Fortune Cookies Motivational Lesson

Author(s) Jayme Prisbell

Grade Level: 10

Integrated disciplines: Language Arts

NE Standards:

01 Read and comprehend a variety of selections to demonstrate understanding.
03 Select and revise a work from a variety of analytically-scored writing samples.
04 Use speaking skills for discussion and presentation that demonstrate appropriate consideration of audience, purpose, and information to be conveyed.
05 Apply listening skills for a variety of purposes.

Objectives:

To create an original story that includes a beginning, middle, and end.
To create interesting character(s), a good description of the setting, a problem, and a solution.

Assessment:

	1- Poor	3- Good	5- Excellent
Ideas and Content	The paper has no clear sense of purpose or central theme. To extract meaning from the text, the reader must make inferences based on sketchy details.	The paper is beginning to define the topic, even though development is still basic or general	The paper is clear and focused. It holds the reader's attention. Relevant anecdotes and details enrich the central theme or storyline
Organization	The writing lacks a clear sense of direction. There is no identifiable internal structure	The organizational structure is strong enough to move the reader through the text without undue confusion	The organization enhances and showcases the central idea or storyline. The order, structure or presentation of information is compelling and moves the reader through the text.
Voice	The writer seems indifferent, uninvolved or distanced from the topic and/or the audience and the writing is lifeless or mechanical	The writer seems sincere, but not fully engaged or involved. The result is pleasant or even personable	The writer speaks directly to the reader in a way that is individualistic, expressive and engaging. Clearly, the writer is involved in the text, is sensitive to the needs of an audience, and is writing to be read.
Word Choice	The writer struggles with a limited vocabulary, searching for words to convey meaning	The language is functional, even if it lacks punch; it is easy to figure out the writer's meaning on a general level	Words convey the intended message in a precise, interesting and natural way
Sentence Fluency	The reader has to practice quite a bit in order to give this paper a fair interpretive reading	The text hums along with a steady beat, but tends to be more pleasant or businesslike than musical, more mechanical than fluid	The writing has an easy flow and rhythm when read aloud. Sentences are well built, with strong and varied structure that invites expressive oral reading
Conventions	Errors in spelling, punctuation, usage and grammar, capitalization, and/or paragraphing repeatedly distract the reader and make the text difficult to read	The writer shows reasonable control over a limited range of standard writing conventions. Conventions are sometimes handled well and enhance readability; at other times, errors are distracting and impair readability	The writer demonstrates a good grasp of standard writing conventions (e.g., grammar, capitalization, punctuation, usage, spelling, paragraphing) and uses conventions effectively to enhance readability. Errors tend to be so few and so minor that the reader can easily overlook them unless hunting for them specifically

Materials:

A box of fortune cookies
Paper
Pen/pencil
Graphic organizer of the Six Traits of Writing
Final draft paper (shape of fortune cookie)

Procedures

Anticipatory Set:

I will begin the lesson by reviewing the basic elements of a good story. As a class we will discuss the Six Traits process (particularly word choice, voice, and fluent sentences) as well as the importance of emphasizing how a good story includes interesting character(s), a description of the setting, a problem, and a solution.

Learning Activities

Teacher:

Hand out to each student a fortune cookie and paper in the shape of a fortune cookie (this is for their final draft).
Explain that the fortune is the basis for the writing assignment.
Advise the students they can interpret the fortune any way they like.
A graphic organizer (Six Traits of Writing) will be provided to each student as well as being displayed on the overhead.
Ask the students what are some of their ideas for their writing/stories and responses will be written on the overhead.
Have students write their paper.

Students:

Students will open their cookies and read their fortunes.
Students will review as a class the Six Traits of Writing (graphic organizer) and discuss as a class any additional ideas they have for writing their stories.
Students will write their paper.
Students will partner up and peer edit each other’s work.

Closure:

Discuss the processes used to determine the most important information. Students will display their work on the literature board so they can view each others stories.

References:

http://www.nde.state.ne.us/READ/Standards/ReadingWritingStandards

Conventions