Teacher Candidate:Natalie Scarborough___

Date:_10/16/2010__________

Grade and Topic English 9th ______

Length of Lesson: 90 minutes__

Mentor Teacher:_____________

School:__________

Unit/Chapter Objective/ Generalization/ Big Idea:

Students, today you will get to be journalist who is writing an informative article
about fuel prices. In less than 300 words write an article explaining the rising
price of fuel in America or comparing the difference in fuel prices globally. You
will then use spreadsheet to make a graph with your information. I will be
provides Think Sheets to help you with your data. Your finished work will be
provided to a 6th grade social studies class.
Lesson Objective:
Use spreadsheet
Conduct meaningful research
Present research in a professional manner
Standards Addressed:
CC SL.9-10.5: Make strategic use of digital media (e.g. , textual, graphical,
audio,visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understand of
findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add to interest.
CC W.9-10.7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to
answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem:
narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on
the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
ISTE Standard 3B: Locate, organize, analysis, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically
use information from a variety of sources and media.
ISTE Standard 3C: Process data and report results.
Materials:
Think Sheet
Pen
Paper

 Computer
Internet connection
Spreadsheet
Background and Rationale:
Key Concepts:
Writing a journal article
Using graphics to enhance writing
Finding information on the internet.
Critical Academic Language:
journal
article
fuel
spreadsheet
research
How does this lesson build on previous lessons?
This lesson is part of a unit on presenting and showcasing writing. Previous
lessons students have written blog posts. Also, the class has been using
spreadsheet to help log facts they have accumulated doing research.
Sequent lessons will focus on:
How to submit your work to a publisher.
More ways graphics can accent your writing.
Procedures and Time line:
Introduction: (5 minutes)
We are going to write articles for a 6th grade class to explain the rise in gas
prices. We will first use our Think Sheets to input research material. Then you
will input information into a spreadsheet page and create a visual chart.
Lastly, you will write an article on the rise in gas prices or a comparison of gas
prices around the world. The person who makes the most interesting and
informative article will be featured in our monthly class newsletter.
Procedures:
Before going to computer (5 minutes):
Students will gather.... Think Sheets, Paper, Pen, Teacher Example Sheet.
At the computer (60 minutes): *lesson will be conducted in computer lab so
that all students will have access to a computer.
5 minutes:
Students will watch a five minute video explaining how to make charts
using spreadsheet.

 10-15 minutes:
Students will use Think Sheet to guide their research. Students will
gather research by placing questions in their internet search engines.
All of the sites that research is gathered from should be listed on Think
Sheet.
20 minutes:
Students will open a spreadsheet document and place the information
they have collected into the cells. Information should be listed in two
neat rows.
Students will then turn information into a chart or graph.
15-20 minutes:
Students will write a 200 word article using facts gathered while
creating their fuel consumption chart.
Closing: (5 minutes)
Questions that will be asked verbally to students..
Do you feel that using spreadsheet to create charts helped make your
articles better?
What was the hardest part of making your chart?
Do you think that charts will make the facts easier to understand?
Assessment Evidence:
Formative assessment will come in the form of instructor questions and
observations.
Summative assessment will come in the form of student article and spreadsheet.
Summative assessment will be graded using rubric.
Modifications:
Students who did not master this activity will be given alone time with the
instructor during the next lesson.
Students who are looking for enrichment will write a personal interest piece for
the class newsletter. Student who writes the most interesting article will win a
chocolate bar.
Students who are low preforming will be seated next to class leaders for guidance
during the computer portion of the lesson.
Students who are English Language Learners will be allowed to do research in
native language. If they are unable to complete writing portion in the time
allotted the student will be allowed to take their work and complete it for
homework.

Requirements

Above Proficiency 10
pts

Proficient 5pts

Below Proficiency 5 pts

or less

Complete Think Sheet

Student has filled out

their Think Sheet
completely. Student has
named more than two
sources.

Student has filled out

Students turned in
their Think Sheet
Think Sheet incomplete.
completely. Student has
not listed sources.

Research

Research gives accurate Research gives a some Research is not

description of problem. what accurate
productive.
description of the issue.

Article

Article is well written

and factual.

Article is factual but

written below grade
expectations.

Article is well below

grade expectations and
contains more
conjuncture than facts.

Spreadsheet

Input is entered
correctly and orderly.

Input contains some

mistakes.

Input contains 4 or more

mistakes.

Chart

Chart is well written

and eye catching.

Student has a chart but

it is not distinctive and
has flaws.

Student did not

construct a chart.

Total points possible

50 points

Think Sheet
Instructions: Use the internet to access information and fill out your think sheet.
My article is about How the price of fuel has changed over the past 35 years.
-orThe difference between the cost of fuel in other countries.
1. How much was the price of oil per gallon in 1980? _____________
2. How much was the price of oil per gallon in 1990?___________
3. How much was the price of oil per gallon in 2000?____________
4. How much was the price of oil per gallon in 2010? ________________
5. How much is the price of oil per gallon today? _______________
Second Chart:
1. How much is a gallon of gas in England? ______________
2. How much is a gallon of gas in Mexico? __________
3. How much is a gallon of gas in Yemen? ___________
4. How much is a gallon of gas in Tokyo? ____________

5. How much is a gallon of gas in Saudi Arabia? __________

Websites used:
eartheasy.com