ETC > NSA Home > Language Arts 3-5 > The Most Important Thing Students will better understand the main idea by using iMovie to create a class book. Objectives The students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the main idea by creating a page for a class book and movie that follows the example of Margaret Wise Browns The Important Book. Procedure The teacher will read The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown. The teacher will present an Important Bag modeling the outline of The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown (show each attribute and end with “But the most important thing about cake, is that you get to eat it!) using cake as the theme. This is the lesson’s attention getter. The teacher will ask the students what they remember about the main idea and lead a class discussion based on students’ prior knowledge of the main idea. The teacher will review the concept of the main idea by modeling a planning worksheet the groups will use later in the lesson using the cake example from the Important Bag. The teacher will read the worksheet from the computer projector and ask the students to tell him/her what the attributes of the cake are. In order to scaffold this activity, the teacher can pull the objects out of the bag again to remind the class, if it is necessary. Next, the teacher will ask the students to tell him/her the main idea. (Please see the attached worksheet layout.) The teacher will assign the students into groups based on the row they are seated in. Before the students begin the activity, the teacher will give complete instructions of the activity, including a 7-10 minute time limit. Each group will be asked to choose one object and together follow the cake example by filling out a planning worksheet that will help them organize their object’s main idea and the clues to finding the main idea. The teacher will provide planning worksheets (Please see the attached copy of a planning worksheet.) for each group. When all groups have competed the activity, each group will choose a speaker to read their worksheet to the class, being careful not to say their object’s name. By leaving out the name of the object, the class will be participating in a cloze activity by filling in the object’s name. Students who are not in the group will get to raise their hands to guess the object. All groups will be given a chance to present. After all groups have presented, the teacher will introduce the writing activity of creating a class big book and movie. The teacher will explain that each student will be given a chance to write his or her own main idea, just as Margaret Wise Brown did in her book. The activity’s expectations will be expressed and posted at this time. In addition, the teacher will tell the class that their final products will be posted on the class website and a few of the very best pages will be shared with younger students by their authors. Each student will first fill out a planning worksheet. Next, each student will write his/her page in Microsoft Word. While the students are writing their pages, they will be called up to take a picture with a digital camera of their objects. These pictures will act as illustrations for the book and slides in the movie. After typing their pages, the pictures will be downloaded directly into their document. The teacher will then print each student’s page largely so that the student may paste his/her page onto a big book page. Students will help the teacher upload their page into a movie making software program. In addition, the student will read his/her page aloud to be recorded into the audio of the movie. The final big book will be shared in the school library and will be read by students to a younger class. The final movie will be posted on the class webpage and burned onto a DVD for each child to take home. The Important iMovie the class made will be played for the students to see and the book will be read aloud, showing them how smart they are about the main idea! Sunshine State Standards LA.B.1.2.1 LA.A.2.2.1 LA.B.2.2.4 LA.C.3.2.1 VA.A.1.2.1 MU.B.2.2.2 NETS Profiles for Technology Literate Students Use keyboard and other common input and output devices. Use general purpose productivity tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, remediate skill deficits, and facilitate learning throughout the curriculum. Use technology tools for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. Materials The Important Bag (containing attributes for a cake: cake mix, water bottle, egg carton, frosting, sprinkles and the main idea for a cake: photograph of child eating cake) The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown iMovie software program or Movie Maker software program Microsoft Word software program Digital cameras with cords to connect to computer Speakers for computer (to raise volume of movie for class to hear) Computers Dry-erase markers Planning worksheets Writing Expectations Page to be displayed for class to see Large paper to make a big book Alternatives/Extensions Student’s main idea book pages may be posted to the class website for a cloze activity, by leaving out the object’s name and asking the reader to figure out the object from its main idea. Return to top of page Return to lesson plans menu

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