English/Language Arts
Explore allusion
The name of the dog in this Minute is Fenway Bark. And having grown up in New England and making an annual expedition to see our beloved Red Sox play in Fenway Park, the name gave me a chuckle. Allusion exists in all kind of writing and can be light-hearted or intended to create a complex layering of meaning to a text. Use this Minute to introduce or reinforce the concept of allusion to students, and start exploring and collecting more examples for classroom display.
Social Studies
Explore psychology - therapy dogs
David Schwartz tells us about these literacy dogs that children read to, and he explains the benefits. Dogs and other animals are used for purposes other than literacy advancement. Have your students explore therapy dogs. How are they used? Where are they employed? How are they trained? What does the research show? What animals other than dogs can be used for therapeutic purposes?
STEM
Explore Animal behavior
Use this Minute to have students explore the differences between domesticated and wild animals. Why are some types of animals so easily domesticated when others are not? Within the species, are there certain breeds that are better at being therapy or literacy dogs than others? Why? What makes a dog trainable and how do we accomplish it? Is there science behind the choices? Could genetics be involved? Get your students thinking and talking about the possibilities. And then send them off to do some reading. Ruff.
Research Skills
Explore Reading advisory sites
One of the most challenging strategies to teach young readers is how to find their next book. Take advantage of this Minute by demonstrating how to find and use reading advisory sites. For some good starting lists of these sites, check this elementary page and this middle school page. Consider adding some of these links to your website.
Explore allusion
The name of the dog in this Minute is Fenway Bark. And having grown up in New England and making an annual expedition to see our beloved Red Sox play in Fenway Park, the name gave me a chuckle. Allusion exists in all kind of writing and can be light-hearted or intended to create a complex layering of meaning to a text. Use this Minute to introduce or reinforce the concept of allusion to students, and start exploring and collecting more examples for classroom display.
Social Studies
Explore psychology - therapy dogs
David Schwartz tells us about these literacy dogs that children read to, and he explains the benefits. Dogs and other animals are used for purposes other than literacy advancement. Have your students explore therapy dogs. How are they used? Where are they employed? How are they trained? What does the research show? What animals other than dogs can be used for therapeutic purposes?
STEM
Explore Animal behavior
Use this Minute to have students explore the differences between domesticated and wild animals. Why are some types of animals so easily domesticated when others are not? Within the species, are there certain breeds that are better at being therapy or literacy dogs than others? Why? What makes a dog trainable and how do we accomplish it? Is there science behind the choices? Could genetics be involved? Get your students thinking and talking about the possibilities. And then send them off to do some reading. Ruff.
Research Skills
Explore Reading advisory sites
One of the most challenging strategies to teach young readers is how to find their next book. Take advantage of this Minute by demonstrating how to find and use reading advisory sites. For some good starting lists of these sites, check this elementary page and this middle school page. Consider adding some of these links to your website.
© Karen Sterling, 2017 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission