Explanation


 * Explanation**

Focus - Celebrations
 * Purpose ** - to explain how or why something happens

Explain how the Water Cycle (or one part of the water cycle) works. Read an explanation of Family Reunions with the class and analyze it for features of text. (blow up to poster size) If the students come close to noticing the following features, give them the words. (The above features were taken from First Steps in Writing and span a range of abilities and grades. We need to decide which features specifically are appropriate for Grade 2. )
 * Pre-test **
 * Familiarizing & Analyzing**
 * Features**: //nouns/pronouns; verbs; precise, factual adjectives; passive verbs; timeless, present tense; signal words to indicate cause & effect; 3rd person/no opinions; time linking words; technical terms//

**Shared Analysis**  *At this stage, I looked at a different sample (How Birthdays Work). I projected it and had students place stickies on the features we identified (this followed the break and was a task to reorient them to the text type) from looking at the Family Reunion text. Students followed along and labeled their own individual copies of the text. Next time, I may create a word bank from which the students can just draw/match the feature up. Following that, I took what we knew about the features and purpose of the text type and drew up anchor charts summarizing the features and purpose. I used the anchor chart (and have students do the same with their writing) as a checklist. I reread the Family Reunion text and had students tell me if each feature was addressed per the  checklist/anchor chart. I also created an Explanation Planner which is essentially the layout I'll be using in their graphic organizers. It is similar to what we did with the recount planner. I've broken it up into 5 parts - title, introduction (defines or makes a statement about what's being explained), a parts/components blurb (to identify the pieces that make up the thing being explained), an operations chunk (the meat and potatoes where they use cause and effect signal words to explain how/why the thing is the way it is etc.), finishing sentence (retells main idea, can make a statement, provide interesting comment/fact). The next step involves me modeling how to put a scrambled explanation back together before sending them off in small groups/pairs to do the same with a different text (Baby Shower). **Modelled Writing** Model how to write an explanation of how a Birthday Party works.
 * 1) Give pairs or groups of students explanations of celebrations (baby shower, wedding shower, wedding, New Years Eve, etc.) to examine and search for one feature each. Bring whole group back together and discuss what they found. [[file:Bridal Shower.pdf]]
 * 2) Give groups of students scrambled explanations of celebrations and have them put them back in order.

 *I'm going to write about something else - maybe Remembrance Day or Halloween - something they're familiar with and can follow along with via my think aloud. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 119);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 119);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">

- Here is what I modelled in class based on your notes. The students stopped me when I used specific features of explanations eg. "That's a Time-Order word Mrs. Millar"!!!

Construct a Rubric and Anchor Chart with the class. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 119);">
 * I've created the anchor chart. I'll post my samples of the brainstorming process (jot notes, web) and organizer for reference.

**Shared Writing** Write how (some kind of party) works with the students. Refer to the Anchor Chart.

We wrote how to throw a Hallowe'en Party. We actually did a search for Hallowe'en Party on Google and found one that was for kids. We used that as our research and wrote our explanation using that information.



Assess it together against the Rubric.

**Guided Writing** <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 119);">*This is where I thought we might use Christmas because regardless of ability grouping etc. all groups will be familiar with the celebration based on studies and personal experience. **Independent Writing**

**Post-test** Explain how one of the Celebrations we've studied in Social Studies works.