Ashleigh Ramdorsingh

LAE4332
Katie Rybakova
7/11/16
Lesson Title: Black and Blue or White and Gold/ 6th grade
Purpose:
Hundreds of people are familiar with the dress that confused the eyes and caused
heated debates. Students everywhere argued over whether the dress was blue and black or
white and gold. I am using this same sort of discussion to help the students learn when and
when not to use commas. The dress example helps me explain that they will be agreeing or
disagreeing on whether the sentence is correct. Grammar is an essential part of writing,
especially when the students first come into middle school. The students will soon be writing
their own formal papers. This is why it is important for them to learn how to properly structure a
sentence.
Using a popular cultural references to teach the students has a become a popular
practice. We have never had a generation of students that are so involved with social media like
this one. Using social references and digital avenues helps get the students excited to learn.
They first have something that they can relate to and then they are able to connect it to what
they are currently learning. The International Society for Technology in Education prompts
teachers join the digital movement as well. The ISTE states, Todays educators must provide a
learning environment that takes students beyond the walls of their classrooms and into a world
of endless opportunities. Technology standards promote this classroom transformation by
ensuring that digital-age students are empowered to learn, live, and work successfully today and
tomorrow. (ISTE, 2008)
Using this method, the students will have to determine, on their own, whether they think
the commas are in their proper position. The students will have to explain why they chose their
side their side of the argument and the teacher can explain afterwards why the proper side was
correct. Commas are commonly misused and using pop culture to help them understand the
concept might help them memorize the rules more. This lesson will require the students to be
physically active as well. There will be the Agreeing side of the room and the Disagreeing
side of the room. The students will be required to pick a side based on if they think the commas
are positioned correctly in the sentence.
I will incorporate this lesson closer to the beginning of the year. Grammar should be
taught as the fundamentals before the students start writing at all. Commas will be one of the
initial lesson taught, therefore I will incorporate this lesson as part of a lesson series involving

the proper use of commas. In preparation for this lesson, I will have already introduced commas
and their uses to the students. They will have learned what the comma is used for and where
they are usually used. They will be doing this lesson to help confirm that they understand the
uses and where they are used.
Florida Standards
Objectives:
SWBAT identify whether commas are used properly within a specific sentence.
SWBAT explain why the sentence is proper or why it is not proper based on the use of commas.
Materials:
Five sentences for comma practice.
1. I need, sugar, butter, and eggs from the grocery store.
2. You are, I am sure, telling the truth.
3. He replied, I have no idea what you mean.
4. As a dancer she felt compelled, to finish the full routine.
5. Mr. Smith said that employees who dont do their jobs deserve termination.
Anticipatory Set:
Anticipatory set: in preparation for this lesson the teacher will ask the students if they are
familiar with the BlackBlue/WhiteGold dress phenomenon. If some or all the students aren't
familiar with it then the teacher will pull up the picture and ask the students whether it is blue
and black or white and gold. The teacher will explain that some agree that it is White and gold
and others don't agree. In this same manner we will agree or disagree on whether the commas
are used properly in these sentences.
Teaching Strategy/Procedure/Activity
Time

Student is doing

Teacher is doing

3 minutes

At this time the students will let

the teacher know whether they
have heard about the dress
phenomenon or not. Even if all
the students have seen it, the
teacher will pull up the photo for
them to choose which two colors
they see the dress as.

The teacher will first ask the

students whether they have
heard of the
BlueBlack/WhiteGold dress
phenomenon. Whether they have
said yes or no, the teacher will
pull up the photo for the students.
The teacher will ask the students
to say whether they see blue and
black or white and gold.

1 minute

After we have talked about which

colors they students see, they
will listen to the instructions for
the assignment they will be doing
next.

The teacher will now explain that

similar to how some people
agreed that the dress was blue
and black and some others
disagreed, they will now do the
same with some sentences. The
teacher will explain that since
they have been working with
commas that they will be
choosing sentences that have
proper or improper comma
usage. The teacher will ask the
students to stand and if they
think that the commas are used
correctly then jump to the left of
the room and if they disagree
then jump the right.

11 minutes

The students will begin the

exercise. When each sentence
comes up they will jump either to
the left if they agree that the
commas are used correctly; or to
the right if they disagree that they
are used correctly. After each
sentence, one student from each
group will explain why they
agreed or disagreed.

The teacher will facilitate the

exercise by pulling up the
sentences one by one. After
each student has chosen a side,
the teacher will call on one
student from each group to
explain why they chose that side.
Once each has explained why
the teacher will reveal the correct
side and why.

Summary/Closure
At the end of the entire lesson, the teacher will revisit this introductory exercise. The rest
of the lesson will involve extra practice with comma usage. The teacher will ask the students to
remind them why the sentence was correct or why it was not correct. The teacher will do this to
reinforce the comma practice and confirm that the students understand proper commas usage.
Assessment:
Informal Assessment: The teacher will gauge the students understanding by noting who
chooses the correct side of the room during the introductory exercise.
Formal Assessment: At the end of the lesson the teacher will specifically call on students who
originally chose the wrong side to explain why the commas are used correctly or incorrectly.

Homework:
N/a
Accommodations/Adaptations:
Herbert/ADHD: I will provide preferential seating for Herbert in order for him to feel more
comfortable throughout the entire lesson. During the mini-lesson, I will utilize proximity control
with him, to make sure he is staying on task.
Paten/Speech Impairment: Paten will not be forced to speak if she feel uncomfortable during the
lesson. If she does raise her hand, and feel confident enough to explain why she chose a side, I
will make sure that she gets a chance to speak.
Lya/Mild Dyslexia: I will allow Lya a few extra moments to choose a side during a lesson. If it
helps her, I will ask one of her friends to stay by her during the lesson in case she needs help
with a word. If she has any questions about the sentence, because it confuses her, I will make
sure that her question is answered.
Oliver/Mild Autism: I will provide preferential seating for Oliver in order for him to feel more
comfortable throughout the entire lesson. During the mini-lesson, I will utilize proximity control,
as well, to make sure he is staying on task. If he raises his hand for a question or to answer a
question, I will make it a point that he gets the chance to speak.

Attachments/Appendices
Photo of dress:
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150226215539-black-blue-dress-super-169.jpg
Peer-reviewed article:
ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) (2008). Standards for Global Learning
in the Digital Age. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from
http://www.iste.org/welcome.aspx
Plan B:
If the lesson is not working, then I will have the students open up their textbooks and
have them give me the comma rule that coincides with the sentence that is on the board. The
will be able to acquaint themselves more the with the grammar rules before they can decide for
themselves whether the sentences are correct or not.

Works Cited
ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) (2008). Standards for Global Learning
in the Digital Age. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from
http://www.iste.org/welcome.aspx