Instructional Software Lesson Plan

• Lesson Topic: Persuasive writing through perspectives and decision making
• Goals for Lesson: 
  • SWBAT analyze and compare different perspectives of a topic
  • SWBAT evaluate the argument and claims of a text
  • SWBAT evaluate choices and decide based on their own rationale
  • SWBAT defend their choice and discuss with others
  • SWBAT identify elements of persuasive writing
• Materials: 
  • Tutorials
    • ThinkCERCA 
    • Drafting Board
  • Instructional Games
    • Quandary
    • Read to Lead
  • For reflection only:
    • Flipgrid
  • Macbooks, iPads, or any mobile device

Learning Activities:

Previously, students have been in groups going through ethical scenarios in which they have been forced to make some tough decisions. Time has also been given to discuss and reflect on their choices.

Days 1-4:

Students will be broken into 4 new groups and be rotating through the four apps listed below spending one class period on each app and doing the following:

1. ThinkCERCA – Students will go through the lessons on elements of persuasive writing and the lessons on evaluating argument and claims. This software will be an on-going process throughout the school year.
2. Drafting Board – Students will start the two hour program on building a persuasive essay from the ground up, to be finished at home that night.
3. Quandary – Students will go through the three scenarios, delineating facts, opinions, and solutions and make decisions based on the presented readings and research.
4. Read to Lead – Students will choose a career and begin reading through texts, engaging in scenarios, and making decisions. This software will be revisited in later lessons, as it is much more expansive than other instructional software. 

At the end of each day’s activity, students will use Flipgrid to reflect on the day’s activity and to prepare for Day 5’s lesson, which is a class discussion over the last four days’ activities.Prompts for reflection include:

• What was hard about today? 
• What was a challenge that you needed to overcome? How did you overcome it?
• What was a hard choice to make? Easy choice? Why?
• What is one “takeaway” that you can teach others from today’s lesson?