Modern Fantasy Lesson Plan "Owl"

Grade: 3rd

Topic: Modern Fantasy

Sub-topic: Forest Animals

Content Standard: a) Literary Appreciation

b) Written Communication

I.      Objectives

 

The student will:

a.   Identify and verbally describe the main characters, setting, events, and plot of a story.

b.  Write simple sentences to describe owls.

 

II. Materials

a.   Book One Odd Old Owl by Paul Adshead

b.  (1) Question Die

c.   Laptops (6)

d.   Internet Connection

e.   Construction paper and markers

f.   Owl Mask materials (construction paper in black, brown, orange, yellow, light gray, and brown; elastic cord; 4 beads or buttons; white glue; scissors; paper plates)

 

III.         Activities

a.   Routine

The teacher will greet the students, ask them today’s date (they will sing the “Months of the Year” song), and have them identify the weather (they will sing “ Today is a ____ day” song).

 

 

b.  Initial 

1.   The teacher will ask the students to go to the Reading Area, where she will read aloud the story: One Odd Old Owl. The teacher will ask a student to read the title, author, and illustrator of the story. Then she will ask the students to make predictions about what the story will be about, based on the title and cover of the book. Then the teacher will read aloud the story to the students.

a.  The teacher will ask the students to return to their desks. The teacher will tell the students that they will be playing a game about the story they just heard. She will ask the students to sit in a circle. The teacher will explain the game to the students:

1.   They will be playing with a Question Die that will have six different questions on each side (question will be related to: Characters, Setting, Problem, events, Solution, Theme).

2.  The teacher will divide the group into 6 subgroups of 2-3 students each.

3.  The teacher will give the die to one of the subgroups at a time; those students must roll the die. Once the die stops rolling, they must come up with an answer as a group, for the question that is facing up.

4.  The teacher will give the die to another group of students, and the game will proceed until every question has been answered.

 

c.   Development

1.   The teacher will divide the group into 6 small groups of 2-3 students each. She will give each group a picture of an owl, along with: a laptop, a pre-labeled colored piece of construction paper (label will say: Owl Facts) and markers. She will explain to the students that each of sub-group must search for information about owls on the website the teacher writes on the board. The teacher will following write the website on the board: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761554738/Owl.html

Then they must write a list of 6 facts about the owl on their piece of construction paper. Once every group has completed the fact sheet, the teacher will ask each individual group to present their Owl Facts Sheet to the class, then she will ask them to stick it on a pre-made Owl poster (see following pages).

 

 

d.   Final

1.   The teacher will ask the students to sit in their desks (which she will have previously arranged to from a large circle). Then she will hand each student their own set of materials (see specifications in Materials section – Owl Mask Materials). And then the teacher will sit amongst the students, and demonstrate the procedure to create the owl mask by doing it herself, and by asking the students to follow her instructions to create their own masks (see instruction and pattern sheets included in the following pages).

2.  After the students have finished creating their masks, the teacher will let the students wear their mask and tell them they will be learning a new song about owls. Then she will teach them the song: Wide Eye Owl, by having pre-written the lyrics on a large piece of cardboard.

Wide Eye Owl (lyrics)

-         There's a wide eye owl (make fingers in large circles and cup over eyes)

-         With a pointed nose (use fingers to make a triangle & point out for nose)

-         2 pointed ears (use fingers for ears)

and claws for toes (wiggle fingers like toes) 

-         he lives way up in the tree (point up to tree top) 

-         and when he looks at you (point at kids) 

-         he flaps his wings (use arms for wings, and flap)

-         and says whooo whooo (continue flapping wings)

By: karbear1@prodigy.net

 

 

3.  After singing the song with the students at least two times, the class will have ended.

Reading Comprehension: One Odd Old Owl

 

Question Die Pattern

Owl Poster

(reduced size)

Owl Mask: Instructions

 

From the book, 501 Fun-to-Make Family Crafts

1.      To make the owl, cut out mask shape from paper plate as shown.

2.    Enlarge and trace patterns, opposite.

3.    Cut orange ears, orange and yellow feathers, black and brown eyes, and orange beak.

4.    Cut several 1-inch slits into each piece (except ears and beak) for a feathery look. Glue ears behind plate.

5.    Layer and glue feathers to front of mask.

6.    Fold and glue beak to front. Glue eye pieces in place.

7.    Cut eye holes in plate. Poke small holes on either side of mask.

8.    Pull elastic cord through holes and tie to button or bead to prevent knot from pulling through.

9.    Cut eye holes with scissors.

Owl Mask: Pattern