Cooperative Learning Lesson

Kelly Wade

EDP 621

Spring 2004

 

Fairy Tale Newspaper

 

This is a lesson for third grade students, but may be adapted for grades 2-5.  The duration of this lesson will be 5-7 days. This is a final assessment on a Fairy Tale unit where the students have previously learned the fairy tale stories they will be writing up.

 

The cooperative learning approach used for this lesson will be the Jigsaw approach. Students will be making a newspaper based on the fairy tale stories read in class. The teacher will pick heterogeneous groups.  Students will be in groups of 4-5.  They will be given a chart to rate themselves at the end of a working period and a checklist of all the requirements.  The checklist will also serve as an organizational tool for students to record what they worked on that day and what they need to do the next day. Students will work as a team to write up a newspaper article for each fairy tale read in class.  Each student will be given a job in the team.  The jobs recommended are as follows; art director, editor, 2-3 writers, head of advertising, and head of kid’s corner. At the end of the week, the newspapers will be presented and the class will vote on the best newspaper and that team will earn a reward.

 

The objectives for this lesson are;

·      The students will be able to identify the parts of a newspaper

·      The students will be able to write a newspaper article

·      The students will be able to identify the 5 W’s of a story

 

The materials needed for this lesson are; chart paper, lined paper, behavior chart, newspaper checklist, blank paper, pens, pencils, markers, and construction paper.

 

The following steps are the procedure used to complete the lesson;

1.   Explain to the students that the Newspaper will be the final assessment for the Fairy Tale Unit. Students will be writing a newspaper article for each of the 5 main fairy tale stories read during the unit.

2.   To begin the lesson, show students examples of local newspaper to point out the parts of a newspaper. How many have parents who order a newspaper?  Why do they order a newspaper?  What else is part of a newspaper? (ads, pictures, kid’s corner, etc.)

3.   After explaining the assignment and the behavior chart, assign the teams and give them a chance to create a team name. Once in a team they must also pick a team name and designate the jobs.

4.   The teacher should continue to walk around and make sure the groups are on task and answer any questions. 

5.   Students will be writing out the 5 W’s of each story before writing the newspaper article. 

6.   When the final copy of the article has been written it will be pasted on the chart paper to look like a story along with a picture.  Students may draw their pictures or use construction paper to make the picture.

7.   Students will present their newspaper when the assignment is complete.  The newspaper should include everything on the attached checklist.  As a class, students will vote on the best newspaper.

 

Assessment: The teacher will take a participation grade and use the attached teacher rubric. Students will also be rating how their group worked at the end of every day.

 

Fairy Tale Newspaper Checklist

 

1.            My newspaper contains an article on all 5 stories (Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood,  Jack and the Beanstalk, and Cinderella) ___ (10)

2.           Each news article contains the 5 W’s of the story. (Who, What, When, Where, and Why)___ (5)

3.           My newspaper has a title and a date ___ (5)

4.           My newspaper has a Kid’s Corner ____ (5)

5.           My newspaper has an advertisement section ___(5)

6.           My newspaper is creative (neat, organized, colorful, and decorated) ____ (10)

7.           Every article has a title and a catchy beginning ___ (5)

8.           Everyone in my group participated ____ (5)

 

You will present your newspaper has a group when it is finished!  Have fun and be CREATIVE!

 

 

Total ____/50

Fairy Tale Newspaper

 Name_______________________________

9.            Newspaper contains an article on all 5 stories

10   9   8   7   6   5    4    3    2    1    0

 

2.     Each news article contains the 5 W’s of the story

5    4    3    2    1    0

 

10.        Newspaper has a title and a date

5    4    3    2    1    0

 

11.         Newspaper has a Kid’s Corner

5    4    3    2    1    0

 

5.     Newspaper is creative (neat, organized,                                                                        colorful, and decorated)

10 9    8    7    6    5    4    3    2    1    0

 

6.           Every article has a title and a catchy beginning

5    4    3    2    1    0

 

7.           Everyone in the group participated

 

5    4    3    2    1    0

8.    Newspaper has an advertisement section

       5    4    3    2    1    0

 

Total _____/50

 

Fairy Tale Newspaper group assignment

 

Team Name___________________________________________________________

 

Team members________________________________________________________

 

You will be rating your team’s progress and how well you worked as a team everyday with a score of 1-5.  1 meaning you did not work well and did not get a lot done, 5 meaning you worked well together and were productive the entire time. 

 

Day of the week

How well did you work today?  Rate your team with a score of 1-5. 

What will you need to work on tomorrow?

Monday

 

 

 

 

Tuesday

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

 

 

 

 

Thursday

 

 

 

 

Friday

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will need to turn in this chart along with your checklist at the end of the assignment.  Have fun and remember that you are a team working together to make up the best Fairy Tale Newspaper!  The class will vote on Friday which team did the best job working together and completing the assignment.