Learning Targets
Students will:
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View an image related to the content topic
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Brainstorm related words and phrases
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Write a descriptive paragraph about the image
Home-School
Connection:
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Extend this activity by asking students to use images found in their surroundings to write about. It can be from a newspaper, magazine, or even the view outside of their window.
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Have students select their own images, either content-related or something they see that interests them.
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Many descriptive words are cognates. Have students work with a family member or friend to create a list of cognates they used when describing the image in their paragraph.
How To
Before Activity:
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Select images to use for activity.
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Choose the appropriate version of the graphic organizer.
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Create helpful prompts or sentence frames as needed.
During Activity:
Synchronous setting:
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Prepare a time and place to discuss the image as a group.
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Provide the graphic organizer for students to take notes about details in the image.
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Show an image related to content and share any content language or vocabulary for students to use in writing.
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After a set amount of time, gain students’ attention and share their notes. Students may gain ideas and details from each other.
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Students can then write a paragraph about the picture using their notes.
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Close with a discussion of new content language and learning by allowing students to share examples of their writing.
Asynchronous Setting:
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Decide how students will share their completed paragraph: email, online classroom, or with a family member.
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Share the picture, target vocabulary, and the graphic organizer with students.
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Provide directions to jot down details in the graphic organizer, and then write a paragraph about the picture.
- Invite students to share their paragraphs during an online meeting or using an app such as padlet or Flipgrid.
Quick Tips
- You may want to model and engage the students in a guided practice with an example picture.
Evidence of Success
- Students are able to write about the image using relevant language and vocabulary.
Watch Out!
- Be sure images are relatable or relevant and students have enough vocabulary to write about the image.
Support Suggestions
High
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Provide an organizer that is partially completed with words that students can use to describe the image.
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Provide a list of descriptive words.
Moderate
- Provide a list of signal/transition words for students to extend their writing.
Light
- Set a goal for how many academic words or sentences you expect the students to use.