Lesson
Materials (word document)
Objective:
What can we do to help get the money we deserve for our schools?
Students will write a persuasive letter.
Motivation:
Share the story of 11-year-old Samantha Smith (see lesson
materials).
Samantha wrote a letter to Soviet President Yuri Andropov asking why
there could not be peace between our countries. She was invited to
Moscow as a goodwill mission.
Procedure/Teaching
points:
- Review the
information shared in previous lessons concerning the CFE money.
The main points should be outlined in a chart.
- Students will
decide to whom they will write letter(s):
- Politicians
(local or state)
- Media (newspapers,
television, radio)
- Celebrities
(athletes, performers)
- Students should
decide if the letter should be written in friendly or business style.
Review the format of each type of letter.
Student
Activity:
- Students write
their letters by themselves or with partners.
Share/
Report Out
- Invite a few
students to share their letters.
Applications/
Follow-up/extensions
- Revise and
edit letters as necessary. Make multiple copies of each letter so
they can be sent to as many people as possible. Letters can be sent
by e-mail if computers are available.
- Students can
design posters that call attention to CFE funding and inequities
in the schools. These posters can be displayed in the school or
in other community-based organizations.
- Students can
write and design handouts and distribute them throughout the community.
- Students can
write and perform a series of commercials. These can be performed
for the parents to increase awareness of the situation. Contact
local media to inform them of the performances.
Assessment
- Track responses
to the letters and/or other projects. Send follow up letters when
indicated. Evaluate the effectiveness of each project and determine
which form of community outreach generated the largest response.
|
Subject
Areas:
Language Arts
Grade Levels: 3-5
About
the teachers:
Maureen
E. Connelly has been involved in education for 30 years.
Maureen has had the opportunity to teach in many different kinds of
schools during that time. Her teaching experience has been in grades
K through 3rd. Presently, Maureen is part of the CC9 Lead Teacher
Program at PS 64 in the Bronx. Maureen studied Supervision and Administration
at Georgia State University and am certified in that field. Maureen
is passionately interested in the educational leadership field because
she believes that a principal creates the environment for both teachers
and students to grow and develop.
meconnelly@yahoo.com
Amy
R. Kopchains is currently a resource room teacher for grades K-8 at
PS 171 in Manhattan. After school, she works as a Dial-A-Teacher providing
homework help for students throughout NYC. Before coming to PS 171
in 2001, Ms. Kopchains taught early childhood special education classes
at PS 186 for 14 years. She has also worked in daycare as a director
and a special education consultant. Ms. Kopchains has worked in staff
development since the 1980’s. She served as chairperson of her
district’s QUIPP committee which provided a variety of staff
development opportunities for teachers. She is certified as a Teacher
Consultant with the New York State Geographic Alliance and has represented
New York in national institutes. She has attended yearly conventions
of the National Science Teachers’ Association and taken advantage
of training in the areas of science inquiry and science safety. Ms.
Kopchains continues to give staff development and parent workshops
for her school and for the district on a variety of topics.
j.kopchains@lycos.com |