Author:
Carrie Robledo, Scarlett Chapman
Subject:
English Language Arts
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Level:
Lower Primary
Tags:
  • NCEngineers
  • Second Grade
  • Stem
  • k5engineers
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
    Language:
    English

    Education Standards

    High Speed Gingerbread Man

    High Speed Gingerbread Man

    Overview

    In second grade students will learn to compare different versions of the Gingerbread story. They focus on how the story elements change with each story, but the basic theme stays the same. Then  in writing students are tasked with creating their own gingerbread rendition. In doing so, students often get lost in the middle of the story where the gingerbread character passes other characters and repeats the refrain. This project will help students use temporal words to provide sequence to their story as they define the places and people that are passed. Students must clearly describe 3 -4 places in a sequence (first, next, then, finally), as well as, provide an ending to their story. Once they have completed their story students are allowed to take a previously made gingerbread character and tape it to a small Dixie cup. Then the cup is placed over a mini-sphero. Students use premade landmarks that say first, next, then, finally  to navigate their character through their own sequence of events! This is a highly motivational and fun way to celebrate their hard work in creating a story and making it come to life!

    Instructor Directions

     

     

     

     

     

     

    High Speed Gingerbread Man

    Submitted by Scarlett Chapman

    Orange County Schools

     

     

    Driving Question / ScenarioUse the EDP to write your own version of the Gingerbread Boy. You must clearly describe the people and places that he/she passes to escape using temporal words in your writing. Then you will draw a map labeling his/her escape route. When your writing and map are complete, then you can take your Gingerbread character on a high speed race using a mini Sphero!
    Project SummaryIn second grade students will learn to compare different versions of the Gingerbread story. They focus on how the story elements change with each story, but the basic theme stays the same. Then  in writing students are tasked with creating their own gingerbread rendition. In doing so, students often get lost in the middle of the story where the gingerbread character passes other characters and repeats the refrain. This project will help students use temporal words to provide sequence to their story as they define the places and people that are passed. Students must clearly describe 3 -4 places in a sequence (first, next, then, finally), as well as, provide an ending to their story. Once they have completed their story students are allowed to take a previously made gingerbread character and tape it to a small Dixie cup. Then the cup is placed over a mini-sphero. Students use premade landmarks that say first, next, then, finally  to navigate their character through their own sequence of events! This is a highly motivational and fun way to celebrate their hard work in creating a story and making it come to life!
    Estimated Time5-6 45 minute writing lessons.The gingerbread character can be made for morning work or during another 15 min. time in the day. The actual engineering takes place as students use the EDP within the planning and  mapping out the story which happens during the writing, thus it depends on your class. The use of the technology at the end occurs while others are completing their writing. This could add one lesson day to the overall plan of the unit.
    Materials / ResourcesThe Gingerbread Boy, and various gingerbread themed books, Writing products, construction paper, markers, dixie cups,tape,  mini Sphero, Ipad.
    Grade2
    Subject(s)ELA,  Technology
    Educational StandardsRL.2.9 Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story by different authors or from different cultures.W.2.3 Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closureK2.CS.01 Choose appropriate devices to perform a variety of classroom tasks.K2.CS.01 Operates a variety of software to perform a variety of tasks.
    Classifying ObjectiveStudents will compare and contrast the  story elements and author's craft, with read aloud lessons of the Gingerbread Boy, to any rendition such as Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires, Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Emst,  The Ninjabread Man  by C.J. Leigh, and others in which the main character and events of the story support and are relevant to the setting and culture in each book. Students will recognize the theme and refrain of each story is similar to the original Gingerbread Man.  In writing  students will begin to write their own Gingerbread stories choosing their own character, setting, events, problem, and solution. Students will need to use the temporal words to show the sequence of events. Students will plan their stories using a story map, then write using temporal words to describe where their gingerbread character goes. Lastly, students will make their character come to life and go on their journey using a Sphero, Sphero software, and a Dixie cup to navigate their paper character around a map of their own creation.
    Project Outline
    AskWhat words do I need to use so that I can describe where my gingerbread character goes and who he/she meets? How will I communicate the order and sequence of thek events in my story?
    ImagineAnchor Chart-Starting Words- First, In the beginning..  Keep Going Words- Next, Then, After that, Later, Meanwhile..  Ending Words- Last, Finally, In the end, at the end…  Students discuss their plan with their writing partner using the temporal words as they speak.
    PlanUsing a graphic organizer plan the beginning, middle and end of your story. For the middle, provide students with a graphic organizer that looks more like a map. Here they will draw the path their gingerbread character will take, who they meet and use the transitional words as headings.
    CreateStudents are tasked to put all of their parts together into a booklet or paper. Once they have completed their story they must let someone else check it for at least 4 temporal words, and other writing criteria set by the teacher such as complete sentences, punctuation, capitalization, handwriting etc. Students also create a paper doll of their main character using construction paper and crayons or markers. This can be done at a different time or as morning work.
    ImproveStudents work to revise their writing to meet the defined standards.
    Closure / Student ReflectionsOnce approved, the student can then take their previously made gingerbread character and tape it to a Dixie Cup. Next they get to run the speedway with destinations marked with temporal words that the teacher has premade and placed around the room in a designated area for Sphero use.First------Next-----Then-----Afterwards--- --Finally! Using the Ipad, students navigate their character around, over, and through the speedway.
    Possible Modifications / ExtensionsStudents can help each other with the writing by giving advice and also help use the Sphero. Students complete their work at different times so this allows time for waiting which can be used to help a partner with the writing process, add detail to their pictures, add a cover, help someone who is having difficulty manipulating the Sphero. More than one Sphero and Ipad is helpful. It is also helpful to have another adult in the room for support (proofreading, or speedway supervision).Students may want to create their own written destinations and place them on the speedway.Various writing templates can be used to scaffold for student needs (more or less lines and spaces between the lines, temporal words can be written in as a guide for students). Another variation of the lesson can be to ask students to create a number of feet that their gingerbread character travels between each stop and then add the distance up at the end.