I always find it helpful to start by looking for ideas on the Internet- and so began my Google search. Since the movie version of The Lorax was just released and Earth Day is coming up, there is definitely no shortage of lesson plans and activities for the book online. I found a great site (http://www.seusssville.com/) that has a ton of lesson ideas to use with The Lorax, including some comprehensive project ideas at: http://www.seussville.com/Educators/lorax_classroom/educatorlorax_discuss.php.
After finding lesson and project ideas for the book online, Mrs. Boothe and I spent some time brainstorming ways to incorporate technology into the lesson- both to make the lesson more learner-centered and to address technology standards (http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=8192).
Here are some of the lesson ideas I shared with Ms. Boothe:
To Help Build Background:
- Before reading the book, have students conduct Internet searches on the topics of global warming, air pollution, and recycling. Create a customized search engine using Google Custom Search (http://www.google.com/cse/) or use a bookmarking site such as Delicious (http://www.delicious.com/) to help guide students to reliable, student-friendly websites. Before and after browsing the Web, students can create a K-W-L chart about information they already know, what they want to know, and what they learned about the topics they research. (The lesson plan on Suessville.com suggests some sites and books related to The Lorax: http://www.seussville.com/Educators/lorax_classroom/educatorlorax_resources.php).
While Reading the Book:
- During the class read-aloud, use a document camera such as an Elmo (http://www.elmousa.com/products) project the book onto a wall or screen. Instantly, a class read-aloud turns into a movie-like experience! By using this simple technology, even the most reluctant students are likely to become engaged.
After Reading the Book:
- Seussville.com has excellent discussion questions to for students to talk about after reading The Lorax (http://www.seussville.com/Educators/lorax_classroom/educatorlorax_discuss.php). Rather than holding a live, face-to-face discussion, Mrs. Boothe can set up a 5th grade reading blog for her students to discuss the questions virtually. By using a site designed for educational blogs like Edublogs (http://edublogs.org/), all of the 5th graders can share their thoughts and ideas on the discussion questions, as well as comment on each other’s thoughts. (Having students share their ideas this way also holds all of the students accountable for participating and allows for students to share their ideas with the entire 5th grade.)
Optional Assessment/Extension:
- Close the lesson by revisiting the students’ K-W-L charts. Ask them to use what they’ve learned in their Internet research, the read aloud, and virtual discussion to write a letter to Mother Earth using the template found on Suessville.com (located in “The Lorax Project Resources” section, http://www.seussville.com/Educators/lorax_classroom/educatorlorax_resources.php) . Using an online rubric creator like Rubistar (http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php), Mrs. Boothe can create a rubric for the letters. In order to save paper (and in honor of The Lorax) ask students to publish their letters using a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word. After students have typed their letters, students can virtually submit them virtually to Ms. Boothe using email.
