Student+Activities



**Hello, Students! Here you can find all the directions for the lessons and activities from class.**

**Monday**

Today we talked about the short story "Grandma's Records" by Eris Velasquez and its theme of tradition. What kinds of traditions do you have with your family or friends? If you can't think of any, try using KidsClick to search for different types of traditions. "Grandma's Records" begins on page 190 in your reading textbook. Using Microsoft PowerPoint, you will create a KWL presentation based on what you know about traditions and what you want to know. To start, open Microsoft PowerPoint. For the first slide, create a title for your presentation. Be sure to include your first and last name on this slide. Next, add three more slides with the Slide Layout "Title and Content." The second slide should be titled " What I Know", the third "What I Want to Learn" and the fourth "What I Learned". Complete the "What I Know" and "What I Want to Know" slides the theme of traditions and what you know and want to know about traditions. The “learn” section will be completed on Thursday to review for the test on Friday. After this activity we read aloud the short story “Grandma’s Records.” Then, you will use voice recorders/microphones on class computers to record yourself reading 2-3 paragraphs each of the story. I will assign different passages from the story to each student. To begin recording, go to the Sound Recorder program on the computer using the Start button. When you are ready to being recording, click the Start Recording button and begin reading aloud your passage. When you have finished, press Stop Recording. Save your file to the Grandma's Records folder on the computer desktop. Use your name and passage number as the file name. Once everyone has finished recording their section of the story, the whole class will follow along with the textbook as we listen to the recording of the story.

**Tuesday**

Today we discussed the vocabulary from "Grandma's Records". The following is a list of the vocab words we focused on in class: Conga, Percussion, Performing, Record, Salsa, Theater, Sketchbook, Spectacular, Dominican Republic, Merengue.

You will define these terms in your own words and try to come up with similar words, or synonyms. Then, using the Quizlet website, you will create your own flash cards for the 10 listed vocabulary words from "Grandma's Records". To do this, click on the word "Quizlet" which will take you to the website you will be making the flash cards with. Make a title for your vocab cards. Choose "English" as the language. Under "Enter your flash cards", type the vocab word in the left column and your definition and synonym in the right column. When you have finished entering your flash cards, click Continue. You will be asked to create a Quizlet account. After creating an account, print your "Grandma's Records" flash cards using the classroom printer. Use your newly made flash cards to study the vocabulary words. THESE WORDS WILL BE ON THE TEST FRIDAY!!!

**Wednesday**

Today we analyzed the plot of "Grandma's Records". We will use the terms exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution to label events in the plot of the short story. As a class, we will work together to make a plot diagram using the ReadWriteThink website. We will debate what events we think are the climax, rising action, etc. Then we will enter them into the diagram. Once we have all agreed on what should be in each part of the diagram, I will print a copy for each of you so that you can use it to study for the test on Friday. Also I will post a copy of the diagram on this web page in case you lose yours or you are absent for the lesson.



**Thursday**

Today we discussed how to organize information from a story so that we can visualize it and remember it better. By categorizing details of the story we can keep track of story information. Your activity for today will be to make a categories chart using the Inspiration program on our class computers. Below is an example of what your chart should look like. You need to have at least 6 pieces of information in your chart. When you have finished, save your work using your name as the filename. Then "Transfer to Word Document" to create an outline of the information. Print out both the Inspiration chart and the Microsoft Word outline and use these to study for Friday's test. Next, we will revisit our KWL charts from Monday. You need to add what you learned to the last slide. When everyone is finished, we will spend the remaining time reviewing for the test on Friday.

**Friday**

Today we are taking our "Grandma's Records" test. This test will cover vocabulary, spelling, key points from the short story, as well as the theme of tradition. If you finish early be sure to check your work. After the test, you can begin to silently read our next short story "The Talking Cloth" on page 216 of your reading textbook.