Class: Language Arts Grade Level: 6th Unit: Planet Research Paper Teacher: Ms.

Madden Objectives Students will understand the process and expecations when they are introduced to their planet research paper Iowa Core Curriculum-Subject Area Standard Middle School Writing: Adheres to conventions generally established in spelling, punctuation, grammar, usage, syntax, and style. Middle School Writing: Engages in the information literacy process: accesses, evaluates, and communicates information and ideas. 21st Century Skill(s) Access information efficiently and effectively. Articulate thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written and nonverbal communication skills in a variety of forms and contexts. Prioritize, plan and manage work to achieve the intended result. Essential Question Will students be able to conduct research and write a paper on one of the nine planets in the solar system. Anticipatory Set Watch Interplanet Janet on YouTube 3.5 mins http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=odsCeYGqOvU Discuss fiction and non-fiction and the differences between them and what makes a good fiction piece. Teaching: Activities *Look to the last page, about where they can take notes on what we talk about in class. What would be good to put there? -Answers to questions that you have or that your classmates ask that are important to remember. -Anything that you know you want to ask but dont want to forget, I know that happens to me a lot. I have a good question and then forget it so write them down if you dont think you will remember. -Any other important information that you dont want to forget!

-This page is also good once we start writing to help with the brainstorm process, like the different categories of key words or phrases, why might these be helpful? ^In an internet search or a library search for a resource on your planet. -Helpful resources are? ^Ideas of places you can get information from -The last one is any place that someone tells you might be a good idea to check for information and you write it down so you do not forget it. -Questions? *Discuss the rubric -What the different X3, X5, X2 means. -Have them look at the criteria for how they will be graded. -Questions? *Parent letter -They get 2 PBIS purple tickets if they bring it in signed by Tuesday for being responsible. -You still need to turn in your parent letter even if its after Tuesday. We will be mentioning it at conferences!!! -Discuss content of the letter, brief. -Questions? (Should they still turn in the letter if they dont/cant get it signed by Tuesday?) *Table of Contents -What can you learn about your paper based on the material in the table of contents? ^Needs 5 Paragraphs ~With as much detail as possible. -How will the table of contents benefit you while you write your paper? ^To know what kind of information that you need the paper, and what each paragraphs mean for each paper. -Look at the planets to research be thinking if you want to use the same one you used for your RAFT writing activity or if you would rather pick a different planet. Remember how non-fiction differs from fiction.

-Questions? *Page 1: the checklist. Those items have to be checked off by either Mr. Gross or myself. Not you, not anyone that may peer edit your paper, us. -That is the general order that you may want to go for your paper. Why should you follow the order and these steps as closely as possible? (So that you can write a strong paper, and following the steps will help you do that. So you know what to do and when. You dont get overwhelmed with the work.) -Look at the bolded information that has been bolded for a reason, make sure you read and understand what those say. Why dont you read them now and see if you have any questions. Also make sure you understand what you need to have when you turn in your final paper, because if you dont have those your paper isnt ready to be turned in. -Questions *The next page is where you will keep track of the information for the sources you use. What are some important things to make sure you do when you are filling out this page or finding research? -Make sure you write down every source you use. Why? This is important because if not it is considered plagiarism and the work in the paper needs to be either original or credited to the person who wrote it. -Make sure you meet the source requirement. -Internet research will mostly be done at home. Lab time is going to be limited for this project. If you find a good website you can share it with Mr. Gross and he can pass it along to the rest of the class so feel free to do that. -If you run out of room you can use the back. Make sure you copy down the necessary information. -Make sure internet sources are reliable. If youre not sure we will be covering that later in the process so dont worry. -All the lines and pieces of information are important. We will also be covering how to find the information to fill all of those lines but make sure all of them are filled. -If you collect more research from the minimum required sources those still need to be recorded and credited. -Questions? *The Next page starts the outline and rough drafts for each paragraph. -What is written in your outline should be what makes up your paragraph. You shouldnt have anything in your outline that doesnt make it into your paragraph and nothing in your paragraph that wasnt in your outline.

- Except for the content of each paragraph the basic idea is the same. Fill in the necessary details for the outline, and write the paragraph rough draft. -We will also go over how to outline and what you need to do if your information or outline is going to be different that the model. -Now go through and look at the different outlines for the paragraphs of the paper and see if you have any questions. *Page 10 is a rough outline of the different paragraphs and what information needs to go in them for quick reference. -Questions *Pages 11 & 12 are exemplars (examples) of an outline Mr. Gross did about Earth. If you want to know what your outline may/should end up looking like use that as a reference. -Questions? *Pages 13 & 14 is an example paper Mr. Gross wrote about Earth. {This is a paper that would get a 100%/A/Good grade?} You can use it to compare your paper to it to see what you need to work on/how your paper holds up. -Questions *Page 15 is an example of how were going to do our note cards. And were going to write different main ideas that involve the planets but you can see how the basic idea works. Where you get a card for a certain topic and the only information you put on that card should be related to that topic. -For example in paragraph three youre going to have a card about if theres evidence of life on your planet or not. The only information on that should should (SPEAK SLOWER) be about evidence of life on the planet you choose. -The information you put on these cards doesnt have to be in complete sentences. In fact its better if its not. -Questions? *The last couple of pages, are to help when you make your bibliography, I wouldnt worry so much about that currently. Look at that on your own time and if you have questions we can answer those after youve looked at the information. We will also be going over how to cite and that process so I dont want you feeling overwhelmed about having to do that. Especially write away. The bibliography will be one of the last steps in writing your paper. -Questions? *Now we can start working on getting your notecards ready because gathering information is one of the first things youre going to want to do to start your paper.

Closure Closure is the students picking out the planet to write their research paper on. Independent Practice Homework is to get the letter home signed by parents so they may be involved in the paper writing process. Assessment In checking for questions periodically to ensure that students are understanding the material. Materials Computer to watch the video. Planet research books and copies of the letter home. Duration 45 minute lesson.

Modified from Madeline Hunters Lesson Plan Design