Lesson: #2
Lesson Title: Writing Persuasive Letters
Grade: 3
Duration: 1 hour
Primary Discipline: ELA
Objective:
The
learner will be able to…
·
Develop
and support an idea for a national holiday by writing a persuasive letter.
·
Execute
the proper format for writing a persuasive letter
NYS Standards:
·
ELA
Standard 1: Language for Information and Understanding
·
ELA
Standard 3: Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation
Integrated Standards:
·
SS
Standard 1: History of The United States and New York
Materials:
·
Thank You, Sarah by Laurie Halse
Anderson
·
Graphic
organizer
·
Persuasive
letter To Do list
·
Lined
paper
·
Smartboard
·
Quill
pens
Procedure/Activity:
Prior to the start of the lesson, students will
be called according to their grouped desks to sit in reading area of the
classroom.
·
Motivation
o
The
teacher will begin by introducing the book, Thank You, Sarah, to the
students by explaining that since it is only a couple days before Thanksgiving,
the book is themed appropriately.
o
The
teacher will then begin and complete reading the book to the students. While reading the teacher will be sure to
show each picture to the students, and to pause for comprehension questions.
Once the story has been
completed, the teacher will call students back to their desks using the same
method as earlier; calling students by group numbers. The lesson can be implemented after this
class reading, another appropriate book, or alone.
·
Lesson
o
Key
vocabulary: persuade, national holiday
o
First
the teacher will explain to the students what will be asked of them. They will need to create a holiday of their
own, and then write a persuasive letter to the President asking him to make
their holiday a national holiday to be celebrated by all, just as Sarah Hale
did in the book Thank You, Sarah.
o
The
lesson on writing persuasive letters will begin with the teacher explaining the
proper format, and a list of things to be included in their letters.
o
The
teacher will have a checklist or format on the Smartboard
for all the students to view and keep in mind while writing.
o
Next,
the teacher will hand out to each student a graphic organizer, as well as put one
on the Smartboard to explain how it should be filled
in appropriately before writing the actual letter.
o
In
the graphic organizer, students should include their main opinion and holiday,
as well as two supporting reasons. If
they can think of more than two they are welcome to include them as well.
v As an additional
motivator, the teacher will tell the students that once they have finished
their graphic organizers they will be given a “secret weapon” similar to Sarah
Hale’s.
·
Writing Process
o
Students
will have approximately 25 minutes to complete the organizer and write their
letter.
o
While
students are working individually, the teacher will be walking around the room
to monitor students’ progress. Once the organizer is completed, students will
have the teacher check their work to ensure they are on the correct path to
writing their letter.
o
As
long as the graphic organizer is properly completed with a main opinion and two
or more supporting reasons, students can begin writing their letter as the
final activity.
Assessment:
Students will produce a graphic organizer as a
rough draft of a letter, and a properly formatted persuasive letter. In the long-term this will help students to
become intelligent and persuasive writers.
Resources: