Great Teaching Ideas
lesson & unit viewer
Over the River and Far Away
published on: 9/23/2005
Contributing Teacher(s): Charlotte McNeary
Subject Area: Communication Arts/Reading/literature, Communication Arts/Writing/research
Grade Range: Lower Elementary (K-3)
Materials Needed:
- Handouts
- PowerPoint presentation (click on the link in the component).
- Over the River and Through the Woods, by Lydia Maria Child (This version is different from the original. I chose this version because of the association with Thanksgiving. It came from "Wilstar''s Holiday World.")
Objective:
- Use the PowerPoint presentation to work on MAP practice.
- Copy the slides of the poem for the students so they can refer back to the poem.
- Have the students write the answers on another sheet of paper. This could also be used as a verbal lesson on inferences and “proving the answer” by searching for “clues.”
Instructional Strategy: Infer, Predict, and Find Evidence
Process Standards:
- Goal 1.5 comprehend and evaluate written, visual and oral presentations and works
- Goal 3.3 develop and apply strategies based on one’s own experience in preventing or solving problems
Content Standards:
- Communication Arts 1 - Speaking and writing standard English (including grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling, ...)
- Communication Arts 2. Reading and evaluating fiction, poetry and drama
G.L.E.:
- CA - Re - 3 - C - 03
(Reading, Develop and apply skills and strategies to comprehend, analyze and evaluate nonfiction (such as biographies, newspapers, technical manuals) from a variety of cultures and times, Text elements, Grade 3.)
Time Allowance: This lesson could be finished in 2-4 hours if it is used as a written lesson. A verbal lesson could be completed in an hour or less.
Description: Students read the poem "Over the River and Through the Woods," summarize it, and draw conclusions (includes a PowerPoint presentation)--Thanksgiving, poetry
Classroom Component: Click Here to view the PowerPoint slide show for this lesson. Then click on the "Back" button of your browser to return to this lesson.
The answers are to be written on paper. A worksheet that follows along with the PowerPoint presentation is available, or the students can write the answers onto notebook paper. The Writing Scoring Guide is to be used while evaluating the paragraph written about a personal celebration of Thanksgiving.
- Use the PowerPoint presentation to work on MAP practice.
- Copy the slides of the poem for the students so they can refer back to the poem.
- Have the students write the answers on another sheet of paper. This could also be used as a verbal lesson on inferences and “proving the answer” by searching for “clues.”
Over the River and Through the Woods
Over the river and through the wood,
To grandfather’s house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh,
Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!
Over the river and through the wood,
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.Over the river and thru the wood,
To have a first-rate play;
Oh, hear the bell ring,
“Ting-a-ling-ling!”
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!
Over the river and thru the wood,
Trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.
Name_________________________
Over the River and Through the Woods
- What is this poem about?
- List three clues.
- Who wrote this poem?
- What is a dapple gray?
- How does the author get to Grandfather's house?
- If the weather were different, how would the poem be different?
- Draw diagram describing the weather in this poem.
- When did this take place? Explain and give three examples.
- Summarize this poem.
Name _______________________________
Writing Scoring Guide for
Over the River and Through the Woods
Did you indent? _____/10 Did you have a topic sentence? _____/10 Did you use three or more supporting sentences in your paragraph? _____/10 Did your supporting sentences follow/support your topic? _____/10 Did you have a closing sentence in your paragraph? _____/10 Did you use correct spelling? _____/10 Did you use correct capitalization MOST of the time? _____/10 Did you use correct punctuation MOST of the time? _____/10 Is your paragraph neat? _____/10 Did your paragraph "flow"? _____/10 SCORE _____/100
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For additional information contact :
Charlotte McNeary
Warren E. Hearnes Elem.
Charleston R-I
(573) 683-3728
EMAIL: cmcneary@charleston.k12.mo.us - CA - Re - 3 - C - 03
