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Reading and Writing Information
Minilesson
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The following is an example of a minilesson that can be used in the classroom.
Mrs. Davis's First Graders Make Venn Diagrams
- Introduce the Topic
Mrs. Davis's first graders have been studying George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and Mrs. Davis comments that the two presidents are a lot alike and yet different in a number of ways, too.
- Share Examples
Mrs. Davis asks her students to think about some differences. Jennifer says, "George Washington was the first president and Abraham Lincoln came later." Johnny adds, "George Washington was a general in the Revolutionary War but I don't think Abraham was ever in a war." Mrs. Davis agrees that those are two important differences. "What are some ways the two presidents are the same?" she asks. Marcie says, "It's like you just said. Both Abraham Lincoln and George Washington were presidents." Mrs. Davis agrees. Will says, "Well, they're dead — both of them." Next Jeremy suggests, "I think they were both good Americans. They tried to help people." Then other students suggest several other similarities and differences.
- Provide Information
Mrs. Davis explains that students can make a Venn diagram to compare the ways the two presidents are alike and different. She draws a Venn diagram on chart paper and labels the separate section on the left "George Washington," the overlapping part in the middle "alike," and the separate section on the right "Abraham Lincoln." Then Mrs. Davis asks students to repeat their similarities and differences and she writes them in the sections of the Venn diagram.
- Supervise Practice
Mrs. Davis divides the students into pairs, and each pair of students creates their own Venn diagram comparing George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Students draw the overlapping circles of the Venn diagram on large sheets of drawing paper, and they list at least two similarities and two differences. Some of the students copy the items from the Venn diagram that Mrs. Davis made, but other students think of different similarities and differences. Mrs. Davis circulates around the classroom, providing assistance as needed.
- Reflect on Learning
The next day, Mrs. Davis's students share their Venn diagrams with classmates and talk about the learning experience.
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