Introduction to Integrated Literacy Unit

Topic: Jan Brett Retelling Unit
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Resources that need to be available to students in the classroom:
* Computers, Internet access, Jan Brett books, crayons, colored pencils, writing paper and listening center (tape, headphones, and tape recorder).

Overarching Objective:
Students will be able to:
· Analyze author/illustrator style.
· Retell author’s stories through the use of technology.

Integrated Content Areas: Language Arts

Audience: Other Early Elementary Teachers

Rationale given to students at the outset of the unit:
“Today we will begin an author study on Jan Brett, a famous children’s author and illustrator. Remember, that means she writes the words and draws the pictures! During this unit we will read many Jan Brett books to see what kind of author and illustrator she is. We will then pretend to be Jan Brett and write her next book. We will publish our pieces of writing using the computers to type our words!”

List of Massachusetts Frameworks Covered:
K-2: 1.9 Explain that the Internet links computers around the world, allowing people to access information and communicate.
K-2: 3.1 Use various age-appropriate technologies to locate, collect, and organize information. (MA Technology Frameworks)
8.2 Retell a main event from a story heard or read.
8.5 Retell important facts from a text heard or read. (MA Reading and Literature Frameworks)
K-2: 1.5 Use a word processing application to write, edit, print, and save simple assignments. (MA Technology framework)

Time: This unit should take one week with one 50 minute lesson per day.

Technological tools utilized in the unit: The website http://www.janbrett.com/ with two videos and the use of Microsoft Word to publish the writing.
Assessment tools for the unit: Round Robin Retelling Activity, Retelling Graphic Organizer, Keyboarding Chart, “Ticket to Lunch”, Drawing a Hedgehog, and Jan Brett Writing Rubric.

List of references utilized by teacher:
1. Jan Brett books

2. Jan Brett’s website: http://janbrett.com/

3. How to Draw a Hedgehog: http://janbrett.com/video/how_to_draw_a_hedgehog_starring_astro.htm

4. At Home with Jan Brett: http://janbrett.com/video/jan_brett_at_home.htm

5. Keyboarding Chart: http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/images/Black%20and%20white%20Keyboard.pdf

6. Shape Book for the Mitten: http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/hme/k_5/shapebook/pdf/mittens.pdf