MMSD Linking Technology & Literacy

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Grade Level: 2 - 3

Standards | Lesson Plan | Templates | Assessment

Standards

Language Arts Standards

  • Use picture clues
  • Activate prior knowledge
  • Make connections between previous experiences and reading selections
  • Set a purpose for reading
  • Use information to learn about new topics
  • Focus on a central idea when writing
  • Revise writing for clarity
  • Edit final copy
  • Use available technology

6 Traits + 1

  • Ideas
  • Word choice
  • Sentence fluency
  • Conventions
  • Presentation

Technology Standards

  • Uses a word processing program to compose, edit and print a paragraph
  • Uses a word processing program to import graphics
  • Uses work processing utilities to assist with a published report (i.e., spell checker, electronic thesaurus)
  • Demonstrates ability to modify and add detail to a graphic
  • Uses a software program to arrange and format graphics (i.e., slide, drag, flip, turn, group)

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Lesson Plan

Purpose:

  • Create text boxes
  • Create paint boxes and original artwork
  • Use of libraries for clip art
  • Use of drawing tools

Step by Step…

Step 1 Read the book Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, by Judith Barrett.
Step 2 Talk about what kind of meals children would like to see rain down on them.
Step 3 Read to students some typical phrases used in weather reports in the paper. Write those phrases down on the board.
Step 4 Show students an example of what they will be making.
Step 5 Have students open a blank drawing page and make a text box.
Step 6 Have them write down their weather prediction. Make sure they start with a title that has the date for the prediction. (Hint: to make the º symbol, type in 0186 on the numeric keypad while holding the <Alt> key, then release <Alt>.
Step 7 Have them go back and change font and size. (Title should be larger than the rest.)
Step 8 Click on the graphics tool and if picture is available, have them insert their picture.
Step 9 Now have students use the available drawing tools to illustrate their idea. (They may use the Foods Library if their food is in there- make sure they use the Arrange...Free Rotate feature to turn their food so that it appears to be falling.)
Step 10 Make a transparent rectangle around the picture and weather forecast.
Step 11 Save and print example of finished project.

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Example of Finished Project

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Assessment

Linking Technology & Literacy | Language Arts | Teaching and Learning | MMSD

Updated: July 20, 2006
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