Melody's Playground Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will understand why Melody Day wanted to create an accessible playground and how she achieved her goal.

 

Social Studies Focus:

activism

 

SEL Focus:

social awareness 

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, persuasive writing, writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a diagram

 

Vocabulary:

accessible, donated

 

CCSS:

SL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.4, RI.2.10, W.2.1, L.2.1

 

Guided Reading Level: 

K

 

Lexile Level:

520L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on Melody Day.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “My Story: Melody Day.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is one way you can make a difference at your school?

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are accesible and donated.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue and discuss the cover. What changes do children think Melody made to her school’s playground?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about the ways Melody made her school’s playground better.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

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

Assessment: Reading Quiz

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

  • Use the online game show to gauge comprehension and reinforce the issue’s content. Students can play by themselves or in teams. For each question they answer correctly, they win a point.

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

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words accesible and donated.

Editor’s Pick: Persuasive Writing (15 min.)

  • The Everyone’s Playground skill sheet helps children write persuasively about why playgrounds should be accessible.

ELA Focus: Writing (15 min.)

  • The A Playground for All skill sheet invites children to design their own accessible playground activities.

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

  • “Wheelchair Racer,” April 2018. In this issue, children meet Gabriel. He may have trouble walking, but in a wheelchair race, he’s unstoppable!
  • “The Clean Water Warrior,” February 2020. This issue introduces children to Mari Copeny, a kid who helped make her city of Flint, Michigan, a better place to live.

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

  • Higher-Lexile level: 600L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 470L