Kelly Judge: Life-Skills Lesson Plan

School/Period:
West Chester University

Course/Number:
EDA 523-90

Lesson Topics:
Life-Skills Lesson Plan: Test Taking Skills (6th Grade History)

Objective(s):
SWBAT describe the procedures and steps within taking a test.

SWBAT provide examples of test-taking strategies to use throughout testing periods.

SWBAT evaluate a partners vocabulary skills through the process of vocabulary

games.

Common Core Standard:

Standard - CC.1.4.5.E
Write with an awareness of style. Use precise language and domain-specific
vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Use sentences of varying length.

Standard - ELP.1.S.6-8.3
Initiate or engage in conversation with peers.

Standard - ELP.1.W.6-8.1
Write To do lists through pictures and words using a picture dictionary.

Vocabulary:
Test-Taking Skills: Being prepared and studying for a future assessment.

Agenda: 55 Minute Class / 8:00am-8:55am

 (Background: Students are preparing for an end of the unit assessment on Ancient
India and China. For previous homework, students were to complete a series of
important vocabulary words on flashcards to use for studying purposes and
vocabulary games. The test and the study guide is provided within this lesson as
well.)
Anticipatory Set (10 Minutes)
1. 8:00-8:05: Test Prep song time! Students will sing their test-prep song (this song was
learned in October and my students absolutely love it).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIdhw1R4xys
2. 8:05-8:15: Using individual student whiteboards, students will be asked the following
questions to be written on their boards and then share their answers with the class.
Teacher will write their answers on the board (select 5-6 students). It is important to
review test-taking tips and strategies before reviewing for their test that is tomorrow.
a. What do you think is most important to do before a big test?
b. Name 3 things to do to prepare for a test.
c. What is your favorite test-taking tip for a new student?

Lesson Procedures (30 Minutes)

1. 8:15-8:35: Students will participate in a walk and chalk discussing and writing test-
taking tips for Before, During, and After the test. There will be 3 groups (representing
the 3 the times of test-taking) made up of 7 students each. On 3 separate poster
boards, students will be writing tips on test-taking skills. The teacher will review
expectations, rules, and instructions for the walk and chalk activity. The teacher will
also assign jobs for the walk and chalk. After the students have completed all 3
rounds, the class will share their answers (from the speaker job). Review tips from
page 36-41: file:///E:/West%20Chester/Spring%202017/EDA%20523-
90%20Instructional%20Methods%20II/Test%20Taking%20Strategies%20&
%20Games%20for%20the%20Classroom.pdf
Rules:
Walk, do not run to each section
Talk at a level one whisper level
Use positive language and brotherhood
Give talk space
Instructions:
In your small groups, you will be writing 3 test-taking tips and strategies for each time
of test-taking. This includes Before, During and After testing.
You will have 5 minutes at each station.
You must not repeat what previous groups have written.
Jobs:
Writer
Time Keeper
Facilitator
Speaker (for sharing with class afterwards)
 Material Manager
Encourager
Problem Solver
2. 8:35-8:45: Using the technology app, Plicker, students will be engaged in multiple
choice questions to review for their unit 5 test tomorrow. (Plickers lets you poll your
class for free, without the need for student devices. Just give each student a card (a
"paper clicker"), and use your iPhone/iPad to scan them to do instant checks-for-
understanding, exit tickets, and impromptu polls. The cards can be moved upside
down and turned to provide answers for students. Students will not have to use their
cell phones but just this paper. - Plicker, 2017) Students will answer questions on their
white boards to show their work and display the cards based on their answers for
multiple choice items.

Closure (10 Minutes):

1. 8:45-8:50: Students will develop one question from their Unit 5 vocabulary to ask a
partner. This question will be written on a Post-It. The answer must also be written on
the back on the Post-It. When students are finished with their question, they may
place their Post-It within a hat for other students to select. Students will be given
helpful tips that these questions can be true or false, multiple choice, or short answer-
relating to their study guide.
2. 8:50-8:55: Students will pick one question from the hat (that is not theirs) and they
will ask this question to their partner. Teacher will review 3 questions with the class
(after partner questioning) as well for extra practice. Students will be reminded to
speak at a level 1 whisper and to use positive language when speaking to a brother.

Materials/Equipment:
-Anticipatory Set:
Speakers
Computer
YouTube for song
Individual white boards
PowerPoint for directions

-Lesson Procedures:
Poster Board
Markers
Plickers Website
Plickers Cards
PowerPoint for directions
Unit 5 Study Guide
-Closure:
 PowerPoint for directions
Post-Its
Hat

Technology:
-Anticipatory Set:
Speakers
Computer
PowerPoint for directions
-Lesson Procedures:
PowerPoint for directions
Plickers Website
-Closure:
PowerPoint for directions

Anticipatory Set:
Students will be introduced to test-taking habits and techniques through a class song
and a class discussion.

Closing:
Students will participate in an exit ticket task and share with the class their test-taking
tips plus their vocabulary acquisition. This will be used to show comprehension of
test-taking strategies.

Check for Understanding:

Do Now activity
Exit Ticket activity
Class Discussion for test-taking tips
Review of routines, rules, procedures
Student multiple choice questions through Plickers
Student answers on WhiteBoards (card picking)
Walk and Chalk activity with peers
Song during Do Now

Formative Summative Assessments Used:

Do Now activity
Exit Ticket activity
Student multiple choice questions through Plickers
Walk and Chalk activity with peers

Homework:
No homework (study for test)

Differentiation:
Less choices for multiple choice game (Plicker) to help students narrow down
 questioning
Particular jobs for walk and chalk activity that are useful / unique for each students
strengths
Options for creating questions during the Exit Ticket

Reflection on Planning:
To prepare, I did not have to spend any money or buy new objects. I was able to get all
of the supplies from my classroom already. The technology used also were free
sources. The Plickers squares, used for student answers, were the most challenging
aspect of planning for this lesson. This is due to students needing particular squares
that match their student IDs.
This activity is very simple to create for students in the 6th grade to use test-taking
skills. Students within this age level benefit from a hands-on lesson since test-taking
skills are areas that require deeper practice and learning due to students having
assessments more often within middle school.

Reflection on Instruction: NA

Resources / Works Cited:

Miller, K. (2017). Test Taking Strategies and Games for the Classroom. A Love of
Teaching. Retrieved on April 3, 2017 from: file:///E:/West%20Chester/Spring
%202017/EDA%20523-90%20Instructional%20Methods%20II/Test%20Taking
%20Strategies%20&%20Games%20for%20the%20Classroom.pdf

Plickers, (2017). Plickers Cards. Retrieved on April 3, 2017 from:

https://www.plickers.com/library

Thompson, D. (May 25, 2011). Rock This Test! Retrieved on April 3, 2017 from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIdhw1R4xys
 Review Sheet for Unit 5 Test
Directions: Make flash cards for the vocabulary words below. In addition, please answer the questions below in
complete sentences. These topics and vocabulary words will be on your test.
This work is due on: March 27th, Monday. Your unit 5 test is on March 28th, Tuesday.
Hinduism: a major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, developed from Vedic religion.
Caste: a class, or group, in Hindu society
Karma: a belief found in Hinduism and other Indian traditions that the good and evil done in a past life determines

the nature of that persons next life

Meditation: to focus the mind inward in order to find the spiritual awareness
Nirvana: a lasting peace
Missionaries: people who spread their religious beliefs to others
Buddhism: is a nontheistic religion that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely

based on teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha

Mauryan Empire: an empire lasting from about 322 to 187 B.C.E., during which the Mauryan family unified India

for the first time

 Ashoka: the ruler of the Mauryan Empire from about 269 to 232 B.C.E., whose edicts reflected Buddhist values
Edicts: a command that is obeyed like a law
Gupta Empire: the empire covering much of northern India that was ruled by the Guptas from around 320 C.E. to

around 550 C.E.

Anyang: location where ruins were found from the Shang dynasty, Chinas first civilization
Shang Dynasty: one of the first Chinese dynasties, ruled from 1700 to 1122 B.C.E.
Han Dynasty: the dynasty that ruled China from about 206 B.C.E. to 220 C.E., the period following the Qin

dynasty