Common Core / Discovery Portal Activity

COMMON CORE/DISCOVERY PORTALACTIVITY

Reading Literature – Grade Five

Jerome Gracy – (standards 1-3)

Jessica Whittaker – (standards 4-6)

Shari Wickline – (standards 7-10)

EDT-786

C.C.R.L.5.1. QUOTE ACCURATELY FROM A TEXT WHEN EXPLAINING WHAT THE TEXT SAYS EXPLICITLY AND WHEN DRAWING INFERENCES FROM THE TEXT.

1. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-U.S. History-Trial & Triumph-Dust Bowl-

o The site contains an article/timeline about the Dust Bowl. Students would be asked to use accurate quotes when explaining text and drawing inferences from the text. Text includes pictures, dates and written text to use for inferences. Other activities linked to this resource include movies and biographies.

2. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Geography-Maps-Reading Maps-Latitude & Longitude-

o The site has definitions, graphics, and how to instructions.

Definitions could be done using quotes and all the information could be integrated for drawing inferences. I would use this resource as an introduction to a lesson determining the location of cities in the United States. Many links to other relevant activities.

C.C.R.L.5.1. CONTINUED

3. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Government & Citizenship-All About Democracy-The Right to Vote -A Fight to Vote-o The site reviews the events that led to some of the current voting requirements. Quotes

and inferences could be used from this article in a lesson about voting now and in the past. Links to many other resources that would help diversify lesson material.

4. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Geography-Communities-Transportation –Air-The Wright Brothers-o The Wright Brothers site describes exhibits at the Smithsonian National Air and Space

Museum. Contains pictures and text that could be used for drawing inferences and accurate quotes. This resource could be used in a lesson about describing museums and their specific purpose. Has links to other resources including our Air Force Museum in Dayton.

5. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Reading & Vocabulary-What Do You Read Next-Reading Nonfiction-

o The Reading Nonfiction site is a general article about reading nonfiction literature. There are definitions and general statements that would be great for quoting when explaining and drawing inferences from the text. Reading nonfiction literature would be introduced using this article as a source for students’ completing their own reference guide on reading nonfiction literature. Resource has links to many other resources since it is part of a virtual classroom website maintained at a high school.

C.C.R.L.5.2. DETERMINE A THEME OF A STORY, DRAMA, OR POEM FROM DETAILS IN THE TEXT, INCLUDING HOW CHARACTERS IN A STORY OR DRAMA RESPOND TO CHALLENGES OR HOW THE SPEAKER IN A POEM REFLECTS UPON A TOPIC: SUMMARIZE THE TEXT.

1. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-U.S. History-People-Many Faces, Many Places-Coming to America-

o The site has several articles with details that can assist in determining the theme. Summarizing the text would be done with the use of the text and pictures and videos that are included in the site. This resource could be used in an unit about history of immigration to the United States or about different cultures of individuals. Includes links that could be used to diversify the lesson with pictures and videos.

2. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-U.S. History-Women & World War 11-America’s Home Front-

o The resource has articles with many details and well defined characters. The students would use the Japanese American youngster or the student that becomes a shipbuilder article to answer the standard. Other links are included that could be used to expand the lesson options. Introducing other topics such as discrimination, changing roles of individuals in society, and technology could be done with these resources.


3. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-U.S. History-Women & World War 11-Women’s Baseball-

o The resource is about the Women’s professional baseball league. There are details and links to clarify terms used in the main article that would enable students to respond to the reading standard. A timeline is included that would be helpful in completing the standard requirements. Resource could be used with unit about many different topics including sports, women’s changing roles, and discrimination.

4. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Reading & Vocabulary-All About Books-Mythology-Greek Myths-

o The site has several short stories that could be used by students to complete standard criteria. I would give the students a choice from the list of stories to read and have them complete the standard tasks. Probably a vocabulary lesson using new words from their story selection would be included. Depending on the class this could be done as a partnership activity.

5. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Literature-Poetry-Writing Poetry-Inspirations-

o The resource has many poems that could be used by the teacher. I would have the students pick one that they liked and have them determine how the speaker reflects upon the topic. Units about different types of writing, purposes of writing, and literature could include this resource.

C.C.R.L.5.3. COMPARE AND CONTRAST TWO OR MORE CHARACTERS, SETTINGS, OR EVENTS IN A STORY OR DRAMA, DRAWING ON SPECIFIC DETAILS IN THE TEXT (E.G. HOW CHARACTERS INTERACT)

1. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Study & Research-Learning About Animals-Hall of Mammals-

o The resource has many specific details to aid in utilizing comparing and contrasting skills. Students would be asked to compare and contrast two or more characters (animal types) , settings , or events in the article of their choice. Earth Science, Biology, Writing, and other disciplines could incorporate this resource in lesson material.

2. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Technology-Stealing Secrets-Famous Spies-

o The site contains many articles about spies and espionage . Comparing and contrasting two of the individuals portrayed in their respective articles would be done by the each student. Another possibility would be a partnership project with each student contributing to the paper by using an article about a different spy. Writing, History, and other subject areas could use this resource in unit lessons.


3. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Earth Science-Caves-o The resource has many articles, diagrams and pictures with captions about caves.

There is one article that explains the four major types of caves and how they are formed. Students would be assigned this article and asked to respond to the standard instructions. Their response could involve other material, such as models in addition to text. Another article could be picked by the student if they so desired. History, Geography, Science, and Writing could incorporate this resource as a lesson in their respective units.

4. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Physical Science-How We Move-Energy-

o The site has an article that explains different forms of energy. Comparing and contrasting detailed information from this resource would meet the standard. Includes other articles with pictures that could be used for resource material to give students choices that meet their area of interest. History, economic, and other fields of study could use this resource as part of unit study.

5. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-U.S. History-Trail & Triumph-New Deal Projects-

o The resource has the material laid out as an Interactive Periodic Table. All the projects can be reviewed individually by clicking on one of the tabs. Students would be assigned to pick any two programs and complete the standard using the details provided in the texts. Also included in this resource are events and people that students could use for the assignment if they would prefer. Many links are included in this site for other resources that could be used in other subject areas.

C.C.R.L.5.4. DETERMINE THE MEANING OF WORDS AND PHRASES AS THEY ARE USED IN A TEXT, INCLUDING FIGURATIVELANGUAGE SUCH AS METAPHORS AND SIMILES.

1. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-(In search box type “words”)-Martin's big words the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin's big words-

This site offers and looks at the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., explaining his work to bring a peaceful end to segregation. This site would be a great way to introduce history with inspirational words. Additionally, this would be a helpful modification for students who are not at their current grade reading level. It is a video, but you could use this activity to form a text.

2. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-ESL/ELL Tool-Speaking-

This site offers how to begin the Reading Steps, which is ideal in understanding words and their meanings. Additionally, this site gives exercises on: How Do I... Use a Dictionary? Hear Conversations? Sound Out Words? (All these skills are necessary in learning how to use similes correctly.) This is an inquiry-type resource, which is great for students with ADHD or other attention disabilities.

C.C.R.L.5.4. CONTINUED3. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Reading & Vocabulary-Vocabulary-Figurative Language –Metaphors-What Is A Metaphor?-

This site offers the explanation of what a metaphor is. It is a visual activity and lists examples of many different types of metaphors. Students will be able to view this activity and get the basics to the definition of a metaphor as well as how to form a metaphor with the appropriate usage of the word “is”.

4. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Grammar-Parts of Speech-Conjunction Basics-

This site offers the explanation of what conjunctions are and helps aid in the explanation that phrases together make sentences. This site explains that: “The main conjunctions you will see in reading are: and, but, for, nor, or, so and yet. Memorize these seven little words, and you are close to mastering conjunctions!” This is a helpful site in helping students understand the role of phrases in a text.

5. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Literature-Poetry-Elements of Poetry-Simile-ThinkQuest: Simile-

This site offers an illustration of a poem about… similes. This site offers a creative way to the introduction of a new topic (similes) and poetry is involved. Many students who struggle with writing would like this activity because poetry often comes easier for those who have difficulty with narrative writing and sentence structure.

C.C.R.L.5.5. EXPLAIN HOW A SERIES OF CHAPTERS, SCENES, OR STANZAS FITS TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF A PARTICULAR STORY, DRAMA, OR POEM.

1. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Writing-Give Writing a Boost-Styles of Writing-News Story-News Story-

This site offers a great way for your students to understand all the different structures it takes to form a story. This activity specifically has your students begin writing their own newspaper but first, “In order to start your own newspaper it's best if you look at several examples of newspapers first. This way you can get an idea of how you want your paper to look and what type of stories you want to include.” This is a great way to get your students to begin piece by piece on what a story needs.

2. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Art & Theater-Theatre-Understanding the Story-Action (Plot)-Understanding Setting, Plot, and Theme-

This site allows your students to be hands-on when trying to understand what the setting, plot, and themes to a story are. This is a creative and colorful activity and many students would enjoy this one.


3. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Art & Theater-Theater-Understanding the Story-Problem (Conflict)-Corey Green’s Story Tips-

This site gives a detailed blog that has many resources for helping children know how to write. There are many hyperlinks that go into detail about each section/part of a well-written story and this covers chapters and scenes to stories as well. This would be a useful website to use in the classroom because it would allow your students to pick and choose the topics they least understand when forming a story.

4. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Literature-Poetry-Elements of Poetry-Stanza-Poetry Fore Children: Choosing The Format-

This site offers an explanation of what a couplet is and gives examples from varies works of children’s poetry. Specifically there are many poems that give examples to what a tercet, and ballad stanza poem are as well. It is a creative activity that shows the many ways your students can create poetry.

5. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Literature-Poetry-Elements of Poetry-Stanzas-All About Stanzas-

This cite offers a detailed explanation of what a stanza (or also referred to as a verse) is in poetry. The students would be able to view and click on the many hyperlinks that show the many different types of poetry through examples. This activity would allow students to have a say in learning what specific types of poetry they choose.

C.C.R.L.5.6. DESCRIBE HOW A NARRATOR’S OR SPEAKER’S POINT OF VIEW INFLUENCES HOW EVENTS ARE DESCRIBED.

1. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Art & Theater-Theater-Making Plays Together-Producing-Kids Can Put On A Play-\

This site gives a laundry list of what needs to be done for your students to put on a successful play. This would be a great activity for your students to learn about the role and importance of a narrator or speaker. This site explains what you would need to do to perform a Shakespearean play, but if you followed the to-do-list, it would work well with any chosen and appropriate play for your students.

2. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Speech & Communication-Types of Speeches-Narratives & Story Telling-Example-Student Model-

This site offers a very moving narrative about a difficult experience. Sharing what she learned from this friendship makes an effective conclusion. This narration also teachers your students how a narrator’s point of view can influence a story. (This is a great activity to help your students’ realize that even through hard times, lessons can be learned.)

C.C.R.L.5.6. CONTINUED3. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Art & Theater-Theater-Understanding the Story-Problem (Conflict)-Corey Green’s Story Tips-

This site gives a detailed blog that has many resources for helping children know how to write. There are many hyperlinks that go into detail about each section/part to a well-written story and this covers chapters and scenes to stories. This would be a useful website to use in the classroom because it would allow your students to pick and choose the topics that they least understand when forming a story.

4. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Literature-Poetry-Elements of Poetry-Stanza-Poetry Fore Children: Choosing The Format-

This site offers an explanation of what a couplet is and gives examples from varies works of children’s poetry. Specifically there are many poems that give examples to what a tercet, and ballad stanza poem are as well. It is a creative activity that shows the many ways your students can create poetry.

5. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Literature-Poetry-Elements of Poetry-Stanzas-All About Stanzas-

This site offers a detailed explanation of what a stanza (or also referred to as a verse) is in poetry. The students would be able to view and click on the many hyperlinks that show the many different types of poetry through examples. This activity would allow students to have a say in learning what specific types of poetry they choose.

C.C.R.L.5.7. ANALYZE HOW VISUAL AND MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE MEANING, TONE, OR BEAUTY OF A TEXT (E.G., GRAPHIC NOVEL, MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION OF FICTION, FOLKTALE, MYTH, POEM).

1. Discovery Portal-Elementary-Technology-Programs, Projects & Gadgets-Programs & Applications-Presentations-PowerPoint in the Classroom- The PowerPoint in the Classroom offers a fun step by step tutorial with animation. The tutorial can be used as a teaching device or by individual students. The students can design a PowerPoint based on a genre of literature they have read and then present it to the class. They can use various tools to show how visual and multimedia elements can enhance their understanding of the piece of literature. 2. Discovery Portal-Elementary-Speech & Communication-Creating a Presentation-Using Visuals Tools-Software-Creating Animations- Creating Animations allows the student to use a resource called Cartoonster. The site lets the student create a graphic story using various images that are animated. The students can use this after reading a book to turn the contents into an animated cartoon. It will show the students that the story can be retold using a visual and multimedia format that brings the pages to life.


3. Discovery Portal-Elementary-Speech & Communication-Creating & Presentation-Using Visuals Tools-Diorama & More-Diorama- The Making a Diorama Tutorial is a fun an easy step by step guide to developing a diorama. The diorama can be used to visually reflect an important event from a piece of literature the student has been reading. It offers directions that are easy to follow and provide visuals that help with the learning process. The students can then present their diorama to the class retelling the major events from the story.

4. Discovery Portal-Middle School-Literature-Elements of Literature-Story Elements-Mood & Tone-Tone & Poetry- The link provides the students with the definition of tone. It also allows the students to complete an activity focusing on analyzing the tone in a poem and two examples of how tone changes the functions of a poem. The students can complete the activities and then read print poems and analyze them. They can then compare which way is easier to use when analyzing poems. 5. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Literature-Non-Fiction-Types of Non-Fiction-Biographies/Autobiographies-Multimedia Biographies- Multimedia Biographies lets the students search by letter of names beginning with, or by topic. The list of available biographies is extensive, easy to navigate and provides options for the students to further explore various areas of their person’s life. The students can also print a copy of the biography, link to a bank that takes them to an external site (ie. like the White House’s multimedia biography of John Adams), as well as a list of suggested books. The site would be very easy for fifth grade students to navigate on their own and give a great example of how visual and multimedia elements provide more quality information when focusing on biographies.

C.C.R.L.5.8. (NOT APPLICABLE TO LITERATURE)

C.C.R.L.5.9. COMPARE AND CONTRAST STORIES IN THE SAME GENRE (E.G., MYSTERIES AND ADVENTURE STORIES) ON THEIR APPROACHES TO SIMILAR THEMES AND TOPICS.

1. Discovery Portal-Elementary-Reading & Vocabulary-Helping You to Read-Graphic Organizers-Venn Diagrams-Interactive Diagram-

The diagram can be personalized according to what the student has been asked to compare

and contrast. The students complete the diagram by filling in the prompts. Once each prompt is submitted the diagram fills itself in. The students then have the option to print a hard copy of the diagram that can be turned into the teacher for assessment. Students would not only build technology skills; but the application would hold their interest more than the traditional print diagram.

2. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Reading & Vocabulary-All About Books-Nonfiction-Fiction or Nonfiction?-

The activity lets students learn about the differences between fiction and non-fiction in an

interactive way. The students work through the tutorial by reading brief excerpts and then choosing if the material is fiction or non-fiction. Once they are done they have the option of completing a brief interactive quiz. This would be a great activity to use with students when comparing fiction and non-fiction texts. The students can complete the activity on their own or in groups.


3. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Reading & Vocabulary-Helping You to Read-Reading Comprehension-Compare & Contrast-Compare & Contrast- The site is an interactive slide show providing a wonderful tutorial on how to

effectively compare and contrast, as well as how to efficiently use graphic organizers. The slide show can be used as whole-group, in small groups or by individuals. It will provide the students with a solid understanding of how to compare and contrast anything from items to pieces of literature.

4. Discovery Portal-Middle School-Reading & Vocabulary-Informational & Persuasive Text-Organizing Text-Compare & Contrast-Graphic Organizer- The graphic organizer can be used as an electronic computer or a paper worksheet. If

filled out electronically the students have the option to send it to the teacher via the computer or to print a copy. By completing the graphic organizer the students able to compare and contrast the pieces of literature at the same time. They only need to follow the steps and answers the questions being asked in complete sentences.

5. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Writing-Give Writing a Boost-Styles of Writing-Compare & Contrast-Compare & Contrast Tutorial- The tutorial is an interactive way for students to learn how to do basic comparing and

contrasting. It breaks each step of the process down into easy to follow instructions with multiple examples. The tutorial could be used with students that are struggling with the basic concepts required before comparing and contrasting pieces of literature. Students could use the tutorial as reference for their own clarification once they have been introduced to the concept.

C.C.R.L.5.10. BY THE END OF THE YEAR, READ AND COMPREHENDS LITERATURE, INCLUDING STORIES, DRAMAS, AND POETRY, AT THE HIGH END OF THE GRADES 4–5 TEXT COMPLEXITY BAND INDEPENDENTLY AND PROFICIENTLY.

1. Discovery Portal-Elementary-Reading & Vocabulary-Charts & Diagrams-Chapter by Chapter Summary Chart- The Chapter by Chapter Chart allows the students to summarize each chapter they read in

their own words. This approach lets the students reflect on what was read and how they comprehended the text. The chart can be copied into a word program for easy use. The chart can then be printed off and assessed by the teacher. The page also provides a link to various resources that provide similar activities related to particular genres.

2. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Reading & Vocabulary—Helping You to Read-Why We Read-To Solve a Problem-Author’s Purpose Activity- The site provides an interactive activity focusing on how to determine the author’s purpose

of a story. By completing the activity students can gain a stronger understanding of how to use the author’s purpose in their own comprehension and understanding of a piece of literature. Students can work through the tutorial in small groups or independently. By completing the activity students can learn their strengths and weaknesses as a way to improve their own comprehension when reading.


3. Discovery Portal-Elementary School-Reading & Vocabulary-Helping You to Read-Why We Read-To Understand-Did I Read It or Not?-

The site provides a student web lesson teaching students to discriminate between the explicit and implicit information in the text. Students that have an understanding in how to make these discrepancies are able to comprehend the most critical elements of text.

4. Discovery Portal-Middle School-Reading & Vocabulary-Reading Process: Comprehension Strategies-What Did That Say?-Reading Comprehension- The reading comprehension site offers resources for teachers to use with students

to build the skills necessary for comprehending what is read. The site also offers ways the teacher may begin to access the progression of a student’s comprehension strategies. The resources can be searched by grade level, special needs, ESL and adult education. The students can learn this process by completing a webquest, applying their skills through activities as well as other resources.

5. Discovery Portal-Middle School-Reading & Vocabulary-Reading Process: Comprehension Strategies-Independent Reading Comprehension-Purpose of Reading-Reading for a Purpose- The tutorial lets the user build a reading module that reflects their current ability

level and provides suggestions to improve comprehension skills. The teacher can use the tutorial for whole group instruction or with small groups.

EXPERIENCES WITH DISCOVERY PORTAL

Gracy- Many of the sites did have good information and were colorful, exciting, and relevant to

their topics. Modification of the resources would allow them to be used in many disciplines for

lesson material When using the search window many of the sites that would be listed were not part of

Discovery Portal. Some of the sites listed could not be located or opened. Advertisement on some of the listed sites was disruptive and not what I would want

students to navigate around.

EXPERIENCES WITH DISCOVERY PORTAL CONTINUED…

Whittaker- Discovery Portal is a useful resource for teachers as well as

perspective teachers. Naturally, at first, it was difficult to find what I was looking for because I had never used it before. So, if there were a tab that was a hyperlink to a ‘How To Use For New Beginners’ that would be very beneficial.

Discovery Portal often led me to other websites that were not what I expected. I expected actual lesson plans and things of that nature. But, the only sources that I seemed to find were ‘idea-type’ resources… Not actual lesson plans. (Therefore, this was not a website that made things clear cut and straight forward and that was annoying.) *But, I also feel like we do need to do our own work and research so…

In all, other than not having a ‘How To Begin’ tab for Discovery Portal, I thought it was a pretty useful resource that I will probably use in my future classroom.

EXPERIENCES WITH DISCOVERY PORTAL CONTINUED…

Wickline-o After using the discovery portal for this assignment I found areas where teachers

would run into problems. o If not fully trained to navigate the discovery portal site teachers will become

frustrated, making them hesitant to utilize the many wonderful features and resources offered to them and their students.

o Most teachers are going to search using a basic search strategy. For example when typing “reading comprehension” it is hard to find resources focusing only on reading comprehension. Quotations needed to be placed around both words to for them to search as one term.

o An advanced search feature that helps eliminate this confusion may be helpful for teachers searching for resources focusing on specific topics.

o It would be helpful if the resources could be searched by grade level. This would allow teachers to have quick access to grade appropriate material, instead of reviewing each resource they find to see if it is would be beneficial for their students ability levels. T

o here were also many sites that were no longer active when I tried to view them. This may begin to deter teachers from continuing to look for resources.

o I have been fortunate to have had prior experience with Discovery Portal, but a general classroom teacher that has not been given an introduction to its features, and turned onto the pros of utilizing its resources, may not find it an easy approach to supplementing and enhancing their lessons.

o While working in the group I was able to learn of the various experience levels teachers have when it comes to technology and how to access resources electronically. It is this wide spectrum of ability and comfort levels that educators across the board have that limit the over all success of the portal.

Education

Common Core / Discovery Portal Activity