Grade: Unit:
Information Literacy Skills
Theme: Determination
Theme / Information Literacy Skills / ResearchOpportunities
Week 1
Approaching: From Farm to Dinner Table
On Level: Oops! Food Surprises
Beyond: Follow the Pizza Trail
Main Selection Cook-A-Doodle-Doo
Vocabulary/Comprehension: Red and Her Friends
Social Studies Link: Welcome to the Bakery
Read Aloud: When the Rain Came Up From China / What’s Cooking? / · Comprehension Strategy:
Make inferences and analyze
· Comprehension Skill:
Compare and contrast
Author’s Purpose
· Fluency
Repeated reading
Partner reading
Model Fluency
Echo Reading
· Literature
Humorous fiction, nonfiction article
Tall Tale
· Reference/Research Skills
Dictionary: idioms
Diagrams and illustrations
· Graphic Organizers
Venn diagram, 13B
· Technology / · Main Writing:
Explanatory writing: write about something you like to do
· Other:
Compare and contrast characters in fairy tales, 10R
Write a compare and contrast paragraph, 10S
Research the effect temperature has on liquids and solids, 10S
Compare fractured fairy tale to another version, 16
Author/Illustrator Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel 38
Week 2
Approaching: Androcles and the Lion
On Level: A True Hero
Beyond: The Lost Brocade
Main Selection Seven Spools of Thread
Vocabulary/Comprehension: Community Works
Social Studies Link: Our Class Newsletter
Read Aloud: Arachne the Spinner
Test Strategy: Right There / Getting Along / · Comprehension Strategy:
Make inferences and analyze
· Comprehension Skill:
Draw conclusions
· Fluency
Repeated reading
Partner Reading
Model Fluency
Punctuation
· Literature
Fable
Newsletter
Informational Nonfiction
· Reference/Research Skills
· Graphic Organizers
Conclusion Map, 49B
· Technology / · Main Writing
Explanatory writing: directions
· Other
Use a dictionary to find multiple meanings of given words, 46I
Research to find facts about the cotton plant, 46J
Read fables and folk literature from other cultures and identify important cultural elements and themes, 66
Research traditional dress in a country of their choice, 69
Author/Illustrator Angela Shelf Medearias and Daniel Minter 72
Week 3
Approaching: Resources All Around Us
On Level: Enjoying Our Natural Resources
Beyond: Energy and Our Natural Resources
Main Selection Washington Weed Whackers
Vocabulary/Comprehension: Saving Egypt’s Great Desert
Test Strategy: Think and Search
Read Aloud: The people Who Hugged the Trees
Science: Ecosystems in Balance / Protecting Our Natural Resources / · Comprehension Strategy
Monitor comprehension
· Comprehension Skill:
Compare and contrast
· Fluency
Repeated reading
Partner reading
Model Fluency
· Literature
Nonfiction article
Informational Nonfiction
· Reference/Research Skills
Using computer search engines in the media center, 85B
· Graphic Organizers
· Technology / · Main Writing
Fictional narrative
Expository Writing: Article
· Other
Compare and contrast things you read about in a nonfiction book, 78I
Write an explanatory paragraph about natural resources, 78J
Research information about oil spills, 78J
Week 4
Approaching: Our City Gardens
On Level: Patching a Playground
Beyond: Service Dogs in the Neighborhood
Main Selection Here’s My Dollar
Vocabulary/Comprehension: Gorilla Garden
Article: Recycling/Helping
Read Aloud: The Song of the World’s Last Whale / Getting Involved / · Comprehension Strategy
Monitor comprehension
· Comprehension Skill:
Author’s purpose
· Fluency
Repeated reading:
Partner reading
Choral Reading Literature
Informational nonfiction, Nonfiction article
Folk Song
Poetry
· Reference/Research Skills
Compare Media: Newspaper and Television Reporting
· Graphic Organizers
· Technology
Compare media: Newspaper and television reporting, 102 / · Main Writing
Explanatory writing: Personal essay 110
· Other
Research information about the water cycle, 90J
Author: Gary Soto 106
Homophones 111e
Week 5
Approaching: The Slightly Tipping Tree House
On Level: A Winter Adventure
Beyond: The Science Fair
Main Selection My Very Own Room
Vocabulary/Comprehension: Pond Street Clubhouse
Social Studies Link: Frank Lloyd Wright
Read Aloud: Under the Back Porch / A Place of My Own / · Comprehension Strategy
Monitor comprehension
· Comprehension Skill
Make and confirm predictions
· Fluency
Repeated reading
Partner reading
Model Fluency
Punctuation
· Literature
Realistic fiction
Biography
Informational text
· Reference/Research Skills
Encyclopedia Articles 140
Alphabetizing
· Graphic Organizers
Predictions Chart, 115B
· Technology / · Main Writing
Explanatory writing: Directions
· Other
Research information about beavers, 112J
Research information about architects, 112J
Find examples of ways authors and illustrators express ideas about culture and cultural traditions, their heritage, and social positions, 128
Research famous ancient buildings or structures, 143
Author/Illustrator: Amada Irma Perez & Maya Christina Gonzalez 138
Test Strategy: think and search 139
Similes 138
Week 6 / Review and Assess / · Test Strategy
Author and Me
Think Alouds
· Comprehension
· Reference / Research Skills
Using computer search engines in the media center
Guide words, headings, and captions (Encyclopedia Article)
· Technology
Using a spreadsheet / Explanatory Writing: How-To Article
Unit Theme: Determination
Project:
Student Questions: What goals do you have?
What challenges do you face in meeting your goals?
What helps you persevere when you get discouraged?
Research Component / Activities / Skills / MaterialsAppreciation
Student realizes the need for information after a viewing, reading, listening or other type of sensory experience.
Presearch
Students establish a focus by developing an overview of the topic and exploring relationships. / Students think about a goal they want to accomplish when they get older. It can be a career goal, a sports goal, or any other goal. Students choose two areas of interest and brainstorm ideas and key words for their research.
Search
Students plan and implement a search strategy by identifying information providers, selecting information resources and tools, and seeking relevant information. / Students think of sources that probably have information about the goal they would like to meet or people who have accomplished it. / Take notes / Interviews, encyclopedias, autobiographies and biographies, diaries and letters, and personal essays.
Interpretation
Students interpret the information they have gathered to make new meaning. They assess the usefulness of their information and reflect on the information to develop personal meaning. / Students take sequenced, organized notes using key words
Communication
Students apply their information to construct and present their new knowledge. / Create a booklet that shows about reaching their goal. Students should use technology, photos, illustrations, charts, and different fonts, colors, and headings.
Evaluation
Students think about and evaluate both their process and their product during research and at the conclusion of research. / Teacher assesses the research process and presentation.
Student uses checklist and scoring rubric to assess project.
Task / Skills / Procedures/Products
Learn about spreadsheet features
Create a spreadsheet and enter data into it
Graph the data in a spreadsheet