3 - 5

Planning

About five to seven 45 minute lessons

Preparation

1. Ensure that you have a projector and have bookmarked the video clip(s) as indicated
2. Provide a t-chart hand out for students or have student create their own t-chart comparing dogs and cats as pets pros for cats over dogs or pros for dogs over cats

Research shows that the key to good writing is to write about something you are interested in and something you are knowledgeable about. Videos are a great way to ensure both. It is also helpful to invite an opportunity for choice: The cat is the best pet versus the dog. The next article will be about snakes and taking a viewpoint: snakes are scary or snakes are not scary.

Assumptions

1. Membership to Discovery United Streaming
2. Students are familiar with the Four Square Graphic Organizer

(Problem with the link, go to http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/ )

Search: Elementary Video Adventures: Animals in the Wild, watch the first clip only "Dogs and Cats." Duration: 7 minutes

Anticipatory set: Model Lesson - Sleepover Blues, Views and Happy News

How to write a persuasive essayto Mom and Dad asking permission to have a sleepover. Students contribute their ideas while the teacher models the lesson.

Teach students to anticipate any possible opposing views.

T Chart - use it to record arguments for or against. Explain to students that they may use the terms pros and cons as well. Whichever the preference, title each side of the T chart with your selected opposing views. List the arguments against directly across from one another on the T chart. This helps students to keep their thoughts organized, which makes it easier to transfer the information easily to the Four Square Graphic Organizer (as students progress in their skills you may show students how to use the T Chart as their graphic organizer as a short cut). The children copy what the teacher writes. This ensures that fidgeters are on task. They now have an example that they may keep in their folders for reference.

E.g. Arguments against: You may be concerned about the money that it is going to cost;

Arguments for: It won't cost much as I am going to serve popcorn and Koolaid for a snack, entertainment will be video on the tv, board games; Arguments against: You may be concerned about the noise.

Arguments for: As I mentioned we are going to watch movies and play board games, We promise to go to bed by 10:00 PM, Arguments against: You may be concerned about the mess.

Arguments for: My friends are coming over to help me clean the area where we will be sleeping, they will then want to keep it clean, we are only going to use videos and board games, we will keep trash bags in the area, my friends have agreed to help clean up in the morning.

I teach the children to have a strong conclusion with voice:

As you can see, having a sleepover will be a good thing. I will keep the cost down, my friends and I will be sure to keep the noise level low and we will make certain that things are cleaned up in the morning. This is certain to be a nice night for all. The best part of all is that you will actually be getting an evening to yourself as I will be kept busy with my friends.

Building Background Knowledge/Vocabulary

Students will be viewing the video below describing the history and features of cats and dogs

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=553BDF2D-329E-4BEB-AFB8-493AC928A919&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

Review the vocabulary prior to viewing the movie

Vocabulary

Dogs

• breeding - to produce (offspring); give birth to or hatch
• decomposed - to become broken down; decay of dead animals/insects or other plant life
• generations - all of the offspring (children) that are at the same stage of descent from a common ancestor (relative):Mother and daughters represent two generations
• herding - a group of cattle or other domestic animals of a single kind kept together for a specific purpose.A number of wild animals of one species that remain together as a group:a herd of elephants
• inherit - to receive (a characteristic) from one's parents
• livestock - animals, such as cattle or horses, raised for home use or for sale, especially on a farm
• markings - pattern of coloration of a plant or animal
• obedient -following commands, orders, or instructions of one in authority such as parent or teacher
• packs - animals of the same kind traveling in groups
• roam -to move about without purpose or plan; wander
• trait -a distinguishing feature, as of a person or animal's character or personality

Cats

• acrobatic -one who has great balance and agility
• ancestor - a person from whom one is descended, especially if more remote than a grandparent
• camouflage - the method or result of concealing personnel or equipment from an enemy by making them appear to be part of the natural surroundings
• cheetah - a long-legged, swift or fast running wild cat
• ferocious - extremely savage; fierce.
• gazelles - any of various small, swift antelopes usually found in Africa and Asia, characteristically having a slender neck and horns.
• grip - a tight hold
• investigate - to observe or inquire into in detail
• life span - the average or maximum length of time a being can be expected to survive or last
• lioness - a female lion
• manes - the long hair along the top and sides of the neck of certain mammals, such as the horse and the male lion
• pods - groups of species of animals cohabitating (living) together
• predator - an organism that lives by preying on other organisms; one that victimizes or destroys another for one's own gain, usually for food
• prey - an animal hunted or caught for food
• Serengiti Plains -A location in Africa http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Serengeti_Plain
• tread - to walk on, over, or along.To press beneath the feet; trample

Allow students one day to create their t-chart and begin their Four Square Graphic organizers and several days to complete, write their essarys, revise and edit and share. Enjoy some great writing!

Coming Next:

Snakes are scary - NOT! Snakes are cool - REALLY!