Lesson+Plans


 * Lesson Plans **


 * Lesson 1 **


 * Goals: **

-Students will set up Diigo accounts -Students will explore controversial political issues in database -Students will choose a topic to focus on for their project -Students will be grouped into teams of 3 based on interest -Students will begin research


 * Time frame: **two 50 min. class periods


 * Resources: **

- Opposing Viewpoints database - Diigo.com social bookmarking tool


 * Procedure: **


 * 1) Overview of the project and its objectives
 * 2) Students will set up an account with Diigo using their school email addresses
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Brief lesson on how to use Diigo to keep track of and share resources
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Students will be directed to Opposing Viewpoints database
 * 5) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Brief lesson on how to search in database (hopefully they will already be comfortable using this database)
 * 6) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Students will be given time to explore controversial political topics individually
 * 7) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Students will write down 3 topics that they are thinking of working on
 * 8) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Students will be grouped into teams of 3 based on common interests in a particular topic
 * 9) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Students will be asked to create a Diigo group with their teammates allowing them to share their individual research with the rest of their group
 * 10) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Students will be given time to research their topic on Opposing Viewpoints, bookmarking relevant resources using Diigo
 * 11) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Students will highlight important passages and attach sticky notes to texts using Diigo
 * 12) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Students will be asked to bookmark and share at least 5 high quality, useful resources on their topic


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Informal assessment: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">-Students have successfully set up a Diigo account and shared their bookmarks, highlighted text and sticky notes with their group members <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">-Students have bookmarked 5 good quality, useful articles or websites during their research


 * <span style="color: #32328b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Lesson 2 **


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Goals: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">-Students will identify their local politicians (will already have knowledge of how the levels of government work) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">-Students will identify politician's opinions on their topic <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">-Students will choose a politician to write a letter to


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Time frame: **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">one 50 min. class period


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Resources: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">- US House of Representatives website <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">- [|US Senate] website <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">- State and Local Government website <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">- On the Issues website <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">-"Who Represents Me?" worksheet


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Procedure: **


 * 1) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Reminder of project guidelines and objectives
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will explore websites to learn who is representing them at the federal, state and local level (scavenger hunt style)
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will fill out "Who Represents Me?" worksheet with group members
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will explore On the Issues website to determine politician's beliefs about their chosen controversial issue
 * 5) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will take notes on each politician's opinions
 * 6) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Working with their group, students will choose a politician to write a persuasive letter to on their issue
 * 7) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will have their choice approved by their teacher before the end of class


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Informal assessment: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">-Students have filled out "Who Represents Me?" worksheet correctly <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">-Students have chosen a suitable politician to write to


 * <span style="color: #32328b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Lesson 3 **


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">Goals: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">-Students will identify key arguments surrounding their issue <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">-Students will incorporate their research into their writing <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">-Students will learn how to write an effective persuasive essay <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">-Students will work collaboratively with their group members to write a persuasive letter to a politician


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">Time frame: **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">three 50 min. class periods


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">Resources: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">- Google docs <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">- How to Write Letters to Congress website <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">-"How to write a persuasive letter" handout <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">- Letter template


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">Procedure: **


 * 1) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Reminder of project guidelines and objectives, handout final project rubric
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Direct instruction on how to write a effective persuasive letter (handout)
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will work with group members to come up with a persuasive stance for their letter
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will work collaboratively using Google docs to create an outline for their persuasive letter
 * 5) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will explore How to Write Letters to Congress website to learn tips for writing a letter to a politician
 * 6) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Teacher will hand out and explain letter template
 * 7) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will work collaboratively with group members using Google docs to write their persuasive letter
 * 8) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will share their letter with their classmates and receive constructive feedback in class
 * 9) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will edit/revise letter using Google docs, keeping in mind their classmate's feedback
 * 10) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will submit a final copy of their letter
 * 11) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will mail their letter to their chosen politician
 * 12) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will complete final reflection outlining their specific contributions to the group's work and an evaluation of their group mates' efforts.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Formal assessment: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">-Teacher will grade the final draft of students' persuasive letter using rubric <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">(see assessment tool) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">, one grade will be assigned for the group <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">-Teacher will also grade each student's contribution to the work using their Diigo account and Google doc as a guide. Students' self-evaluation and evaluation of their group mates will also be taken into account.