Magic Treehouse Fact Tracker Writing: Ninjas and Samurai
In this 4-week introduction to informational writing, students will publish their very own ninja 5 paragraph research report complete with illustrations!
Ann Gonyaw, M.Ed
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(138)
What's included
4 live meetings
3 in-class hoursClass Experience
This course will provide a heavily scaffolded/supported introduction to research writing using the Magic Treehouse Fact Tracker: Ninjas and Samurai. We will begin with teacher modeling and shared writing and gradually release more ownership of the writing to the student as skills develop. In class, we will complete a structured graphic organizer by taking notes from the text so students have what they need to type their paragraphs in Google docs to share with the teacher. Throughout the four weeks, we will write a 5 paragraph research report on Ninjas. We will also learn how to ask questions from reading informational text by creating an interactive Kahoot game. Pre-class assignment: Read chapter 5 in the Magic Treehouse Fact Tracker: Ninjas and Samurai Week 1: Ninja Training * Teacher introduces the basic structure of a paragraph * Teacher models how to write a topic sentence * Teacher models paraphrasing facts using keywords from the text * Teacher models how concluding sentence restates the topic sentence * If time, make up Kahoot questions about Ninja training Homework: Read Fact Tracker chapter 6, rewrite ninja training paragraph from graphic organizer using Google docs Week 2: Ninja disguises * Teacher reviews basic structure of a paragraph * Shared writing: topic sentence * Shared writing: find keywords, paraphrase facts * Teacher models how to add linking words to add paragraph structure (also, another, more, but) * Shared writing: concluding sentence * If time, make up Kahoot questions about ninja disguises Homework: Read Fact Tracker chapter 7, Rewrite ninja disguises paragraph from graphic organizer using Google docs Week 3: Ninja fighting * Students review the basic structure of a paragraph * Students write topic sentences with teacher support * Students find keywords and paraphrase facts with teacher support * Students write a concluding sentence with teacher support * If time, make up Kahoot questions about Ninja fighting Homework: Read Fact Tracker chapter 1 & 8, Rewrite ninja fighting paragraph from graphic organizer using Google docs Week 4: Introduction and Conclusion Paragraphs * Teacher models 3 sentence structure for introduction and conclusion using visual (triangle) model * Shared writing of opener, bridge sentence, and thesis statement * Shared writing of thesis statement, bridge sentence, and closer * Choose titles * Play class Kahoot-family members are welcome for this part of class! This class can be taken at the same time as Night of the Ninjas: A Magic Treehouse Adventure for a complete fiction/ non-fiction reading and writing experience. Students with disabilities are welcome! Please feel free to contact me ahead of time to let me know how I can best support your learner.
Learning Goals
This course is designed to meet the Common Core standards for informative writing in grade 3, but can be adapted for those entering grade 2 or 4 as well.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.7
Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.8
Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.A
Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.B
Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.C
Use linking words and phrases (e.g., also, another, and, more, but) to connect ideas within categories of information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.D
Provide a concluding statement or section.
Other Details
Supply List
Students will definitely need their own copy of Magic Treehouse Fact Tracker: Ninjas and Samurai by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Osborne. Teacher will provide a graphic organizer template for body paragraphs (students will need 3 copies) and another one for the introduction and conclusion (students will need 1 copy). Students will need pencils every day and drawing paper, colored pencils at our last class.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined March, 2020
5.0
138reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
"Adventure is waiting inside every book!" ~Mary Pope Osborne
Come join me on my next adventure through the landscape of children's literature!
My literature-based language arts classes will be all about bringing books to life! My classes will focus on connecting both fiction and non-fiction texts and inspiring a love for storybook characters in order to make personal connections to the book.
I believe that the opportunity to interact with books creates the most motivating and meaningful learning experiences. My classes will include a variety of activities including reader's theater and hands-on experiences to help to create a bridge between the child and the book and so foster a life-long love for reading.
I bring over ten years of classroom teaching experience and seven years of homeschooling my own children to my Outschool classroom. I have a Master's Degree in Education with a concentration in online education from Franciscan University. I believe every learner is unique and it is important to me that my classes address as many learning styles as possible. I have experience with teaching students in Kindergarten-high school with dyslexia and other processing issues, ADHD, and autism. The research project for my master's thesis was entitled "Accommodating Learners with ADHD in the Online Learning Environment." So, I know first hand how important it is to keep learning fun and interactive in order to help all students learn best.
I am very interested in how each child learns, so please feel free to share any thoughts and ideas on how I can support a life-long love of learning for your child. Reviews
Live Group Class
$60
for 4 classes1x per week, 4 weeks
45 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
3-6 learners per class
This class is no longer offered
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