Kennan CammackMegan GlassBrianna Varela

SIOP Lesson Plan: CloudsLesson Topic: CloudsStandard: Understand and apply knowledge of weather and weather patterns.(https://www.educateiowa.gov/iowacore)Theme: Earth Science

Learning strategies:Choral ReadingTeacher Read AloudFrayer ModelThink Pair ShareMatching?

Materials: Pictures of cloudsPowerpoint on cloudsCharts on comparatives/superlatives/signal wordsArticle: Become A Cloud WatcherFrayer Model Charts

Language Objective:Students will be able to use comparatives, superlatives, and signal words to compare and contrast. Students will be able to understand and use key vocabulary.

Key Vocabulary:CirrusStratusCumulonimbusCumulus

Content Objective:Students will be able to define the 4 main types of clouds. Students will be able to recognize the differences between the 4 types of clouds.

Learning Plan

Introduction:

Play first video that explains the types of clouds we will be learning (stop at 45 seconds).http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=137031

Show the class this cloud song to help them remember characteristics of each.http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=245179

Sharing of objectives:Read over the objectives that are on the board and have students repeat them back.

Building background: Give students an unlabeled cloud picture. Ask them to list descriptive words of the cloud they received and guess which one they have. Pair with a partner near them and share ideas. As a whole class, go over characteristics and descriptive words of each cloud and write them on the board. Share the cloud name with students and see who guessed correctly. (Think Pair Share)

Read the article Become A Cloud Watcher out loud. Discuss the content and write the four types of clouds on the board.

Guidance prior to activities:Show students a chart of comparative and superlative words. Explain the meaning of each and give example sentences. (Bigger, smaller, fluffiest, smoothest, etc.)

Review signal words and discuss when to use them. (Same, similar, both, different, however, etc.) Give example sentences.(See attached charts for comparatives, superlatives, and signal words)

Show students the key vocabulary – Use choral reading and have students repeat the words back. Give the definitions, write them on the board and say the word again.

Go over the Powerpoint on clouds. Show multiple pictures of each type and define (in depth) the different types of clouds. Explain what each type of cloud indicates. For example, cumulonimbus means storms are coming.

Practice and Application:Split the students into groups of four. Each group will receive one of the clouds to create a Frayer Model poster on their cloud. They will have four boxes for definition, characteristics, a picture, and what the weather would be like with their perspective cloud. Once they have finished creating a poster, they will present it to the class.

As a class, create an example paragraph that compares and contrasts summer and winter to practice using comparatives, superlatives, and signal words. Write this paragraph on the board, underlining those words.

Assessment:Compare and contrast response. See differentiation sheet for assessment based on language levels.

Comparative/Superlative and Signal Word Charts to Use during lesson

Differentiated Assessment

Standard: Understand and apply knowledge of weather and weather patterns.

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Fully English Proficient

Language based Expectations

Label the different types of clouds based on pictures.

Create a venn-diagram with 2 types of clouds.

Complete a closed paragraph with blanks that students must fill in.

Write a short paragraph with comparisons and contrasts, utilizing signal words.

Write a medium paragraph (5 sentences) that compares and contrasts the clouds, using signal words.

Write a longer paragraph (7 sentences) that compares and contrasts the clouds, using both compound and simple sentences.

Scaffolding Support

Provide a word bank with the names of each type of cloud. Model an example and provide multiple pictures.

Provide a word bank for types of clouds, comparatives and superlatives. Model an example. Show pictures.

Provide a word bank for types of clouds, comparatives and superlatives. Model an example. Show pictures.

Provide sentences starters. Model an example. Show pictures.

Model an example. Show pictures.

Model an example. Show pictures.