Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Endangered Animals: Part 3

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

5

Overview

Students will present their Endangered Animal poster (from the learning activity Endangered Animals: Part 2) to the class. While listening to the presentations, they will take notes on two other students' endangered animal poster presentations using the Endangered Animal Presentations Notes. They will then use their notes from the poster presentation to write a three-paragraph informational essay. 

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit. 

    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 5

    ELA21.5.35

    Write informative or explanatory texts using multiple sources to examine a topic, conveying ideas and information clearly and incorporating a strong organizational structure, relevant details, and elaboration.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.5.35

    Vocabulary

    • Informative text
    • Explanatory text
    • Sources
    • Topic
    • Organizational structure
    • Details
    • Elaboration

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
    • Informative or explanatory text begins by introducing the topic, provides facts and relevant details, and ends with a conclusion.
    • Elaboration means supplying additional information about details by using academic vocabulary or including text features.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Gather information from multiple sources.
    • Write an informative or explanatory text using information gathered from sources.
    • Write an informative or explanatory text with a clear, organized structure.
    • Elaborate on details included in the text using academic vocabulary or text features.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Informative or explanatory writing follows a predictable text structure that includes introducing the topic, providing facts or additional details about the topic, and ends with a conclusion.
    • They must gather their facts about the topic from multiple research sources.
    • Writers elaborate details included in the text by using formal academic vocabulary and text features.

    Phase

    After/Explain/Elaborate
    Learning Objectives

    Learning Objectives

    Students will be able to write a three-paragraph informative essay using multiple sources.

     

    Activity Details

    1. Students will take turns presenting their Endangered Animal Posters to the class.

    2. Students will take notes on two of the presentations using the Endangered Animal Poster Presentation Notes

    3. With the students, explain the rules of the Endangered Animal Essay Rubric you will use to assess the Endangered Animal essay to be sure the students understand the expectations.

    4. Share or present the attached BME Essay Organizer. Read the directions aloud with the students. Each section of the BME Essay Organizer has prompts, questions, or reminders to help the students know what information belongs in each section. 

    5. Students complete their BME Essay Organizer before beginning the essay.

    6. Students begin writing their essay using their Endangered Animal Poster Presentation Notes and their Endangered Animal Poster from the learning activity Endangered Animals: Part 2. 

    7. When finished, students must turn in the following together:

    Assessment Strategies

    Assessment Strategies

    Teachers will use the attached Endangered Animal Essay Rubric to grade the Endangered Animal essay. 

    Variation Tips

    Students may share their essays with the class if time permits. 

    Related Learning Activities

    Learning Activity (Before)

    Learning Activity (During)

    Learning Activity (After)

    Background and Preparation

    Background / Preparation

    1.  Print the Endangered Animal Essay Rubric you will use to assess the essays. 

    2. Share digitally or make copies of the BME Essay Organizer for the students to use for their pre-writing. 

    3. Make sure students have their Endangered Animal Poster and their Endangered Animal Poster Presentation Notes to use when writing their essays. 

    Digital Tools / Resources

    ALSDE LOGO