The following is a lesson plan that I have used with several students, and it is one most students enjoy because of the student and teacher interaction. I hope you have fun with it too.
Note: This lesson plan can also be used to teach the the following reading elements: “Making Reading Connections”, “Predicting Outcomes”, and “Recognizing Cause and Effect”.
I. Say to the students: “We are going to talk about Drawing conclusions, which is one of the elements of reading:”
- Ask them if they have ever heard of Newton’s Third Law of Motion: ” for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”? Discussing , and to listening to their thoughts is important to keeping their attention, furthering their understanding of the subject, and developing analytical thinking.
- As you demonstrate the following action, say: “a scientist once raised his hand, and shook his finger in the air one time. He then proclaimed: “There, I have changed the Universe for ever’.”
- Ask the students: “What do you think he meant?”
- note: The scientist moved molecules (unseen by the naked eye), which bumped other molecules creating a chain reaction. Sometimes actions and reactions go unnoticed, but still happen. I like using Newtons Cradle
(sometimes called “Colliding Balls”) as a visual tool to explain this concept, and the kids are often fascinated.
II. Some questions and answers can be fun to add as well. Some students find this very interesting, but others find it confusing. It does not seem to have so much to do with their age, as with their interests. For this reason, I often only use the example of the bus and firefly.
Optional: You might also talk about how choices we act on today have either a consequence or a reward as a reaction. Discuss examples (choosing to complete or drop out of school, friends we hang with, ext).
III. Explain to the students, “We know for every action there is a reaction. Drawing conclusions is like looking at an action, and using logic and clues to decide the outcome. That is what we are going to do next.”
Using an appropriate story book that the children are interested in, block out (I sometimes use sticky notes for this) words, and/ or results to various actions mentioned in the book. Using all clues (including pictures), allow the students to come up with their answers. Finally we look to see what the author came up with as answer or outcome, and discuss. (Sometimes there is only one good answer, sometimes a better answer, and sometimes there is more than one good answer.)
At this point, workbooks on the subject are a good followup.
following are more articles that help parents, tutors, and teachers teach other reading elements:
Please feel free to share your experience.