I would approach this using an “Under the Sea” thematic approach incorporating SESE subjects- learning about various species of fish and underwater flora, music- nautical themed tunes, art- constructing dioramas, literacy- poetry and narrative writing and digital language, Gaeilge- Lá cois farraige, Maths- problem solving through Scratch. It would be aimed at 3rd class but would be adaptable for 4th or possibly second class. It would be important to pre-teach the language of Scratch and ensure each child understands the words being used. 

The Scratch activities/resources would be introduced as a mixed ability paired activity focusing on digital numeracy/literacy and used as assessment, for example problem solving in Maths, demonstrating an understanding of the language used on Scratch and assessing the pupils’ ability to navigate the program.

The objectives of the lesson would include those laid out on the Scratch website i.e. the pupils would be enabled to create a sprite- using the “Under the Sea” theme, alter the background to a suitable one and add movement. They would be encouraged to experiment with movement and observe at first -hand how movement is created. 

Challenges include- ability groupings; ensuring that one pupil is not dominating the paired task, ensuring that each pupil is on task and aware of the objectives. Because scratch junior is only available on ipads, the challenge in my classroom is having working PCs.

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Class: Second

Strands/Strand Units: Reading/Writing/Oral Language- response to novel both oral and written, integrating comprehension strategies through predicting, connecting, visualising, summarising 

Classroom Management: Small group work to complete Scratch activity & whole-class discussion providing feedback to each groups animation

Lesson: The Scratch lesson allows pupils to create alternative endings for a novel. Pupils would have spent a number of weeks reading a novel either whole class or in small groups reading different novels. Over the course of reading the novel they will have been introduced to comprehension strategies and will be able to make predictions/connections/ visualise- describing what they can see in their mind's eye as they read and retell parts of the story in their own words.

Using Scratch the pupils will be organised into small groups and asked to create a different ending for the  novel. Examples of novels include: Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl, The Owl who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Thomilson and/or Care of Henry by Anne Fine. Using a suitable background the pupils will add appropriate sprites (fox,dog,owl) and add text to each sprite to show an alternative ending for the novel.

Each animation will then be shared on the IWB. To reinforce comprehension the teacher will facilitate whole-class discussion asking higher-order questions to pupils e.g. How do you think the Owl felt when........../ Share connections/ use the language previously practiced in novel-time to provide feedback to each group: I think/ In my opinion....

Assessment: Self assessment Two Stars and a Wish, teacher observation

 

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