Mae Jemison Unit

Day 4: Word Work

This activity is intended for your normal Word Work block, part of your Daily 5, or a station
during literacy centers.

Time: 10-15 minutes

Students develop language and vocabulary when they manipulate and use language
frequently in the proper context. This mini lesson reinforces the thematic message for this
weeks unit about Mae Jemisons perseverance through her hard work to become an
astronaut. The two words chosen for this word activity are: hardworking and astronaut

This activity is best done after a brain break, Go Noodle, or brief physical activity
Students should have their supply boxes with them (materials needed: pencils, scissors,
glue, vocabulary composition notebook)
Pass out felt sheet to each student
Give each student the Mae Jemison Word Work worksheet

Have students point to each letter from top, left to right, and so forth and say the letter
name and make the letter sound
Hopefully students will notice the words: hardworking astronaut
Briefly summarize the 5 major events in Mae Jemisons life from yesterdays, Day 3
lesson and reinforce that Mae Jemison applied twice to NASA and didnt give up to
become an astronaut
Then students may independently cut out each letter and place on felt sheet to
rearrange and create as many words as possible
The rule is that words must be real and spelled correctly
Students may discuss with partners and look into their vocabulary composition
notebooks as reference for ideas
Other sources of reference for students are the word wall, any and all words,
posters, labels, etc in the classroom
Circle room, monitor, observe, listen to conversations, take anecdotal notes, assist as
needed
 Do clean up and have students turn in worksheet to the INBOX so that you can assess
students work and language development
Depending on the time of the year, most words will be sight words, CVC words,
target vocabulary words from the composition notebook, and proper nouns

In terms of differentiation, the table below identifies what is expected:

What all students will be able to do Make at least 6 words and record the words onto the sheet

What most students will be able to Make 7 or more words and record the words onto the
do sheet

What some students will be able to Make 12 or more words and record the words onto the
do sheet

Suggestion
Passoutonebrightlycoloredfeltsheetforeachstudent.Afterstudentshavecutouteach
letter,theycanarrangethelettersonthefelttomakenewwords.Thefeltkeepsthelittle
piecesonthestudentsdesksandthepiecesofpapersdonotslideoffthedesks.Thisis
somethingItriedonmyownbecausemykinderswereconstantlylosingtheirlettersandmost
timestheywereeitheronthegroundorjuststuckbehindsomethingelse.Thebrightcolor
popsagainstthewhitepaperandkeepsstudentsengaged.Mosthelpful,isthatthefeltkeeps
theindividualpiecesoflettersinplace(notasslipperyasdesks).