Writers’ FestivalLesson Plan

Name of session: Blogging and Book Review Workshop
Materials needed:BYOD, pen, paper, Internet

STAGE OF LESSON / PLAN: What is your plan?
I / INTRODUCE
LESSON GOAL
1-2 minutes /
  • Identify successful features of book reviews
  • Write a review or create a script for a book trailer
  • Identify good review and blog sites

M / MOTIVATE with
a HOOK / Play YA book trailers
  • Paper Towns – official trailer
  • Student made trailers – Papercuts
“What is the purpose of a book review?”
Have students think about a book review or report they’ve done in class and have them list what they included in the report (2 minutes). Compile the information on the whiteboard.
Have students think about a book that they read or studied and enjoyed or hated and choose a title to write a review or a book trailer script about. Decide what format they want to use.
P / PRIME with PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
-activate it
3-5 minutes
A / ADD NEW TEACHER INPUT – Explicitly teach the CONCEPT.
10-15 minutes / Hand out a book review to students. In pairs have them read the review then identify at least three things that they think makes it a good review. Compile a list on the whiteboard and then gain consensus on what the top three features of a review are. Hand out review writing sheet and have students read through it. Have them compare the list they made with the Inside A Dog review writing tips.
Identify review sites for use – Goodreads Inside a Dog
Give students the opportunity to browse either the Inside a Dog website or a YA book review trailer channel on YouTube, and informally evaluate them using the review criteria.
ADD NEW TEACHER INPUT – Explicitly teach and model the SKILL. / How will you teach the skill? What are the steps?
C / CHALLENGE with APPLICATION & DEVELOPMENT
10-15 minutes / Students will independently write their own book review or create a script for a book trailer using the criteria previously identified by students. If time allows students will read and critique other students’ reviews.
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING,
FEEDBACK & INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
(Throughout the lesson)
3-5 minutes / Monitor students to ensure that they understand the activity and remain on task throughout the lesson.
CULTIVATE INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
5 minutes / Students will independently write or create their book review or book trailer.
T / TIME for GOAL REVIEW
3-5 minutes / Students submit their review to the library blog, share their reviews with their classmates, and critique each other’s reviews.