Reading Enrichment Unit

This week I conducted the Reading Enrichment Unit. I used the data from last year's USA Test Prep Assessment to identify the group of students who had a definite weakness in a particular area within the Georgia Performance Standards. The majority of Mrs. Stones homeroom, fourth grade student, struggled with planets and the solar system. Therefore, I created this Reading Enrichment Unit to help supplement their learning and increase understanding of the planets and the solar system.

I used my knowledge of the students and Mrs. Stone's knowledge to conduct the learner analysis. While creating the Reading Enrichment Unit, I made to to adhere to the accommodations and needs of the students. The first day of the unit, we read the book, The Planets in our Solar System by Franklyn Branley. I also had a planet presentation to accompany the book. Students really loved being able to see the planets as we read about them. They were facinated by how different they are from Earth. On the second day, we learned how to use information ethically. This was an important day for the students because they are required to be able to use information from online and print resources ethically. They also would need this information to be able to effectively create their presentations at the end of this unit. On the third day of the unit, I taught students how to use Galileo and Destiny to locate information on the web. Students practiced locating information on one subject and shared with the class what they learned. Additionally, students worked in their groups to find a book in Destiny that would correlate with the planet that they selected. Students went to the library and located the book so that they could read and create their presentation on that book. Finally, the last day of the unit, student read their book in their groups. Then, they browsed Galileo to locate information on their planet. As a group they created a Google Slide Presentation on their planet. Students shared their presentations with the class at the end of the class period.

This Reading Enrichment Unit was a very rewarding experience for me. I was able to help supplement and increase understanding of the students' weakness. I had a great time with students and they really enjoyed being able to read more about the planets that they were interested in.