Recurring Lesson
Tell Me Your Story: Video-Inspired Vocabulary Writing
Grades
9 - 12
Lesson Plan Type
Recurring Lesson
Estimated Time
Recurring 30–45 minute sessions
Author
Publisher
ILA
- Preview |
- Standards |
- Resources & Preparation |
- Instructional Plan |
- Related Resources |
- Comments
Overview
In this recurring lesson, students watch an artistic video clip and use the words in their current vocabulary lesson to process the content through several types of creative writing. This gives students a chance to write in a unique voice and to understand the meaning of their vocabulary words in a new context. They also have the opportunity to analyze their peers' use of the vocabulary when they read and discuss each other's stories.
Featured Resources
- Creative Writing Prompts: Students are guided to consider the content of a particular video through one of this series of four creative writing prompts, which use their vocabulary lessons.
- Peer Analysis Guide: After completing the creative writing prompt, students read through a partner’s work, using this guide to consider whether the vocabulary is used appropriately and to respond to their partner’s story.
From Theory to Practice
- All students, especially struggling adolescent learners, need vocabulary instruction before, during, and after reading narrative, nonfiction, and electronic texts to comprehend and learn content material.
- When you teach new vocabulary, attach a visual or sensory image to a word, because this greatly enhances remembering (Bromley, 2007).
- Teachers who vary their methods of teaching new vocabulary build student motivation for word learning that will help students learn content.
Common Core Standards
This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.
State Standards
This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.
NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts
- 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
- 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
- 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
- 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
- 11. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.
Materials and Technology
- A projector, interactive whiteboard, or class set of tablet devices or laptops
Printouts
Websites
Preparation
- Preview the video clip you want to show from among the options of Sand Painting, Food Court Choir, Piano Solo, and Marching Band in the Field, and have it bookmarked for use in the classroom. Check to be sure that the comments posted below the video are not inappropriate since they may show up on your projector.
- Introduce your current vocabulary lesson, whether related to reading content, SAT preparation, or a grade-level vocabulary book.
- Make copies for each student of the Creative Writing Prompt associated with the video you plan to show.
- Make copies for each student of the Peer Analysis Guide handout.
- Remind students to bring their vocabulary lists or books with them to class.
- Review the Grading Rubric.
Student Objectives
Students will
- Demonstrate an understanding of vocabulary words and creative writing practices by responding to a variety of videos
- Construct better understanding of vocabulary words by analyzing and justifying their evaluation of a peer’s creative writing piece
Instruction and Activities
- Briefly review with students any vocabulary words you’re studying, and tell students that they will be using these words within a creative writing exercise.
- Display the video you’ve chosen on your projector, interactive whiteboard, or tablet. Remind students they are going to respond to the video in writing and should pay close attention to the video and think about how they can respond using vocabulary words.
- Pass out the Creative Writing Prompt to accompany the video, and ask students to write quietly. The first time you do the activity, walk students through the example provided in the prompt before they begin to write. Circulate and answer questions about the vocabulary as needed.
- When students have completed the writing, pass out the Peer Analysis Guide. Group students into pairs and have them trade papers and complete the peer analysis for each other’s stories. Circulate and answer questions as needed.
- Collect students’ completed Creative Writing Prompt and Peer Analysis Guide. Use the Grading Rubric to grade each student’s final product.
Extensions
You can continue this lesson series throughout the year, either by choosing your own video clips and inventing short creative writing prompts, or by inviting students to take turns doing it. Note that if students choose the clips, they should be submitted to the teacher for approval in advance.
Student Assessment / Reflections
- Informally assess students’ understanding of the vocabulary by reviewing their selections and explanations on the completed Peer Analysis Guide.
- Formally assess students’ understanding of the vocabulary and their effort in creative writing by using the Grading Rubric.
I am eager to try out this lesson but I wanted to know where to vocabulary terms are coming from. Is it designed to have any list of vocabulary terms that have been covered in class?
I am eager to try out this lesson but I wanted to know where to vocabulary terms are coming from. Is it designed to have any list of vocabulary terms that have been covered in class?
I am eager to try out this lesson but I wanted to know where to vocabulary terms are coming from. Is it designed to have any list of vocabulary terms that have been covered in class?
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