Teaching Comprehension and Vocabulary Lesson
Posted: Saturday, September 27, 2008
by Mary ann Graziani
Wishing Star Childrens Books
Activity Title: Musical Home on the Range Vocabulary
Intended Grade Level: 3
Target: Comprehension and vocabulary
1. Specific Objective
a. Instructional Objective
Students will improve vocabulary
Students will increase comprehension and meaning of new vocabulary words through
repetition of singing.
Students will increase comprehension and meaning of new vocabulary words by
using new words them in their own writing.
Students will communicate their own ideas and creativity by learning a different type
of writing which will broaden students sense of writing processes.
b. Behavioral Objective from State Standards
Standard 1,2,3 Meaning and Communication
All students will read and comprehend general and technical material
All students will demonstrate the ability to write clear and grammatically correct
sentences, paragraphs, and compositions.
All students will focus on meaning and communication as they listen, speak, view, read,
and write in personal, social, occupational, and civic contexts.
Standard 4. Language.
All students will use the English language effectively.
2. Materials Required:
Lyrics to Home on the Range song. (Lyrics shown at end of lesson plan)
Paper and pencils.
Poster of new vocabulary words that teacher wants to teach from Home on the
song with room to write definitions next to each word. (Words shown at end of lesson
plan)
Dictionary
Copies of song lyrics for each student in the class.
3. Sequence of Lesson
Tell the children they will be singing a song called Home on the Range. Ask students if they are familiar with this song. Most students' should be a familiar with this song. Pass out the copies of the lyrics to each student. Have students read the lyrics and ask if they understand what the song means. The teacher should sing the song once for the students and then have the whole class sing the song together. Show the students the poster of the words from Home on the Range. Ask the students if they know the definitions of any of the words from the song. Write any correct definitions that the students define on the poster next to the word. For the undefined words the teacher should read the sentence containing the word and ask students if they can find any clues in the sentence as to the words meaning. Ask students to look for associations to any of the words-Have they heard any of the words before. Did they have the same or different meaning? Continue writing the definitions on the poster as the students are able to correctly define them. For any words left undefined after going over all the words the teacher should choose students to look the words up in the dictionary. After all the words have been defined the class can continue to sing the song again. Repeat song as long as the students are enjoying it. Explain that they will enjoy the song more now because they have a better understanding of the song because they know the meaning of all the words. Tell students that they will now write a short story about their own home on the range. The students should make up a story about what a home on the range would be like using the words on the poster. The students should use at least 10 of the words on the poster in writing their own short story.
4. Evaluation
Assessment will be based on student's home on the range story and their comprehension
of the meaning of the new vocabulary words in their story.
5. Extensions
This lesson plan can be used with any song. A good song to use would be the Star
Spangled Banner and combine that vocabulary lesson with a history lesson.
Lyrics to Home on the Range Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam
Where the deer ad the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
How often at nigh when the heavens are bright
With the light from the glittering stars
Have I stood there amazed and asked as I gazed
If their glory exceeds that of ours
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
Where the air is so pure, the zephyrs so free
The breezes so balmy and light
That I would not exchange my home on the range
For all of the cities so bright.
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
Oh, I love those wild flowers in this dear land of ours
The curlew, I love to hear scream
And I love the white rocks and the antelope flocks
That graze on the mountaintops green
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
Words from Home on the Range to teach.
1. ROAM
2. ANTELOPE
3. SELDOM
4. DISCOURAGING
5. RANGE
6. GLITTERING
7. GAZED
8. GLORY
9. EXCEEDS
10. ZEPHYRS
11. BALMY
12. EXCHANGE
13. CURLEW
14. FLOCKS
15. GRAZE
This Article has been viewed 390 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Thank you again, Mary Ann.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.