Submitted by: Nicole Calderbank

Grade Levels: K-3

In this lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades K-3, students use BrainPOP Jr. resources to explore the purpose of writing for an audience through a study of author Ezra Jack Keats. Students will become familiar with the parts of a story and compare and contrast books by the same author.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Discuss the purpose of writing for an audience by studying author Ezra Jack Keats.
  2. Become familiar with the parts of a story.
  3. Compare and contrast books by the same author.

Materials:

  • Ezra Jack Keats books: Pet Show, The Snowy Day, Goggles!, Whistle for Willie, Peter's Chair
  • Printed image of Ezra Jack Keats on a KWL chart
  • Photocopies of the Write About It paper for each student

Vocabulary:

author, illustrator, character, setting

Preparation:

Have a KWL chart ready made with a photograph of Ezra Jack Keats, and a computer set up for viewing BrainPOP Jr.

Lesson Procedure:

  1. Introduce new author study on Ezra Jack Keats.
  2. Ask if anyone knows anything about Ezra Jack Keats already, and begin to fill in KWL chart.
  3. Read The Snowy Day with students. Discuss what you learned about the author just from reading this book. As you read, part out different parts of the story (beginning, middle, end).
  4. Go to the Ezra Jack Keats topic page on BrainPOP Jr.
  5. Start the movie, and prepare to pause at the first notebook question (Who was Ezra Jack Keats?). Tell students to pay close attention, play the next section, then pause.
  6. Invite students to turn and talk about what they just learned about EJK. Then have students share as you add notes to KWL chart.
  7. Continue watching the movie, pausing at the notebook questions to discuss and add notes to the KWL.
  8. After the movie, review the vocabulary words using the Word Wall.
  9. Use the Talk About It feature to brainstorm ideas for writing with the class. Model your own story on the board (interactive whiteboards work great!)
  10. Give each student a piece of BrainPOP Jr. Write About It paper to start writing/drawing their own stories.

Extension Activities:

Continue to review the EJK movie and visit additional related BrainPOP Jr. features throughout the week. For more ideas on how to enrich BrainPOP Jr. topics, visit our Lesson Ideas area.