St. Louis' Webzine for Kids
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January 2007 Vol. 8 Issue 1

Lesson Plans

Geodesic Garden
Tennis
Careers
Investing
Robots
Recycle
Young Achievers

Books

All Lesson Plans

Regular Features

St. Louis History
Final Resting Place
Things To Do
Fun & Games
Answers

News Stories

Geodesic Garden
Tennis
Careers
Investing
Robots
Recycle
Young Achievers

Math Mania
Math Mania Answers

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Suggested lesson plan for
"How does your garden grow - in the winter"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: Kingshighway, Manchester, KiOntey Turner, Gateway Institute of Technology, Lavelle Clark, Natasha Rogers, Bryan Owens

Other words: geodesic, technology, triangular, violent, residual, broccoli, seedlings, career

BEFORE READING: To acquaint the young reader with the vocabulary to be met in the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Provide help with pronunciations as needed. Then ask the child to read the article aloud to you and tell him or her to be prepared to answer questions afterwards.

DURING READING: Supply words fairly quickly that seem to be impairing oral reading fluency.

AFTER READING: Use questions to check comprehension and promote discussion of the article. Examples follow.

  1. What purposes are the dome and gardening project intended to accomplish for the kids?
  2. How did the first dome and the second one compare with each other?
  3. Why do they have to wait until spring to plant a garden in the second smaller dome?
  4. Would you like to participate in a project such as the dome project? Why or why not?

Suggested lesson plan for
"Kid's tennis climb hasn't always been smooth"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: Abraham Souza, Tommy Grady, Austen Kauss, Wimbledon, Carl Walker, Dwight Davis Tennis Club, Cincinnati

Other words: resuming, dink, elevated, superiority, lofty, rectify

BEFORE READING: To acquaint the young reader with the vocabulary to be met in the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Help with pronunciation where help is needed. Then ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you. Point out questions will be raised after the reading.

DURING READING: Supply any names or words fairly quickly which appear to be impairing oral reading fluency.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to check comprehension and stimulate discussion of the article.

  1. Why should Abraham Souza's achievements in tennis be considered "anything but smooth?"
  2. What does "elevated to another level" mean regarding Abe's game?
  3. Why does Abe consider his signing to go to the University of Illinois to be his best moment in tennis?
  4. What kind of competition you would be willing to sacrifice for that is similar to Abe's efforts? Describe.

Suggested lesson plan for
"Kids plan health careers, attend two high schools"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: Yelena Canter, Jasmine Brown, Oakville High School, Mehlville High School, Debbie Jones, Mid-America Transplant Services, Shellicia Bonds, Minecia Davis

Other words: academic, anatomy, physiology, corneas, ligaments, trauma, organ, transplant, certificate

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words. Help with pronunciations where help is needed. If no more than three items require help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six items require your help, ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you. If seven or more items require help, you volunteer to read the article aloud. Point out in each instance that questions will be raised afterward.

DURING READING: For the silent reader, simply point out that you will supply help for any names or words if asked for help. For the one reading aloud, supply any names or words fairly promptly that appear to be impairing oral reading fluency. If you read aloud, model fluent oral reading.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to check comprehension and promote discussion of the article.

  1. What is different about how these kids are getting their academic and nursing educations as compared to most high school students?
  2. What are some of the organs mentioned that can be transplanted?
  3. Why is the liver a better organ to transplant than some of the others?

Suggested lesson plan for
"Wildwood Middle team pick stock market winners"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: Drew Braet, Torie Goode, Nick Jacobs, Allie Truex, Karen Schulz, Strechers, Panera Bread, Underarmor, Apple Computer, Sears Holding, American Eagle, Yahoo, Boeing, eBay, Albert Pujols, Harrisonville High School, Smithton Middle School

Other words: imaginary, concurred, buzz

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the proper names and words from the list of possible hard words. Provide help as needed. Then ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you, and indicate questions would be asked after the reading.

DURING READING: Simply supply words or names fairly promptly that appear to be interfering with fluent oral reading.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to assess understanding and promote discussion of the article.

  1. Describe the stock market competition that the kids participated in.
  2. How did the local kids' earnings compare with the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
  3. Why did the kids sell Panera stock during the contest period?
  4. Why did it seem surprising the team did not invest in eBay stock?

Suggested lesson plan for
"Robots help kids with career plans"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: Nano Ninjas, First Lego League, Donald Wiese, Ladue, Ian Maupin, Florissant Valley, Kevlar, Matt Wolfe, Will Morton, Kretz Elementary School, Andrew Long, Ascension School, Chesterfield

Other words: programmer, nanotechnology, version, modifications

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words. Help with pronunciations where needed, but keep track of the number of items that required your help. If no more than three items required help, ask the child to read the article silently. If four to six items needed your help, have the child read the article aloud to you. If seven or more items were problems, you volunteer to read the article aloud. In all three instances, point out questions will be raised after the reading.

DURING READING: For the silent reader, simply offer to help with words if asked. For the one reading aloud, supply troublesome words fairly promptly. If you read aloud, model smooth, fluent oral reading.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as those that follow in order to assess comprehension and promote discussion of the article.

  1. What do most of the kids in the robot competition want as careers when they grow up?
  2. What was the "Nano Liquid Armor" intended to help improve?
  3. What did the two brothers, Ian and Joel, hope would happen either in December or in January?
  4. Would you be interested in working with a robot