My Army Dad Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will recognize how one military child expresses her feelings through art.

 

Social Studies Focus:

veterans

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, capitalization

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a diagram

 

Vocabulary:

military, encouraged, dog tags, quote

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.5 use text features; RI.2.7 diagrams; W.2.1 writing; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions; L.2.2 capitalization

 

Guided Reading Level: 

M

 

Lexile Level: 

510L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on veterans.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "Thank You Veterans!" After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is a veteran?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Ask students what they see in Everleigh’s drawing.
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about how Everleigh feels about being a military kid.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think skill sheet. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are military, encouraged, dog tags, and quote.

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • Students will identify nonfiction text features and create their own Veterans Day poster with the Make a Poster game.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA and social and life skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work skill sheet to deepen students’ understanding of the words military, encouraged, dog tags, and quote.

Editor’s Pick: Self-Awareness (15 min.)

  • The Drawing With Symbols skill sheet allows students to analyze the use of symbols in art by planning and creating their own drawing using symbols.

ELA Focus: Capitalization (15 min.)

  • Students will examine a letter to a veteran and identify all the capitalization errors while uncovering a secret message with the Which Should Be Capitals? skill sheet.

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on veterans:

  • "Happy Veterans Day!,” November/December 2017. Explore another Army family’s experience with this issue.
  • “Good Job Veterans,” November/December 2020. In this issue, students will examine the different jobs veterans can do.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher-Lexile level: 620L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 460L