1. Web Lesson Vinnette Gibson
Writing an Informational Essay
Troy University
PSE 6608

2. PURPOSE
The Purpose of these lessons is to teach students to use all the important elements needed to write an informational essay with a beginning, middle and end.

3. ANALYSIS STEP 1 Background & Entry Level Skills
Seven to eight-year-old students at the middle of the second grade
The students are expected to be tactile kinesthetic learners.
Interested in graphics, games and various interactive learning modes
Need instruction that should capture and keep their attention.
Students have developed word recognition skills.
Students read on the second grade level.
All the students can write in a second grade tablet, or in a wide ruled notebook paper.

4. ANALYSIS STEP 1 Background & Entry Level Skills
Students know how to use Microsoft editing tools.
Students know how to use Kidspiration electronic graphic organizer maker.
Students understand the concepts of main idea and details
Students understand the writing process.
Students are learning to type using type to learn.
Students are familiar with graphic organizers.
Students know how to write transition sentences.
Students know how to write a three paragraph narrative essay with a beginning, middle and end.

5. ANALYSIS STEP 2 GPS Standards ELA1W2 The student produces informational writing that:
Begins to capture a reader’s interest
Stays on one topic and begins to maintain a focus
Adds details to expand a topic
Begins to use organizational structures (steps , chronological order) and strategies (description)
Begins to use graphic features (charts, pictures, headings)
Begins to use a variety of resources (picture dictionaries, Internet, books) and strategies to gather information to write about a topic
Begins to develop a sense of closure
May include oral or written prewriting (graphic organizers).
May include a draft that is revised and edited
May be published

6. ANALYSIS STEP 3 Material Inventory
Visual Aids
Computer
PowerPoint Presentation
E-instruction Presentation System
Kidspiration Graphic Organizer
Online Resources
BrainPOP Jr.
Enchanted Learning
Education City
Paper Plates, Bread, Jelly and Plastic Knives
Books
Walter the Farting Dog
Goat in the rug
Writing tools
Pencils
Paper
Crayons

7. DESIGN STEP 1 Content Paragraphing Transition Words Hooks
Figurative Language
Onomatopoeia
Exclamation
Question
Transition Words
Introductory Paragraph
Body Paragraph
Closing Paragraph

8. DESIGN STEP 2 Learning Goals
Use a hook to capture readers’ attention
Write a hook in the form of an onomatopoeia
Write a hook in the form of a question
Write a hook in the form of a statement
Make graphic organizer with ideas
Connect one idea to another with transition words
Turn graphic organizer into an essay
Type an a essay with an appropriate beginning, middle, and end.

9. DESIGN STEP 3 Performance Objectives
Upon completion of each lesson , the students will be able to
type a hook using an onomatopoeia, a question, or an exclamatory sentence
use connecting words and phrases paragraph to connect ideas
make a graphic organizer and use it to write an essay.
type a three paragraph essay with beginning, middle and end.

10. DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 1 Learning Strategy (Storyboard)
Education City Website
Enchanted Learning website
PowerPoint Presentation
Graphic Organizer
Computer Lab
Students will make graphic organizer
Type Essay
Edit Essay
Student/Teacher Conference
Rewrite/Retype
Share
Publish
Select a Topic
Hooks
Walter the Farting Dog
Whoopee cushion
Onomatopoeia
Exclamation
Question
Steps in a Sequence
Transition Words
BrainPOP Jr Video and Quiz
Make jelly sandwich and record the steps

11. DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 2 Materials
Visual aids
Anchor chart
E-instruction Presentation System
Writing tools
Pencil, Paper, crayon, computer
Books
Walter the Farting Dog
Goat in the rug
Computer
Access to the Internet
Software
PowerPoint
Kidspiration (graphic organizer maker)

12. DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 3 Introduction (Attention Grabbers)
Anchor chart
Used to introduce the steps in writing an expository essay
Read story of “Walter the Farting Dog” and enhance story with a whoopie cushion
Make a loud sound to startle students.
Have the students tell what sound they think it is.

13. DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 4 Modeling
The teacher will
demonstrate how to use hooks to gain readers’ interest.
demonstrate how to use connecting words and phrases in paragraphs.
demonstrate how to use Kidspiration to make a graphic organizer, then change the graphic organizer to an essay.

14. DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 5 Practice
The students will make up their own hooks using an onomatopoeia, an exclamation or a question.
Students will draw an illustration of their hooks.
Watch BrainPOP Jr video and take the quiz.
Students will make a jelly sandwich and write the steps for making the sandwich using transition words.
Students write a paragraph with transition words and phrases.
Students will use Kidspiration to make a graphic organizer for the first draft of their essays.

15. DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 5 Practice Contd.
Students will visit the following websites to practice writing skills
Education City
Students will play an online game to review writing skills
Enchanted Learning
Students will select a picture prompt and make up informational stories from the prompts.
Students will write a three paragraph informational essay with a beginning, middle and end.
Students will edit and rewrite their essays
Students peer edit the essays
Students will retype their essays

16. BrainPOP Jr

18. Enchanted Learning

19. DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 6 Accommodations
Special needs students will:
will be given graphic organizer instead of making one
Fill in the graphic organizers to make paragraphs
write the steps in a process for their activity
will not be required to write a complete essay
use large fonts and screen reader if necessary
Be assigned a peer assistant if needed

20. DEVELOPMENTAL STEP 7 Checking for Understanding
The teacher will look at the student’s work for the following competencies, then use an informal conference log to conference with students.
a hook
the graphic organizer
an introductory paragraph
the body of a paragraph
an ending paragraph
a complete informational essay

21. Informal Conference Writing Log
Name
_______________
Week of: _____________ Topic______________
Fluency_______________
Sentence Structure _____
Grammar______________
Comments_____________
Handwriting____________
Legibility ______________
Capitalization __________
Punctuation____________
Content________________

22. DEVELOPMENT STEP 8 CLOSURE
Review the use of hooks
Review anchor chart with the steps for writing an informational paragraph.
Review each part of an informational essay.
Have students share their work with the class.
The students will critique their classmates’ essays.

23. Evaluation Step1 Completion Checklist
Essay has a title
Begins with an appropriate hook
Appropriate introductory paragraph
Body of the paragraph has appropriate “steps in a process” transitions
Essay has an appropriate ending paragraph

24. Evaluation Step1 A rubric will be used to evaluate student’s progress and achievement.

25. Evaluation Step 2 Teacher Reflection
Evaluation Checklist
Circle yes or no
Do students know how to grab the attention of their readers?
Yes No
Can students use make a paragraph from graphic organizer?
Can the students write a three paragraph essay?
Did students enjoy the lesson?

26. Sources
BrainPOP Jr. Retrieved July 9, 2008, from
Education City, Retrieved July 10, 2008, from
Enchanted Learning. Retrieved July , from
Georgia Department of Education. Retrieved July 8, 2008, from