LES: Novel Study: Vacation under the Volcano
Topic: Chapter 1-4
Essential Knowledges / Developing a personal response process in the context of a community of readers through:
- Discussion of responses with others individually, in small groups, and in the whole class
- Discussion of favourite parts ideas, and/or information in texts
- Sharing of responses with others to clarify meaning and enrich interpretation
Learning Intentions or Objectives
(SWBAT): / By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Articulate and note down key events from chapter 1-4 in the novel
- Articulate and write down facts about Roman time Pompeii: environment, buildings, culture and clothing.
Skills developed or practiced / - Reading skills- verbal reading out loud as well as listening and following along when others read
- Comprehension skills- using information from the novel to answer questions in the worksheet.
- Language skills- writing down whole sentences in answers of the worksheet
Materials for whole class and groups: / - Pencils
- Erasers
- Color-pencils (for drawing section)
- Copies of the novel “Vacation under the Volcano” by Mary Pope Osborne (for students to follow along while reading)
- Worksheet (attached at the end of lesson plan
Subject Competency:
Competency 1: To read and listen to literary, popular and information-based texts
à Students will construct meaning from the story through guiding/attention-focussing questions on the worksheet
à Students will use a response process when reading and listening literary, popular, and information-based texts through doing the worksheet provided after reading the chosen chapters together
Cross Curricular Competencies:
Competency 5: To use information
à Students will gather information- through reading the story together as a class, they will learn the storyline of Annie’s and Jack’s adventure and also about life in Roman time Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted.
à Students will put information to use when completing the questions on the worksheet, as the questions require the information gained from the reading experience.
Time / Lesson
10 minutes
20 minutes or more
20 minutes or more
5 minutes / Introduction:
Gather students on the carpet.
ENGAGE: Today boys and girls, we are going to start on a new novel study. Who has heard of a volcano eruption before? There was one recently in Iceland: about 2.5 weeks ago. Did your moms and dad tell you about that? The eruption caused a lot of ash in the air that many airports closed and people could not travel in and to/from Europe.
Our novel is called “Vacation under the Volcano”. Let’s look at the cover: what do you think it might be about? What do you notice from the pictures? What do you see?
We are going to read about half the book together, and then we are going to answer some questions in the novel study booklet. So pay careful attention to what happens in the story!
Development:
Read chapters 1-5 of the novel together. The teacher starts off reading, but open the choice for students to take turns reading as well. For students with speech impairments read together (shared reading); the length read is adjusted according to student’s motivation and needs.
Have the Paper Board prepared with the Title and the author. The students will add new settings, characters as we read along.
When whole class reading is done, hold up the booklet. Explain briefly the activities in the booklet so that students know what to do when they go to their desk to start the worksheet. For students having difficulties, do the questions together: type up the class answers on the smart board for these students to copy down from.
Conclusion:
Instruct students to finish the worksheet for homework. If time allows, ask questions regarding what might happen in the second half of the book.
- What do you think might happen?
- Will Annie and Jack find the book they are looking for?
Assessment:
Informal assessment on observing how students are participating while reading and doing the questions. Also when the worksheets are collected the teacher can formatively assess how students are responding to questions, and change the types of questions for second half of the book if necessary.
As each student in the class has different levels and needs, assess according to their levels and needs.
NOTE: Considering the spread of abilities and reading/writing levels, this lesson may be extending to more than one- this is the reason why the time allocation are not definite.
Name: ______Date: ______
Magic Tree House #13:
“Vacation Under the Volcano” Chapter 1-4
By Mary Pope Osborne
Circle the right answer and write the answer in a whole sentence.
1. Where were Jack and Annie going with their family on their vacation?
a) the mountains
b) the beach
c) Texas
2. What did Morgan le Fay ask Jack and Annie to do in this adventure?
a.) learn the Latin language in an Ancient Roman time
b.) take a walk and learn about an Ancient Roman town
c.) find and save an ancient book
3. What were Jack and Annie wearing when the tree house landed?
a) jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers
b) white tunics with a belt, sandals that laced up, and a leather bag
c) bathing suits with towels around their necks
4. Where did the tree house take Jack and Annie?
a) Pompeii
b) Ancient Rome
c) Naples
5. Who helped Jack and Annie find the library?
a.) a shop owner
b.) a soothsayer
c.) a teenager on the street
6. What is your favorite part of the story so far? Draw the favorite scene and describe in words what is happening.
Vocabulary
mission adventure tunic raspy shiver
incredible soothsayer longing grove rumble
______A type of clothing worn by the ancient Romans
______A task or job that is assigned
______Extraordinary, unbelievable
______A sound that is harsh and grating
______A person who sees into the future
______To shake from being scared or cold
______An unusual or exciting experience
______To make or move with a low heavy rolling sound
______A group of trees, a small wood
______An eager desire, craving, wanting