Introduction
Students will have already read 2 books by Gary Paulsen so far this school year. Last year they read at least 2 by Paulsen. With this in mind, students will do a WebQuest. I will say the following:
“Over the past 2 years, you have read stories written by Gary Paulsen. Today we will be taking on a WebQuest challenge. Your goal, as teams, is to find out where a real life author got his ideas. How do writers get the information for their books? Research Gary Paulsen and “interview him”. “Ask him” where and how he gets the ideas for his books.”
Task
Each group will select a book (that they have read) by Gary Paulsen. They will then find a website and or bibliography, autobiography, or any accurate source that describes his life, where he is from, where he was born, his life as a child, education, and what he is known for. Students will collect data and notes. Students will then research and create interview questions that they will be asking Gary Paulsen. After creating interview questions, they will ask different students in different groups the questions as if they were Gary Paulsen. I will be evaluating based on research, oral answers, and questions. Last, students will determine and summarize and write a reflection of the interview. This will serve as an exit key and another form of evaluation. The reflection will include a thank you letter and 5 things that the student didn’t know about the author and what they learned from the author. It will show me what the students got from what they researched and from one another.
Process
Refer to task
Evaluation
1) The first evaluation is the research, questions, and oral responses. I will evaluate students on responses and questioning using an SFA rubric for oral language (picture included in lesson 5 lesson plan). 2) I will evaluate students on the interview reflection- exit slip. Students will be evaluated on through answers and responses and writing and paragraph structure using a written response rubric.
*Overall evaluation, rubric on session 7 part 3
Conclusion
After students hand in exit slips, teacher will bring the class back into a whole class discussion. The discussion will last about 3-5 minutes. The students will have the opportunity to discuss how they felt about the interview process and what they learned not only from the author, but from his life and connections with his books.