Direct Instruction Lesson Plan Template

Grade Level/Subject: 2nd Grade/

Central Focus: Explain how scientific ideas are similar and
Reading
how they are different, through reading text
Essential Standard/Common Core Objective:
Date submitted: 3/16/15 Date
2.RI.3: Describe the connections between scientific ideas or
taught: 3/18/20
concepts by writing how two things are alike and different.
Daily Lesson Objective:
Performance: Students will describe connections between ideas in stories and write how the
ideas are similar and different.
Condition: Students will use copies of stories to describe similarities and differences. Students
will use their reading journals to record ideas.
Criteria: Students will write complete sentences in their journals to describe connections
between stories, using 2 similarities and 2 differences. Students will be given a 1, 2, or 3 based
on the number of sentences/ways they complete. Students will need to write 4 ways to gain a 4
and reach acceptable performance.
21st Century Skills:
Academic Language Demand (Language Function
and Vocabulary):
Critical thinking
Communication/
Describe
Record
collaboration
Scientific literacy
Complete
Writing
Write
Prior Knowledge:
Reading and describing text
Making connections in stories
Writing sentences
Scientific text

Activity

Description of Activities and Setting

Time

Students come to carpet with their reading journals and a

pencil
1. Focus and
Review

2. Statement of
Objective
for Student

The last few days you have been learning about different
types of text and how to answer questions and write details
about the information you read in the text.
Today we are going to look at and read a text and find details
that are similar and different.
Students will describe the connections between ideas or
concepts by writing how two things are alike and different.

2-3 min

1 min

Who can tell me what similar means?

- Something that is like something else

3. Teacher Input

Who can tell me what different means?

-Things that are no alike

5 min

Who can give me an example or two things that are

similar?
Who can give me an example of two things that are different?
Teacher and students read All About Mountains as a group
out loud.
4. Guided Practice

In their reading journals:

Students write ways a plate slides mountain forms.
Students write 2 ways a plate bubbles mountain form.

10-12
min

Teacher will walk around and assist students who need help.
Students go back to their seats with their reading journal and
a pencil.

5. Independent
Practice

6. Assessment
Methods of
all
objectives/skills:

7. Closure
8. Assessment
Results of
all
objectives/skills:

Students will get their Imagine It reading book and

turn to page 146.
Students will read How animals hide
Students will write 2 ways they are similar and 2 ways
they are different.
Students need to write in complete sentences.

15-20
min

Teacher looks at students sentences and gives them a score of 3, 2, or

1.
3=4 ways, complete sentences
2= 3 sentences
1= 2 or fewer sentences.
Students finish writing their sentences. When finished
students will turn in their sentences and do independent
reading OR compass learning (computer).
16 students
3= 10 students
2= 5 students
1= 1 student

5-10
min

Most students did well and wrote 4 ways, in complete sentences on their
own. Some students struggled with writing complete sentences and

finding information in the text to write about. Overall I think the

assessment of the students was good.
Targeted Students
Modifications/Accommodations:
Struggling students will be given more
assistance during independent practice and
whole group work.
Materials/Technology:

Student/Small Group
Modifications/Accommodations:
Students will be using peer assistance in whole
group and will be grouped at tables during
independent practice according to ability.

(Include any instructional materials (e.g., worksheets, assessments PowerPoint/Smart Board slides, etc.) needed to implement
the lesson at the end of the lesson plan.)

Copy of All About Mountains for each student

Reading book (Imagine It- sandcastle)
Reading journal/ pencil

References:
Imagine It- reading book
Reflection on lesson:
Planning my reading lesson was pretty easy and I didnt run into any issues. The student had
been learning about different kinds of text and how to read text then answer questions, using
detail from the text. For my lesson students were to read a passage and write how two things in
the passage are similar and different. To begin my lesson I did some review and asked students
what the words similar and different mean. The students seemed to understand the difference
between the words and could give examples. Next, we read an article about two types of
mountains as a group. Then, as a group we looked at the two types of mountains and wrote two
ways each mountain type is formed. Students had to write in complete sentences. For
independent work students went back to their seats and read an article on their own about how
animals hide. Students had to write in their journals two ways animals hide are similar and two
ways they are different. To get a three on assessment, students had to write four ways (two
similar, two different) using complete sentences. After students were finished with their work,
they could have computer time for reading games or read independently. Overall students did
well on the assignments and wrote good sentences. Some students struggled on where to find
information in the text to complete the sentences. I had to give help to some students but most
could complete the assignment on their own.
I think one thing I could have changed is having more hands on work. Students did a lot of
reading and I think they would have stayed more engaged if they had a video or workshop to
break up the reading and writing. When choosing articles for the students to read I chose things
that were fun and that they were interested in. Students really enjoyed reading about mountains
and animals and found the content interesting. I really enjoyed teaching this lesson and I believe
the students benefited from my teaching.