&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

  • Drawing paper or sketchbooks.

  • Colored pencils, markers, or crayons.

  • Writing materials (pencils, notebooks, or paper).
Variation Tips (optional):

Acceleration:

 

Students can continue writing out more details about the illustration.

 

Intervention:

 

Students can verbally point and explain who, what, and where to describe the important details of John Lewis's life.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

The online article "John Lewis" and other biographical articles can be used to engage students about prominent figures in Alabama History.

This activity was written as a set. The previous activities start with "Who Was Senator John Lewis" and "A Look into the Life of John Lewis."
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: 4th grade, Alabama Virtual Library, informational texts, John Lewis