Unit Topic: Language Arts

Grade: 3rd Grade

Lesson Topic: Parts of Speech

Lesson Objectives:

1.     The student will be able to write 5 sentences containing a given noun, verb, and/or adjective.

2.      The student will be able to identify verbs, nouns, and/or adjectives in 5 sentences they have written.

Instructional Technique: Guided practice, computer time, discussion

Instructional Materials: Easel pad, Markers, Word cards, “Parts of Speech Asteroids” worksheet, www.abcya.com

Theoretical Perspective: Learning, practicing, and understanding parts of speech and how they function is a significant part of the English language. As students learn and grow, they will use this knowledge as a foundation for utilizing English and grammar to the best of their ability in future learning opportunities.

Procedure:

            A.  Introductory Activity

1.)   With students gathered around on the rug or sitting area, the teacher will write one sentence using an easel pad and a marker.

2.)   The teacher will then call on volunteers to underline a noun, circle a verb, and box an adjective (if the sentence includes an adjective). 

3.)   As a follow up, the teacher will randomly select a noun, verb, or adjective from a box of word cards and ask a volunteer to write a sentence on the easel pad using that word.

4.)   Another volunteer will underline a noun, another will circle a verb, and another box an adjective.

5.)   The process will repeat from Step 3 for 3 more sentences (5 sentences total), except this time a student who wants to write a sentence will randomly select their word from the box.

B. Online Activity

1.)   When students are seated and logged into the computers, the teacher will instruct the students on how to navigate to the Androids Parts of Speech game step by step. The teacher will pause between steps and monitor the class to make sure everyone is where they need to be:

-       “Open the internet explorer and type in www.abcya.com.”

-       “Click on the ‘Grade 3’ tree.”

-       “Click on ‘Letters.’”

-       “Scroll down and click on ‘Parts of Speech.’”

-       “After you click ‘Go’ twice, make sure that Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives are the only words with check marks next to them.”

-       “Press ‘Go,’ begin the game, and follow the directions on your worksheet.”

2.)   Using the worksheet as a guide, the students will log their progress in the game. As a follow up, they will write sentences and identify nouns, verbs, and adjectives in the sentences they have written.

C. Closure - After all students have finished the activity, they will be instructed to turn-and-talk about which parts of speech were easiest and the most difficult to identify. The teacher will call on students to share what they said, or what their group agreed or disagreed on. As a final reflection, the students will be asked if they noticed anything similar or different about the way that nouns, adjectives, and verbs work to make up sentences. The students will be called on to share. And if the students do not mention it, the teacher will hint at or disclose the fact that sentences can be written without adjectives, but not without a noun and a verb. 

D. Adaptations for struggling readers - Struggling readers may have trouble with the game because it is timed. Therefore, the students who struggle would be accommodated by working with a paraprofessional, who would guide them in reading the words and eventually in writing the sentences. Since the focus of the lesson is on identifying parts of speech and not reading per se, the para could read the student(s) the words, and then the child would select their answer accordingly. The students would still write their own sentences, but would have extra guidance by the paraprofessional or the teacher if needed.

Evaluation:

●      Objective: The student will be able to write 5 sentences containing a given noun, verb, and/or adjective.

            To determine that the student has met this objective, they will have to write 5 sentences by completing Part B of the worksheet, meaning that they will have to use words that have been given to them through completing the game and/or using the supplementary list of words given in Part B’s directions. 

●      Objective:  The student will be able to identify verbs, nouns, and/or adjectives in 5 sentences they have written.

            To determine if the student has met this objective, the students will underline the parts of speech in the sentences their peers have written in the introductory activity as well as the sentences they have written themselves in Part B of the worksheet.

B. Concerns or questions you have about teaching this lesson?

            A concern that we have regarding this lesson is that our directions are not as clear as they could be for a third grader. We also wonder if the students would have benefited by playing more than just one round of the game. Furthermore, if a student missed a word in the game, there is a possibility they may not be able to write a sentence accurately using that specific word. Lastly, we weren’t too sure about our accommodation because paraprofessionals are not always available, and depending on the class, there may be too many for one para to work with.