Web-Based Lesson Plan

TSL 641 – COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING

WEB-BASED LESSON PLAN

PREPARED BY:

SITI NABILA BINTI MOHD RUS

(2013495282)

GROUP:  ED2417A

PREPARED FOR:  PM DR. IZAHAM SHAH ISMAIL

***

WEB-BASED LESSON PLAN

LEVEL: Novice (Form 2 Neko)

TIME: 50 minutes

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE:

Students have learned the skill of identifying the main ideas in the previous reading class.

AIMS / LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1.    Students will be able to identify all the adjectives in the text.

2.    Students will be able to use minimum three of the learned adjectives in making the poster.

LANGUAGE FOCUS: Grammar: Part of Speech - Adjectives

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The computer, Internet connection and an email address

WEBSITE:

www.canva.com, www.lifestudiesonline.com, www.blogger.com particularly 2 Neko and the students’ blogs, and also www.lessonwriter.com  

PREPARATION:

11. Prepare the worksheet using the Lesson Writer website, based on the reading article adapted from Life Studies Online website.

22. Post the reading article and the worksheets (without the answer scheme) on the blog especially created for the class.

33. Check the sites which the students have to use during the activity before the lesson.

PROCEDURE:

ACTIVITY 1 (15 MINUTES)

1. The teacher greets the students. The teacher shows the students a picture of dinosaur, and prompting responses from the students of what they know of it. The teacher then asks whether in general a dinosaur still exists or not. At the same time, the teacher distributes the worksheet for the in-class activities to the students.

2. The teacher asks students to browse to the class’ English blog, english2neko.blogspot.my.  The teacher then instructs the students to read the text silently and take note of the adjectives. The teacher suggests them to write down the adjectives in the first part of the distributed worksheet for the in-class activity.

3. The teacher asks one student to enlist one adjective, as the teacher writes the adjective on the board. The others response to the session and correct their classmates if there are mistakes in identifying the adjectives. The teacher asks a student to summarise what the text is all about. 

ACTIVITY 2 (35 MINUTES)

4. The teacher asks the students to click on the link in the blog post, which leads them to http://www.lifestudiesonline.com/dinosaurs/extinct.htm. The teacher states that this website is the source for the reading article.

5. The teacher then directs the students’ attention on the section below the article, which is entitled Dinosaur Pages by scrolling down the page. The teacher further informs that this section consists of five species of dinosaurs, namely Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops and Pterodactyls.  The teacher demonstrates that if they click on each dinosaur’s name or picture, they will be directed to the article on that particular species. The teacher then explains that the article on each dinosaur describes the species, which of course includes some other adjectives apart from what they have learned earlier.

6. The teacher then informs them that they are going to conduct an activity. In this activity, two or three students working in a group need to read on the articles on the five dinosaur species. Next, the teacher informs that they have to discuss and choose one species. After that, they have to create a poster based on it. The teacher informs they have to write the details of the group and its discussion in the second part of the worksheet.

7. After that, the teacher directs their attention to a website called Canva. The teacher informs that they are able to create posters online by using this website. The teacher also explains that students need to register first before using it.

8. The teacher explains the steps in creating the poster. First of all, they need to identify three adjectives which illustrate on the characteristics of the chosen dinosaur. In this step, the teacher chooses a type of dinosaur and reads the article. The teacher highlights some other adjectives in the particular article in addition to what they have identified and written on the board. The teacher reminds that not all of the adjectives found in the article can be used to describe a dinosaur. Therefore, they group members have to discuss on which adjectives are most suitable to be used in creating the poster. Secondly, they have to choose a picture. The teacher browses for an image of the species on Google and download it into the computer drive. The teacher then opens the tab consisting of the Canva webpage and chooses a template. The teacher types in the name of the dinosaur species, the three adjectives which describe its characteristics and inserts the picture.

9. After the teacher has finished creating the poster, he or she makes it public and saves it. Next, the teacher copies the share link of the poster he or she has just created and posts in on the class' blog. The teacher  instructs the students to follow the steps, reminding that the group which finishes early will be able to present their poster in front of the class. The teacher also reminds the students that they can be as creative as they want.

10. The teacher checks for the students’ understanding. After making sure that they understand the instructions for the activity, the teacher divides the students into groups of two or three. In the process, the teacher identifies the students who work well together and separates students who chat a lot with each other. The teacher allows the students to be engaged in the activity for about twenty minutes. The teacher also facilitates and monitors students from time to time, making sure the members work together as a team, not as an individual.

11. After the time is up, the teacher instructs a group who manages to finish early and posts the share link on a member's blog to present their poster at the front. The teacher asks them to state the three adjectives used to describe the dinosaur species they have chosen. The teacher then congratulates the students for showing such great teamwork.

12. The teacher informs that students who have not yet finished may save their progress in the Canva account and continue on finishing the poster at home, or wherever in which they can access to a computer and of course, the Internet. In the next class, the teacher informs that he or she will reward the members of the group with the most creative dinosaur poster.

13. The teacher informs the students also have to post the answers of the attached worksheets (Worksheet 1, 2 and 3) on their blogs during the weekend. The latest day of the uploading of answers is on Monday the next week. The teacher reminds that any student(s) who get(s) all answers correct will be mentioned as the winner(s) in the next class’ blog post. He or she will also be given merit points, which may help in improving their grades. The teacher also reminds the students not to cheat off their peers’ work. 

14. The teacher asks a student to summarise what they have learned in the classroom. The class is then dismissed.

***

1. Worksheet (In-class Activity)

WORKSHEET (IN-CLASS ACTIVITY)

ACTIVITY 1: IDENTIFYING ADJECTIVES

List down sixteen (16) adjectives found in the article.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

ACTIVITY 2: CREATING A DINO POSTER

Please fill in the details of your group in this form.

Group members:

1.

2.

3.

The chosen species:

Characteristics (please include at least three (3) suitable adjectives):

1.

2.

3

***

2. Posted on the class’ blog: 2 Neko

READING PASSAGE: How Did the Dinosaurs Become Extinct?

Adapted from: Life Studies Online

Directions: Read the following passage carefully. 

     How did the dinosaurs become extinct? This is a question that has stumped scientists ever since dinosaur fossils were first discovered. There are many theories as to how the dinosaurs became extinct. This text presents some of the most popular theories. Keep in mind that there is no absolutely proven theory. No one knows for certain exactly why and how the dinosaurs became extinct.

     Probably the most popular theory right now is the Asteroid Theory. According to this theory a large asteroid or comet collided with Earth about 65 million years ago. Scientists think that such a large collision would throw so much dust into the air that sunlight would not be able to shine and plants and animals would die. The dramatic changes in climate that resulted from this huge collision were too much for the dinosaurs. They were not able to survive.

     Another theory that could explain how the dinosaurs became extinct is volcanic activity. A huge increase in volcanic activity at around 65 million years ago could have pumped so much ash into the air that it blocked out the sun killing the dinosaurs.

     Some scientists believe that there was a severe ice age. Throughout Earth's history there have been many ice ages. The last one ended about 10,000 years ago. A very severe ice age could have changed temperatures and frozen a lot of Earth's water. The dinosaurs would not be able live under such conditions and that is how the dinosaurs became extinct.

     It has also been suggested that disease killed off the dinosaurs. A very deadly and contagious disease may have circulated among the dinosaurs forcing them to become extinct.

     Still yet another theory is the Earth's gradual change in climate over a long time period. Due to this, the dinosaurs were not able to adapt to the cooler, dryer climate.

     There are probably other theories as to how the dinosaurs became extinct. One thing is for certain. All dinosaurs that we know of are extinct. How did all the dinosaurs become extinct? Maybe one of these theories is the right answer. However, it is difficult to explain why all the dinosaurs died out but many other animals survived. Perhaps one day we will know for certain how the dinosaurs became extinct. Until then we must speculate and continue the search for the answer to this great mystery of nature.

***

WORD BANK

Directions: Study the following keywords and definitions.

believe -(v) - To accept as true without proof.

collision -(n) - Violent contact.

contagious -(adj) - Transmitting disease.

extinct -(adj) - No longer exist.

speculate -(v) - To form a guess without facts.

circulated -(v) - To distribute something or spread something around.

collided -(v) - To hit or crash into something.

adapt -(v) - Change something to make it fit.

survive -(v) - To stay alive.

blocked -(v) - To stop or prevent something from going somewhere.

frozen -(v) - Stop all motion or action.

discovered -(v) - To be the first to see or learn about and report on something. 

WORKSHEET 1 (Reading Comprehension)

Directions: Read the following questions and answer each to the best of your ability.

1. Identify a quote from the text that you think is very important and explain why.

2. Write in 3-5 sentences summarising the article.

3. Do you think the extinction of dinosaurs is a good or a bad thing? Please provide two reasons for your answer.

4. What connections can you make between the text and other texts, information, or experiences?

5. State three (3) of the causes, referring to the theories of extinction and the effects. 

Cause	Effect

6. What is the tone of this text?

A. Naive

B. Informative

C. Sentimental

D. Sympathetic

WORKSHEET 2 (Filling in the blanks)

Directions: Use the word bank to identify the word that best completes the sentence.

believe	collision	contagious	extinct	speculate	circulated
collided	adapt	survive	blocked	frozen	discovered

1.    He had to _______________ his diet to his new country.

2.    The company had to _______________ hiring to lower expenses.

3.    Dinosaurs are _______________.

4.    After death, the heart stops beating and the blood stops _______________.

5.    He _______________d the war.

6.    The police _______________ the road.

7.    People _______________ that the old cow was stolen by UFO's.

8.    Columbus _______________ America

9.    You should stay home from school if you have the flu because it is _______________. 

10.  With a telescope, you can see where meteors and asteroids _______________ with the moon.

11.  There was a _______________ between two cars. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

12.  Even as a child, I never _______________d in Santa Claus.

WORKSHEET 3 (Matching)

Directions: Write the letter of word that matches the definition on the line. If it helps, feel free to also draw a line between the definition and the matching word.

believe, collision, contagious, extinct, speculate, circulated, collided, adapt, survive, blocked, frozen, discovered

  

1. _______ Change something to make it fit.

2. _______ Stop all motion or action.

3. _______ No longer exist.

4. _______ To distribute something or spread something around.

5. _______ To stay alive.

6. _______ To stop or prevent something from going somewhere.

7. _______ To form a guess without facts.

8. _______ To be the first to see or learn about and report on something.

9. _______ Transmitting disease.

10. _______ To hit or crash into something.

11. _______ Violent contact.

12. _______ To accept as true without proof.

ANSWER KEY

Ø  Worksheet 1 (Reading Comprehension)

6. B

Ø  Worksheet 3 (Filling in the blanks)

1) adapt    2) freeze    3) extinct    4) circulating    5) survive    6) blocked

7) speculate    8) discovered    9) contagious    10) collided    11) collision    12) believe

Ø  Worksheet 4 (Matching)

1. H     2. K      3. D     4. F      5. I       6. J      7. E      8. L      9. C     10. G   11. B    12. A

***Most questions in Worksheet 1 are open-ended. Therefore, the marking is subjective.   

***

APPENDICES

2 Neko, a dummy blog created to imitate the class’ blog

 The source for the dinosaur articles

 Canva, a 2.0 website which allows its users to create posters

Lesson Writer, an educational tool used in preparing the reading worksheet

REFERENCES

     Canva. (2016). Free Online Poster Maker: Design Custom Posters with Canva. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from All Your Designs – Canva : https://www.canva.com/create/posters/

     Cat, K. (2016, November 17). 2 Neko. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from 2 Neko: http://english2neko.blogspot.my/

     Studies, L. (2014). How did the dinosaurs become extinct - extinction of the dinosaurs. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from Life Studies Online: http://www.lifestudiesonline.com/dinosaurs/extinct.htm

     Writer, L. (2016). Literacy-across-the-curriculum: Support reading in all subjects. Retrieved November 17, 2016, from Lesson Writer: http://www.lessonwriter.com/