Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans and Ideas for Teachers

Title - Grilled Cheese Fill in the Blank
By - Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT
Primary Subject - Language Arts
Grade Level - 1-4
Learner Objectives:
The students will listen quietly and participate in a class discussion in order to understand the book and assignment and will demonstrate their learning by filling in the blanks in order to create their own poetry.

Materials:
Copies of the poem "Grilled Cheese" and copies with blanks.

You can download the poem here in PDF form. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view and print the poem. Grilled Cheese poem Grilled Cheese worksheet

Procedure:

1. Review
I will review what we have learned about poems during previous lessons involving poetry. This will activate prior knowledge and will prepare the students to learn. I will then review nouns, verbs, etc.

2. Introduction
I will tell the students that today we are going to write a poem together. Then I will read two or three poems from a book such as Nose Pickin' (and 50 Other Ways to Tickle Your Brain!) by Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT. Afterwards, I will pass around the sheets prepared earlier with blanks for the students to fill in so that they can make an adaptation of Alonzo Fugate's poem, "Grilled Cheese."

3. Instruction
I will begin by passing around the sheet for "Grilled Cheese". Then, the students will follow along as I explain one by one what types of words to put in the blanks. MAKE SURE to use an overhead projector with a transparency copy of your own, ESPECIALLY with younger students. After the students have written their version of "Grilled Cheese", we will read the original poem so that the students can compare it with theirs. Rewriting and revising may be necessary at first, especially with younger students.

4.Publishing
I will publish the students' work by placing it in the hallway or on a bulletin board. The theme for the bulletin board could be "Grilling Up Some Poetry." The students' work would be posted along with a large copy of the original poem "Grilled Cheese" by Alonzo Fugate.

POEM - "Grilled Cheese" by Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT

A. Noun
B. Noun that starts with a vowel
C. -ing verb
D. adjective
E. adjective
F. verb
G. verb
H. verb
I. number

Grilled A.________

There’s an B._______ on my grilled A._______ sandwich
C.________ up at me.
It's D._____ and E._____ and gooey
And I think that it can F. ______!

There’s an B._______ on my grilled A._______ sandwich
How did it get there?
I want to G._______ my sandwich
But I’m creeped out by its stare!

There’s an B._______ on my grilled A._______ sandwich
I wonder how it tastes?
I ponder - if I H.______ it out
Then would it be a waste?

There’s an B._______ on my grilled A.________ sandwich
I don’t know what to do
'Cause I've only got one B.______
And I see, you have I._______!

Copyright © 2004, Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT
All Rights Reserved.
Permission granted to classroom teachers to reproduce and use this lesson and worksheet in a non-profit educational setting.

Lesson Plan #2

Title - Helping Hand Creative Writing
By - Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT
Primary Subject - Language Arts
Grade Level - 3-6
Learner Objectives: Students will listen to the poem "Helping Hand" by Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT. Afterwards, they will discuss the poem and what it could possibly mean. They will then write a poem or story based on the idea of helping others. The students will also illustrate their stories and/or poems and create a display.

Materials:
Copies of the poem "Helping Hand," paper, pens, and materials for illustrations such as crayons, markers, etc.

Here is a copy of "Helping Hand" in .pdf format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view and print it.

Helping Hand poem

Procedure:

1. Review
I will review what we have learned about poems during the unit or earlier in the year. I will then discuss how poems can be humorous, even if they are telling us an important message.

2. Introduction
I will tell the students that today we are going to write our own stories or poems with illustrations. Then I will read two or three more poems from a book such as Nose Pickin' (and 50 Other Ways to Tickle Your Brain!) by Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT. Afterwards, I will pass around copies of the poem "Helping Hand" by Col. Fugate. I will have the students read the poem silently and then in pairs. Afterwards, students in groups of three or four will discuss the poem and try to decide what the poem means. These ideas will be shared in class.

3. Instruction
The students will write their own short stories and/or poems based upon the theme of helping others. They can be creative with this assignment. They will also need to illustrate their writing. This process can take quite a few days as the class works through the writing process of completing a graphic organizer, prewriting, first draft, revising, editing, and final draft.

4. Publishing
The students' final work will be presented on the bulletin board or hallway display. The original poem "Helping Hand" by Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT should be displayed as well. The title could be "Helping Hands" or "Handful of Writings!" Be creative with this and make it fun.

Copyright © 2004, Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT
All Rights Reserved.
Permission granted to classroom teachers to reproduce and use this lesson and worksheet in a non-profit educational setting.

Lesson Plan #3

Title - Turtle in My Lunchbox Thematic Project
By - Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT
Primary Subject - Science, Language Arts
Grade Level - 2-4 (or adapt as needed for earlier and later grades)
Learner Objectives: Students will listen to the poem "Turtle in My Lunchbox" by Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT. Afterwards, they will discuss the poem and what they would do if they found a turtle in their lunchbox. The teacher will then break the students into cooperative groups. Each group will be given an assignment to complete based on the theme of the turtle. These assignments will incorporate Gardner's Multiple Intelligences.

Materials:
Copies of the poem "Turtle in My Lunchbox," paper, pens, pencils, art supplies, books about turtles, internet access

Here is a copy of "Turtle in My Lunchbox" in .pdf form. You will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader in order to view and print it. There is also a seek and find puzzle based on the poem. Print it out and enjoy!

Turtle in My Lunchbox poem Turtle Seek and Find Puzzle

Procedure:

1. Review
I will review what we have learned about poems during the unit or earlier in the year. I will then discuss how we can take a poem and use it as a way to learn more about a particular subject. In this case, the subject will be turtles.

2. Introduction
I will tell the students that today we are going to be working on several different projects that all center around the same theme, which is turtles. I will get the students in the correct mind frame to listen to poetry by reading two or three poems from a book such as Nose Pickin' (and 50 Other Ways to Tickle Your Brain!) by Col. Alonzo Fugate, NBCT. Then I will pass around copies of the poem "Turtle in My Lunchbox" by Col. Fugate. I will have the students read the poem silently and then in pairs. Afterwards, students in groups of three or four will discuss the poem and try to decide what the poem means. These ideas will be shared in class.

3. Instruction
The students will break into 7 groups. Each group should have about the same number of students. Each group will be given a different assignment to complete in the allotted amount of time (you as a teacher will decide how much time your class needs).

Group 1 - Linguistic Intelligence - Have the students write a poem about a turtle. They need to be as creative as possible. Be sure to mention that they should not just try to copy "Turtle in My Lunchbox." This should be their own creation. The group will work together to come up with one poem.

Group 2 - Logical-Mathematical - Students will use the internet or research books from the library to research facts about the turtle. They will create a list of 10 basic facts about the life cycle of the turtle to share with the rest of the class.

Group 3 - Musical - Students will create a chant or song about a turtle. They will need a corner or some place away from the "quiet" groups in order to practice their turtle song. The song needs to tell people about what a turtle is and its life cycle. The students can use books to gather information.

Group 4 - Spatial - Using provided art supplies (clay, boxes, paper clips, balloons, etc.), the students will work together in a group in order to create a sculpture of a turtle. You will want to provide a picture of a turtle as a guide.

Group 5 - Bodily-kinesthetic - Students will create a dance, using locomotor and non-locomotor movements with a beginning, middle, and end. The dance will be based on the theme of turtle. Other than that, let the students use their imaginations.

Group 6 - Interpersonal - Students will create a presentation about what to do if you find a turtle in your lunchbox. They must be able to present this to the rest of the class in order to teach the skill of speaking up for yourself and letting others know if something is wrong.

Group 7 - Intrapersonal - Students will reflect about how their lives would be different if they were a turtle. In this group, students will work individually (intrapersonal....remember?) in order to write about what kind of turtle they would be and what they would do if they were a turtle.

4. Publishing
The students' final work should be shared with the entire class or other classes. You can even invite parents in for a turtle presentation.

Another idea would be to work with another teacher and have your class share their theme projects with another class. This would be great if an older class could share with a younger class.

Alonzo Fugate, Author

Living and Writing in Kentucky!

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans and Ideas for Teachers