English Language Arts: Communication Skills

K-12: Standard 4

• Students adjust their use of spoken, written and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

English Language Arts: Applying Language Skills

K-12: Standard 12

• Students use spoken, written and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion and the exchange of information).

Standards for the English Language Arts, by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English, Copyright 1996 by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. Reprinted with permission.

Source: NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts

Address kinesthetic and visual learning through interactive story time by having students retell stories read aloud using a storyboard. This is an excellent way to check for comprehension and assess listening skills. Language learners can benefit by associating names to objects. This lesson can be modified by creating characters from a variety of dies to meet curriculum needs.

Figure A

Supplies Used: Black Marking Pen, Cardstock, Felt, Flannel Board, Glue, Poster Board, Scissors, Self-Adhesive Letters, Silver Self-Adhesive Paper

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

Creating Flannel Board Stories:
1.Purchase or prepare a flannel board large enough to depict a story. Titles can be computer or hand-printed and attached to the top of the flannel board.
2.Die-cut the LG Duck and LG Ducklings from yellow and orange felt. Leave the orange Duck and Ducklings whole and trim the feet and beaks from the yellow Ducks (Figure A). Adhere the yellow bodies to the orange Duck and Ducklings. Use a black marking pen to add eyes.
3.Alternately, for added stability, die-cut the figures from self-adhesive felt backed with cardstock or poster board.
4.Die-cut the LG Police Officer, LG Stop Sign, LG Basic Beginnings Truck and LG Basic Beginnings Car from different colors of felt or self-adhesive felt and decorate.
5.Use self-adhesive letters to put the "STOP" on the Stop Sign and silver shiny self-adhesive paper for the Car bumpers and Police Officer badge.