Unit Plan: Identifying and Discussing Story Elements
Unit Plan: Identifying and Discussing Story Elements
Unit Plan: Identifying and Discussing Story Elements
Gabriela Montes
TLT 407
Spring 2019
Unit Title and Topic: Identifying and Discussing Story Elements in Visual and Literary Works,
English Language Development, [dates of implementation would be here]
1. Unit Overview:
This unit will be delivered to a fifth grade class with twelve students. The entire class is
composed of students who identify as English Language Learners and two of the
students have been identified as special needs learners. One of these students has a
speech impairment and the other has Dyslexia. There are eight male and four female
students within the class. This unit will be taught as a whole group instruction.
By the end of this unit, fifth grade English Language Learner students will be able to
describe the major issues and conflicts in a literary work within a small group.
By the end of this unit, fifth grade English Language Learner students will be able to
discuss issues and concepts in a variety of literary works within a small group.
Driving Questions
How do you locate and summarize the story elements and main issue of a literary text?
How can you utilize details to effectively communicate the major issue of a literary work
such that the audience understands?
3. Related Standards
ELP.2.S.4-5.1: Answer WH-questions based on visually supported information about
stories.
ELP.2.S.4-5.3: Describe major issues and conflicts in various literary works within a
small group.
ELP.2.S.4-5.4: Discuss issues and concepts in a variety of literary works within a small
group.
4. Content Analysis
1. Answer WH- questions and retell story elements
1.1 What are the 6 WH- questions
1.2 What does each WH- question ask about the story
1.3 Turning WH- questions into a story summary
1.4 Verbally retell the story
2. Describe major issues and conflicts in literary works
2.1 Identify story important events
2.2 Determine which events are conflicts
2.3 Identify the main conflict of the story
2.4 Describe the main issue and its solution in a group
3. Discuss concepts of two literary works in a group
3.1 Identify the main events of two stories
3.2 Compare and contrast the two stories
3.3 Aspects of quality group discussion
3.4 Use the aspects to discuss two stories
5. Objectives
Lesson 1
❏ Given a visual story and a WH- questions graphic organizer, the emerging or
beginning 5th grade ESOL student will retell story elements and answer WH-
questions based on the story in a graphic organizer with at least 80% accuracy
across all questions.
(Application)
Lesson 2
❏ Given a literary text and “Finding the Main Conflict” graphic organizer - the
emerging or beginning 5th grade ESOL student will describe the major conflict in
a literary work in a small group based on the story with at least 80% accuracy as
per a teacher created rubric.
(Comprehension and Application)
Lesson 3
❏ Given two literary works, a comparing story elements graphic organizer, and the
components of effective group discussion on a story, the expanding level 5th
grade ESOL student will discuss key issues and concepts within the literary
works in a small group, scoring at least 80% as per a teacher-created rubric.
(Application)
6. Assessment Plan
Summative Assessment/ Post Test:
I will utilize a posttest at the end of the unit that will serve as the formal summative
assessment. For the summative assessment on the unit, students will be assigned a unit
project where they must choose a short literary story to read and create a PowerPoint
presentation to present for the class. Students will work with a partner, but each of the 2
students will read and present on their own story to ensure individual assessment of
content mastery. To capture the objectives of each lesson plan in the unit, this
presentation must include a graphic organizer of the story elements in the form of WH-
questions, an oral retelling of the story/ story summary, a finding the main conflict
graphic organizer, and an oral description of the major conflicts in the story and the way
they were resolved. The partners come in at the final part of the presentation. At the end
of the presentation, students must have a comparing story elements graphic organizer
and then engage in an effective 3-5 minute group discussion with their partner
comparing their two stories. For this they must incorporate the components of effective
group discussion taught during objective three.
Objective 1:
Formative assessments:
❏ Student written responses in a KWL Chart will show the teacher what the
students know prior to the lesson and then what new things they feel they
mastered. It also enables the teacher to see what questions they wondered and
whether they were all answered during the lesson so that the teacher can adjust
the lesson to include other things the students wonder. Students will fill in the “K”
and “W” after the introductory activity and the “L” at the beginning of the review
and preview. (Understanding)
❏ During guided practice, student responses written in a graphic organizer will
demonstrate to the teacher the extent to which students are understanding the
content, as the teacher can walk around the room to ensure students are
understanding the new content, and if the teacher notices a student struggling to
fill it in the teacher can work one on one with them. (Applying)
❏ During independent practice, the teacher can now see through individual written
responses to the graphic organizer whether the struggling students understand
the concept now and the teacher can identify any struggling students that were
missed previously. (Applying)
❏ During independent practice, the presentation of WH- question answers and
story summary as a small group will demonstrate student ability to effectively
retell and communicate story elements to the class. (Applying)
❏ During review and preview, written responses to a ClassKick exit ticket with
multiple choice questions will enable the teacher to ensure all students have
grasped the new content and allow the teacher to reteach the specific content
that students appear to still be confused with. This will also enable the teacher to
identify and work individually with struggling students outside of class time.
(Understanding)
❏ → Of the formative assessments for objective one, the majority are informal
formative assessments. The only formal assessments are the group presentation
during independent practice and the exit ticket.
Objective 2:
Formative assessments:
❏ Student responses in a KWL Chart will show the teacher what the students know
prior to the lesson and then what new things they feel they mastered. It also
enables the teacher to see what questions they wondered and whether they were
all answered during the lesson so that the teacher can adjust the lesson to
include other things the students wonder. Students will fill in the “K” and “W” after
the introductory activity and the “L” at the beginning of the review and preview.
(Understanding)
❏ During guided practice, student written responses being held up on mini
whiteboards will enable the teacher to scan the room to locate students who
need more individualized help in grasping the concept. (Applying)
❏ During guided practice, problem and solution worksheet serves as a formative
assessment the teacher can collect and look over to ensure students are
understanding the concept. (Applying)
❏ During independent practice, student written responses in the “Finding the Main
Conflict” graphic organizer serves as a way for the teacher to walk around the
room and identify students who need more individualized help in the moment and
enables the teacher to collect it to use to inform her plans for reteaching material.
(Applying)
❏ During independent practice, the Small Group discussion on their story in front of
the class serves as a performance method of assessment through which the
teacher can analyze student ability to orally describe the major conflict of a story.
Listening to each student speak will provide the teacher with a gauge as to what
level of understanding each student is at with the material. (Understanding)
❏ During review and preview, a Pear Deck Exit Ticket will have students read a
passage and write a response stating what the problem in the passage is in their
own words. These responses will demonstrate for the teacher if the student has
learned how to accurately identify and describe the major conflict in a literary text.
The teacher will be able to view a summary of the responses of all students in the
class, enabling the teacher to easily determine if the class understands the
material, as well as whether reteaching will be necessary. (Understanding)
❏ → Of the formative assessments for objective two, the majority are informal
assessments. The only formal assessments are the group discussion in front of
the class and the exit ticket.
Objective 3:
Formative assessments:
❏ At the end of modeling, students will answer a check in question on Zeeting that
asks students to list off important aspects of an effective group discussion about
2 stories. Then this will create a wordle image based on how frequently students
respond to certain things. This will serve as a formative assessment because the
teacher can see what each student typed, as well as view how the class as a
whole understands the concept (through the wordle). This enables the teacher to
easily and quickly gauge student understanding and know what to emphasize
and break down more slowly during guided practice. (Understanding)
❏ During guided practice, a Fish Bowl Activity will be done to enable the teacher to
see which students are struggling the most with understanding and integrating
the components of effective group discussion. The teacher can then reteach or
work with students individually before the independent practice. (If time runs out -
this and the video will occur in the next lesson) (Applying)
❏ During independent practice, student written responses in a Comparing Story
Elements Graphic Organizer will be collected by the teacher so the teacher can
analyze individual student mastery of identifying the most important issues and
events of a story and identify student mastery of the content, as well as identify
students who are not understanding the material. This is the same graphic
organizer utilized during guided practice, yet now the individual completion of it
will enable the teacher to truly analyze student understanding. (Analyzing)
❏ During independent practice, students will work in groups to create a video that
they will submit on FlipGrid of their group engaging in an effective group
discussion on the two stories. This will enable the teacher to analyze both
student individual and group performance and ability to incorporate the
components of effective group discussion on stories. Since it is a video, the
teacher can view each student’s level of mastery of the content and utilize their
observations to inform their reteaching, if it is needed. (Application)
❏ During review and preview, students will write responses to a PearDeck exit
ticket reflection. This will enable the teacher to see if the student knows what the
components of effective group discussion on stories are in their own words and
see if they can accurately identify using one in context. The teacher can analyze
individual student reflections to see which areas students are struggling in and
how they are feeling about the material. (Understanding)
❏ → Of the formative assessments for objective three, the majority are informal
assessments. The only formal assessment is the video that students submit on
FlipGrid.
7. Instructional Plan
Each of the white boxes at the top represents one lesson, while the four black boxes
underneath represent the skills the students must learn during each lesson. Each lesson
shall be approximately an hour long.
Lehigh Teacher Education Programs
Daily Lesson Plan Template
Name: Gaby Montes
d. Instructional Goal
i. The student will be able to answer WH- questions based on a visual story
and accurately retell story elements.
4. Learning Objective(s) and Aligned Assessments:
Summative:
-The unit project PowerPoint presentation
must include a graphic organizer of the story
elements in the form of WH- questions and
an oral retelling of the story/ story summary.
This will test student ability to identify story
elements and accurately retell the story in
summary form.
5. Materials Needed:
a. 12 Pencils
b. 1 Video clips of Lilo and Stitch, The Incredibles 2, and Cloudy with a Chance of
Meatballs.
c. 24 Graphic organizer (both with and without pictures) for all students
i. Both for modeling and guided practice
d. 1 Specific graphic organizer for the student with dyslexia
i. Turning WH- questions into the story summary
e. 12 Transcripts of the visual stories with the captions in each students L1
f. 1 small whiteboard for the student with speech impairment.
g. 1 Expo marker for the student with the speech impairment.
h. 1 Pear deck slide where students choose the second visual story
i. 1 ClassKick exit ticket with attached voice recorded questions
j. 12 Rubrics for the presentation of story retelling
Modeling/Demonstration:
(15-20 minutes)
-Hand out a graphic organizer worksheet to Accommodations for ESL Students:
students that is identical to the one you will -They are allowed to use laptops or ipads for
draw on the board so they can take notes the translation purpose during the class. When
during your demonstration & refer back to they hear or see some words or sentences
them if needed. they don’t understand, they can use those
- Draw an organizer on the board that equipments to translate.
breaks down the WH- questions and what
each indicates: -They will be given a sheet of new vocabulary
-Who = characters with explanations before the class. And they
-What = plot/ problem/ what is occuring can ask teachers about those vocabularies if
-Where = location/ setting of the story they still don’t understand the explanations.
-When = time it is taking place
-Why = reason -They will be given more time to answer the
-How = by what means questions and retell the stories.
If they need, they will be given a sheet with
- Then demonstrate how you as the teacher subtitles of videos on it. They could use their
would turn each of these into a particular laptops to translate the words or sentences
question about the visual story. they don’t understand. For students with lower
- Who are the main characters? level of proficiency, they could also be given a
- What are the conflicts? sheet with modified subtitles of videos on it.
- Where is it taking place?
- When is this scene happening? Accommodations for Student with
- Why does this conflict exist? What Dyslexia:
caused it? -The graphic organizer being given to all
- How are they working to solve the students serves as a great accomodation for
conflict? this student.
- What are the results?
-Provide the student with a more specific
-Walk through each question and organizer on how they would go about
demonstrate to the student using the clip transforming the WH- questions into a story
from the introductory activity the way you summary
would go about answering each question.
Take the time to go back into the clip to
show them where you found each answer
to each question.
Independent Practice/Exploring:
(15-20 minutes)
-Split students into small groups Accommodations for Student with Speech
-Allow each group to choose their own Impairment:
visual story from the options provided by -If they prefer to answer the question orally, we
the teacher. will give him more time to finish their answers.
-Instruct each student to look at their
group’s visual story individually and fill out -If they prefer to write, we will give the student
the graphic organizer at their desk. Then tell a small whiteboard to write down the answers
them when all group members are finished, of WH-questions and show them while others
to meet together with their group and as a answer the questions orally during the small
group discuss the story elements and what group discussion.
they wrote in their graphic organizers.
-Then tell students to use the story -We will also enable the student to write their
elements to write a story summary that they portion of the group’s summary of the retelling
could use to retell the story to the class. of the visual story on the board or if they would
(remind them that this is what you did on like to speak, provide them with extra time.
the board during demonstration)
-Have each group present their retelling of
their visual story to the class.
10. Summative Assessments: Provide actual assessment materials here (items, assignment
sheets, rubrics, scoring criteria, answer keys). Include any modified assessment items for
students with disabilities and English language learners.
11. Reflections:
The level of assessment needs to be aligned with the level of teaching. Don’t assess or practice
something teachers haven’t taught. Don’t assess or practice different levels of knowledge that
haven’t taught by teachers. (Bing)
I feel like through making this lesson plan, I truly embraced and learned the importance of the
concept of backwards planning that our textbook constantly discusses. I have made many
lesson plans for other classes, but this is the first time I tried to backwards plan and to both think
about the big ideas first and consider Bloom’s taxonomy as I planned out the lesson. It is
definitely challenging to do, but as I went through the lesson plan I could see how impactful
backwards planning is on actually being able to achieve your goal as a teacher and ensure your
students are learning the content you want them to. (Gaby)
12. Sources:
KWL Chart Free. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2018, from
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/KWL-Chart-FREEBIE-2173904
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=NewRubric
Lehigh Teacher Education Programs
Daily Lesson Plan Template
Name: Gaby Montes
d. Instructional Goal
i. The student will be able to describe the major issues and conflicts in a
literary work within a small group.
Summative:
-The unit project PowerPoint presentation
must include a finding the main conflict
graphic organizer and an oral description of
the major conflicts in the story and the way
they were resolved. This will test student
ability to identify and describe the major
conflicts in a literary work.
5. Materials Needed:
a. 12 KWL charts
i. 1 with a larger text print size
b. 24 “Finding the Main Conflict” Worksheets
i. Each with the students’ L1 written under the english
ii. 2 in a larger text print size
c. 12 Problem, Solution Practice Worksheets
i. Each with the students L1 written next to the passage
ii. 1 in a larger text print size
d. 1 Pear Deck Exit Ticket
i. Add a voice recording to the exit ticket of the passage being read aloud
e. 12 white boards (mini)
f. 12 expo markers
g. 12 erasers
h. 12 pencils
i. 1 Lilo and Stitch youtube clip
j. 1 Junie B Jones, First Grader (Finally) e-book
k. 12 printed Junie B Jones book pages with each students’ L1 written under the
English
l. 1 printed Junie B Jones book pages in a larger text size
m. 1 Padlet prepared with the statement “What questions do you have/ what would
you like clarified?”
n. 1 Pear Deck smiley face check in slide
o. 12 Rubrics to grade the small group discussion of major conflict in the story
p. 12 movie transcripts with captions in the L1 of each student
q. 1 movie transcript with just images
r. 6 short story options for groups to choose from
i. Have 5 copies of each available
ii. Have a voice recording of each available as an option to students
Modeling/Demonstration:
(10-15 minutes) Accommodations for ESL Students
-Read Junie B. Jones, First Grader (At -Provide students with the same Junie B Jones
Last!) pages 10-16 to the class. Put the pages with translation in their L1
ebook pages up on the projector so
students can follow along as you read. -Provide “Finding the Main Conflict” worksheet
-Hand out the “Finding the Main Conflict” with their L1 under the english
graphic organizer and draw an identical one
on the board -Highlighting on the board serves as a good
-Demonstrate how you would go box by box accommodation.
of the organizer and go back to the story to
answer each question Accommodations for Student with Visual
-Demonstrate how you would utilize the Impairment:
story to be like “ah yes this was an -Give them their own copy of the Junie B
important event” and write them in the box Jones copied book pages in a large print
-Ask yourself aloud “hmmm which event
was the most important problem?” and then -Provide “Finding the Main Conflict” worksheet
say something like “The most important in a larger text size
event is when Junie B. Jones’ best friend no
longer wants to be her best friend, this is -Highlighting on the board serves as a good
more important than the bus event because accommodation.
it causes her to not have anyone to sit next
to on the bus.” Accommodations for Student with
-”What caused the problem?” “Well Junie Dyslexia:
B. Jones was being a bit bothersome to her -The graphic organizer usage serves as a
friend and her friend got new friends with good accommodation for this student
rhyming names so that must have caused
her to no longer want to be Junie B Jones’ -The teacher reading everything aloud serves
best friend. as a helpful accommodation.
-”Junie B Jones works to solve the
problem by looking for new friends, that is -Highlighting on the board serves as a good
why she asks Grace to sit next to her on the accommodation.
bus.”
-As you are going through this, be sure to
write on the board and explicitly say your
thought process out loud.
-While you go back to the story to find
answers, highlight and underline important
events so students can visually see it pop
out.
-Utilize Pear Deck to have students draw
their mouse to a smiling or frowning face
demonstrating how they are feeling about
their knowledge of the new information thus
far. This promotes self-regulation and
reflection as promoted in the UDL and lets
the teacher know how students are feeling
about the material as they proceed to
guided practice.
Independent Practice/Exploring:
(17-20 minutes)
-Split students into small groups and give Accommodations for ESL Students
them a new “Finding the Main Conflict” --Provide “Finding the Main Conflict” worksheet
graphic organizer to utilize. with their L1 under the english
-Allow each group to choose their own -When working independently on the graphic
literary short story from the options provided organizer, provide the option of a voice
by the teacher. This optimizes individual recording of the story
choice and autonomy, as in the UDL.
-The options provided to students Accommodations for Student with Visual
include: Impairment:
- The Friday Everything Changed -Provide “Finding the Main Conflict” worksheet
- Seventh Grade in a much larger text size
- Rules of the Game -When working independently on the graphic
- A Very Old Man with Enormous organizer, provide the option of a voice
Wings recording of the story
- Charles
- The Fly Accommodations for Student with
-Have students work independently at their Dyslexia:
desk to read the story their group chose -When working independently on the graphic
(each student will get their own copy of the organizer, provide the option of a voice
story) and fill in the graphic organizer recording of the story
independently - such that there is an
assessment of independent knowledge
prior to the group discussion
-Once each student has completed their
individual graphic organizer, each group will
take turns going to the front of the room and
sitting in a circle and discussing the major
conflicts and events of their story. Students
will be able to utilize their personal graphic
organizer such that introverts have their
thoughts laid out on the paper in front of
them before speaking.
-The class may ask the group questions if
they are confused as to how the group was
able to locate the conflict - this is an
opportunity for students to help one another
solve any confusion that still exists.
10. Summative Assessments: Provide actual assessment materials here (items, assignment
sheets, rubrics, scoring criteria, answer keys). Include any modified assessment items for
students with disabilities and English language learners.
11. Reflections:
I feel this lesson plan was on a much faster timeline, but I feel it was much more realistic
because as a teacher I will be expected to produce my lesson plans on a timeline much more
like this one. This made me hone in on what I wanted to teach students and think of ways to
achieve that without having to spend large amounts of time googling ideas. It also challenged
me to make my own worksheets to accomplish my goals as a teacher on a much shorter
timeline.
12. Sources:
KWL Chart Free. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2018, from
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/KWL-Chart-FREEBIE-2173904
Story Elements: Problem and Solution. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2019, from
https://www.k12reader.com/worksheet/story-elements-problem-and-solution/view/
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=NewRubric
23 Great Short Stories to Teach in Middle School. (2018, March 27). Retrieved from
https://www.weareteachers.com/best-short-stories-for-middle-schoolers/
Lehigh Teacher Education Programs
Daily Lesson Plan Template
Name: Gaby Montes
d. Instructional Goal
i. The student will be able to discuss issues and concepts in a variety of
literary works within a small group.
Summative:
-The unit project PowerPoint presentation
must include a comparing story elements
graphic organizer and then engage in an
effective 3-5 minute group discussion with
their partner comparing their two stories. For
this they must incorporate the components of
effective group discussion taught during
objective three. This will test the student’s
ability to utilize the components of effective
group discussion on stories.
5. Materials Needed:
a. Have slides for each question of the introductory activity
i. On these slides have the option for answers to be submitted
b. 12 Printed synopsis of Avengers Infinity War in case students have not seen it
i. Have each in both english and the L1 of the ELLs
c. 1 Zeetings.com Question of what students would want to discuss with friends
after seeing infinity war
i. Attach voice recording
ii. Provide question in L1s of all students in class
d. 1 Zeetings.com slides with Junie B. Jones is a Graduation Girl pages 1-8
e. 24 comparing story elements graphic organizers
i.
f. 1 Poster board
i. To write the general components of effective group discussion on 2
stories
g. 1 marker
h. 14 Cheat Sheet Worksheets describing components of effective group discussion
on 2 stories
i. 1 Zeetings question asking students to list components of effective group
discussion on 2 stories that creates a wordle from it
i. Attach voice recording
ii. Provide question in L1s of all students in class
j. 1 slide in the Zeetings powerpoint created for each box of the graphic organizer
through which students can submit their own responses
i. Major events of each story
ii. Major issues of each story
iii. Similarities in stories
iv. Differences in stories
v. → Attach voice recording and provide question in L1s of all students in
class
k. 1 word document prepared to insert the screenshots of the slides to recreate the
class version of the graphic organizer on the board (with all class responses)
l. 14 laptops/ computers
m. 1 PearDeck Exit Ticket Reflection question
i. Attach voice recording
ii. Provide question in L1s of all students in class
n. 1 Flipgrid page for students to post videos on
o. 14 Teacher created rubrics to assess videos with
p. 1 Virtual version of cheat sheet describing components of effective group
discussion with audio attached
q. 1 Mini White Board
-Utilize Zeetings.com to have students -Have an option on the powerpoint for the
submit what they would want to discuss and student to submit answers as an
show all of the submissions on the screen accommodation rather than say them
-Scaffold students further to talk about
that they would want to discuss the issues
and concepts in the movie.
-Show students that most of the class
would want to discuss these concepts
-Place the pages of Junie B. Jones is a -Reading the story aloud together will serve as
Graduation Girl Pages 1-8 into a Zeetings a great accomodation as well
powerpoint such that students can follow
along with the new story on their personal Accommodations for Student with Speech
computers. Impairment:
-Provide them with more time during the
-Have a slide in the Zeetings powerpoint fishbowl activity and when answering
created for each box of the graphic questions in class
organizer. As a class, have students share
what they believe the answers to each box -Enable them to utilize a mini whiteboard to
of the graphic organizer is for each Junie B. answer questions
Jones story by having them each submit
their answers and then showing them on
screen. This will enable students to see the
general consensus and differences in what
they believe to be the most important
events and issues in each story. Students
can copy from the board onto their own
graphic organizers.
I ndependent Practice/Exploring:
(15 minutes) Accommodations for ESL Students:
**if time runs out this will occur the next day -The graphic organizer serves as a great
in class** accommodation
-Students will be given two of the stories
read during that ILA unit from their textbook Accommodations for Student with
and individually fill out their comparing story Dyslexia:
components graphic organizers. -The student will be given a website where
they can listen to the stories being read to
-Then students will be placed into groups them.
and instructed to go to different areas of the
classroom and utilize flipgrid to record a
video of their group engaging in an effective Accommodations for Student with Speech
group discussion on the two stories. They Impairment:
will be allowed to utilize their cheat sheets -The student will be provides with more time to
during the discussion as well as their provide their answers to questions or be
graphic organizers as scaffolds. Students allowed to write responses on the mini
will not be talking to the video, but whiteboard and have another classmate
instructed to act as if the camera is not verbally say it for them during the video
even there and simply engage with one
another.
10. Summative Assessments: Provide actual assessment materials here (items, assignment
sheets, rubrics, scoring criteria, answer keys). Include any modified assessment items for
students with disabilities and English language learners.
Appendix A
Comparing Literary Works Story Components Graphic Organizer
Appendix B
Components of Effective Group Discussion Cheat Sheet
Appendix C
Teacher-Created Rubric
11. Reflections:
I actively considered how I could best utilize technology during the lesson to help student
learning, create engaging activities and help accommodate students with special needs.
Through writing this lesson plan, I realized the grandiose amount of technological resources
available to teachers that I should take advantage of as a future teacher in my classroom.
12. Sources:
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.litcircles.org/Discussion/teaching.html#elements
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=NewRubric