"Ben Franklin's Life and Times"
Sample Lesson Plan

Introduction

"Ben Franklin's Life and Times" is a sample lesson plan designed to stimulate your thinking as you integrate computers and other new technologies into your reading, writing and language arts curricula. Imagine that a fourth grade teacher named Susie Metrick selected a well-known children's classic, What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz as the foundation of a curriculum unit, and designed the unit to incorporate good literacy practices such as activating prior knowledge and building vocabulary. Imagine that Susie also tried to use a process-writing framework to scaffold her students' writing work in this unit. What issues might Susie have grappled with in trying to enhance such a lesson plan with technology? As you review this unit, picture her asking herself questions such as these:

• What types of technology can add an important dimension to teaching children's literature?
• How can I integrate these new tools in a logical, step-by-step fashion?
• And ultimately, how will such a unit help my students become more proficient readers and writers in the content areas?

Then reflect on your own goals in developing a technology-enhanced lesson plan.

Outline

Use the following outline to navigate to each section of the Sample Lesson Plan.

• Overview
  • Culminating Projects
  • Assessment Strategies
  • Plans for Sharing this Unit in District and Beyond
• Step 1: Activating Prior Knowledge
• Step2: Building Context
• Step3: Group Projects: Research Stage
• Step 4: Group Projects: Prewriting Stage
• Step 5: Group Projects: Writing Stage
• Step 6: Group Projects: Revising Stage
• Step 7: Group Projects: Polishing and Publishing Stages

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