Lesson Topic/Title

Author Cheryl Holmberg

Introduction: Students will create a daily photo journal throughout the year of the daily events or happenings in the classroom.  These photos will be used for a creative writing activity.

Content Area(s) and Grade Level  4^th grade    Language Arts                                    

Standard. 4.2.3 By the end of the fourth grade, students will demonstrate improvement in organization, content, word choice (vocabulary), voice, sentence fluency and standard English conventions after revising and editing their compositions.

ISTE Standards: Grades 3-5; #1,5

Integrated disciplines Computer technology and Language Arts

   Objectives

1.               Students will demonstrate mastery of taking digital pictures and printing them on the printer.

2.              Students will write and edit their stories for spelling, organization, and sentence fluency.

     Materials/Technologies digital camera, computer and printer, paper and pencil

      Procedures

         Springboard:  Take a short field trip around the school with the class.  Take several digital pictures as you go along.  Print out a picture of the field trip and write a story about the picture with the class.  Enter the picture and the story as the first entry into the classroom scrapbook.

             What teacher is to do:

1.       Demonstrate how to use a digital camera.

2.      Demonstrate how to select and print the photographs.

3.      Demonstrate proper proofreading and editing skills.

4.      Provide various creative writing themes each month.

5.      Make a rotation schedule for all students to have access to the digital camera. 

             What students are to do:

1.       Students will use the digital camera on a rotating basis throughout the year and take pictures of classroom activities or school events of their choice. (Take 5 photographs and select one to use.)

2.      Students will print the photograph on the printer and place it in the classroom binder.

3.      Students will complete the monthly creative writing assignment.

4.      Students will proofread and edit their creative writing assignment prior to submitting it for grading.

      Closure Ask for class volunteers to read their stories to the class.

    Assessment Possible 70 points

    Explanation: I selected this lesson because it involved active participation by all the students throughout the year.  I also felt this would be an excellent method to communicate with parents and visitors, some of the things we did throughout the year. 

Merryellen Towey Schulz, Ph.D.      College of Saint Mary            Spring, 2001