"The Dancing Turtle: A Folktale from Brazil." Written by Pleaseant DeSpain and Illustrated by David Boston. Pleasant DeSpain spends endless hours researching and writing books based on Latin American countries. Her tales are usually full of soul, tricks, humor, and explanation of nature and geography. The illustrator, David Boston, used watercolors to bring out nature and the colors used in this book.

Mentor Teacher's Signature

                                                                                                     ____________________

Date

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Lesson Title Global Diversity Through Literature and Technology

General Information
Name: Kimberly Holbrook
School/Mentor Teacher: Mrs. Suzanne Griner
Grade Level: Pre-K
Subject Areas: Technology Integration, Social Studies (Multicultural Understanding)
Date Taught: 3-23-2007
Total Duration of Lesson:  23-29 minutes

Primary Learning Outcomes (PLO)
The primary learning outcomes to be achieved with this lesson include:
A. Student will be able to use the mouse while operating the
     computer
B.  Student will be able to respond to questions about diverse
      cultures.
C.  Student will listen to a children’s story to learn about another
      culture
D.  Student will work cooperatively in small group to make a story
     picture account of events in the story.

Related Pre-K Standards

Social Relations
·        Building relationships with peers

Creative Representation
·        Exploring building and art materials
·        Responding to and identifying pictures and photographs

Communication and Language
·        Listening and responding
·        Communicating nonverbally
·        Participating in two-way communication
·        Speaking
·        Exploring picture books and magazines
·        Enjoying stories, rhymes, and songs

Related GPS Standards
A. Grade: K
    Technology Integration
    Strand: Basic Skills
    5 Topic: Basic Skills
Standard: Operates basic technology tools and applications.

B,C, D Grade: K
   Social Studies Georgia Performance Standard
   Geographic Understandings
   SSKG1: The student will describe American culture by explaining
diverse community and family celebrations and customs (this also includes the cultures represented by children from other countries represented in children’s literature and those who are enrolled in our schools.
 
Materials and Equipment
1. Computer with Internet connection
2. My Global Diversity Web Page:
    http://www.valdosta.edu/~kdmixon/global.html
3.  Globe
4. DeSpain, Pleasant. “The Dancing Turtle: A Folktale from Brazil.”

Teacher will also need
1. Pencil and paper (to make notes for assessment and reflections
2. Copy of lesson rubric 1 for each group member.  (see rubric below)

Technology Connection
Technologies that will be used in this lesson include: computer with Internet connection, a picture developed using a computer drawing program, and a designed website that includes a computer painted picture related to “The Dancing Turtle: A Folktale from Brazil.”

Procedure:
Part I Step One: Introduction
1. Work with a small group of students (3-5). 

Introduction questions.

    - Show the children the globe or the map. Ask them questions
      such as:

• What is this called?
• What colors do you see on it?
• What does the blue represent?  Tell them that the big blue areas are oceans and the small ones are lakes, or rivers, etc.
• What do these many colors represent?
• Can anyone point to our country; to Georgia?

We are going to learn about a Turtle who lived in Brazil.

• Does anyone know where Brazil is?
• Do you think Brazil far away or close to Georgia?
• The teacher points to the place on the map and then asks a child to point to Georgia.
• Do you have to go over water to get from Georgia to Brazil?

(Estimated time 3-4 minutes)

Step Two:

Teaching the PLO Language Experience Activity
1. Go to the computer and your Global Diversity Activity
    website at http://www.valdosta.edu/~kdmixon/global.html.
    Students should be grouped around the computer with you so
    they can see the screen, and have access to using the mouse
2.  Let children take turns pointing to things in your picture. They
     can also try to point to certain words on the screen.
3.  Read each question under the paint drawing.  Ask them to
     respond to your questions. 
4.  Have a large piece of chart paper or separate sheets with each
     question, already prepared with the questions listed with
     spaces to write the children’s responses underneath.
5. As each child responds to the questions, write exactly what they
    are saying when they make their responses.
    Write students’ names next to each response.
          a. Why do you think the man is hiding behind the tree?
          b. What do you think the turtle is holding in his hands?
          c. What do you think will happen to the man and the turtle?

Part 2
1.  Read the paragraph under the questions to the children. Then
     show them the book.
2.  Do a brief picture walk and talk about the book.
3.  The book I will be reading is “The Dancing Turtle: A
     Folktale from Brazil.” The Author is Pleasant DeSpain. The
     Illustrator is David Boston.

4.  Read the story to the children.
   

     Estimated Time: 10-15 minutes

Closure:
1. After reading the story, review their responses made prior to
    reading them the story and compare their responses with the
    actual events in the story. 
2. Ask them to tell you some things they learned from the story.

Estimated time: 10 minutes

EVALUATION   A:
Rubric:  Use this chart to evaluate each student

  
(Lesson Plan Outline developed by Dr. Heath, Spring 2007)