Quick Programming #6

 Teachers Help Us Grow 

Library/Information Skills Lesson Plan

Cross-curricular subject areas: English Language Arts, Art    Date: Late April-May

Grade level: Lower Elementary 

Topic: How do teachers help us grow? Teacher Appreciation discussion

Lesson Objective: The learners will listen to a read-aloud about the impact teachers have on students and be able to create an artifact to thank a teacher of choice. 

Materials needed: You would want to look for a picture book for a read-aloud about which includes to the topic of positive teachers and student relationships. A suggested title is The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson. You can purchase a copy here. 

You will want to have art supplies for students can create a teacher appreciation artifact. You can include crayons, copy paper, scissors, glue, markers, glitter, yarn, and pipe cleaners. 

Instructional Procedures: Begin by asking for who their teachers are and something that they like about their teachers? You can probe by asking: 

• What have you learned from your teacher?
• What has been your favorite memory from this year/last year?
• Why are teachers important?

Then, read the prologue to the book by Jacqueline Woodson. Use this as a read-aloud session. 

Afterward, have students create a teacher appreciation artifact that expresses a positive relationship with their teacher. 

Closing: Ask students to leave their work, which can be used to create a teacher appreciation display. You can also hold on to the work to deliver to their teachers during teacher appreciation. 

Assessment: Informal assessment during read-aloud. Ensure you walk around as students are completing teacher appreciation artifacts. 

Quick Programming Ideas 5

5 de Mayo Literacy Activity

Cross-curricular subject areas: English Language Arts, art, Spanish Language, History and cultures

Age level: Prek- 1st grade

Suggested Time Frame: May 5th 

Lesson Objectives: The learners will be introduced to the historical context and cultural traditions of families celebrating Cinco de Mayo. 

Supplies:

• Book for read-aloud Cinco de Mayo 

• Scissors

• Colorful construction paper for papel picado

• Crayons

• A coloring page of the Mexican flag

Procedures: 

Invite students for a fun read-aloud for Cinco de Mayo by Emma Carlson Berne. 

Ask students to participate in read-aloud. Ask them if they have any family traditions they do or if their family celebrates 5 de mayo. 

Afterward, invite them to color a Mexican flag or have them use paper and scissors to create their own papel picado, which is a traditional shopped or punched decorative paper used for banners. They come in many shapes and colors. The technique would be similar to when students create paper snowflakes. 

Closing: invite students to share their flags and papel picado. You can connect the papel picado to create a banner to display student work.

You can use student work to create a display celebrating 5 de Mayo. 

Assessment: Informal assessment as observation while students participate in read-aloud and discuss family traditions. Encourage students to collaborate and display their work for their parents. You will need to supervise while they are cutting papel picado.