Objectives
- To understand the skill of “describing.”
- Understand the skill/importance of describing.
- Apply the knowledge of “describing” into a lesson plan.
Intro to the Skill of Describing
Directions: as you watch the video, think about how the teacher reviews the skill of “describing” and why “describing” is the first Thinking Skill.
The Building Block
The goal of this program is to teach students about the “tools” that they can use in a progressive order to think critically and problem solve. You may ask, why does “describing” come first? “Describing” comes first because it forces students to look closely and evaluate what seems familiar and unfamiliar about a problem, object or situation. Students can see what excites them and what they may be curious about to learn more about. By describing and making basic observations, students are taught to be intentional as they approach a problem, object, or situation. Further, this initial assessment and the act of describing fosters a sense of comfort with the subject matter and can build excitement and inspiration.
Lesson Plan Activity
Directions: below utilize the following examples of student activities to build your own lesson plan for the skill of “describe”.
| Background on the Lesson Plan:
Below are a series of student activities focused on friendships and relationships. Specifically, the lesson plan will guide students in exploring how relationships can be unifying and dividing. |
| Essential Question:
How may your relationships change? |
| Engage:
Find a picture in a magazine that shows (exhibits) a relationship between two people. As you think about the picture that you chose how might some of the characteristics of a relationship with a friend be depicted? |
| Explore:
Tell a story about a time when a friend hurt your feelings. As you reflect on that situation what might it reveal about your relationship with your friend. |
| Explain:
Design a want ad for the perfect friend. What are some of the characteristics that you might want your perfect friend to have in a quality relationship? |
| Elaborate:
Compare your perfect friend to a friend that you already have. How is your perfect friend similar/different to the friend that you already have? |
| Evaluate:
Make a list (self-assess) of the ways that you have been a good friend. What are my strengths and weaknesses as a friend in my relationship? |
