Reading Wolfpups

Objective: Students will create a 20 minute DVD that showcases reading strategies taught throughout the 4th grade.

Lesson Plan:
1. View "Reading Rainbow" episodes to have a starting point.
2. Find common features each episode has and brainstorm ideas that we could incorporate into our own episode.
3. Collaborate to choose a theme for our video.
4. Divide the class into interest groups that will work together to find picture books that are theme related.
5. Go to the school library and find picture books that relate to the theme.
6. Each group will read their picture book, find new words for vocabulary, summarize the story, and make connections.
7. Groups will work collaboratively on their picture book segment storyboards.
8. Groups will be assigned other segments of the episode to create storyboards for (ie. introduction, transition scenes, closing, etc.).
9. Teacher will work with groups' storyboards to help edit their ideas.
10. Flip Cameras will be used to record each storyboard. Each group will have two segments of the video to record.
11. Class will collaboratively decide on the background music and when it will be played within the video.
12. Open Windows Movie Maker or Photo Story 3 software and have each group insert their piece onto the final video storyboard.
13. Video is published and shared with the school library for checkout under the title students choose to use.
14. Credits will be given on the video to the "Reading Rainbow" program for their inspiration.

Assessment:
Throughout the unit, students will be observed with their collaborative and communication skills.
Final product will be assessed. Teacher will look at the groups' picture book segments and score the quality of vocabulary instruction and delivery of summary.
Responsible use of technology will also be observed.