Lesson Plan

Spell Check - Live!

Main Subject Area: Language Arts

Duration of Lesson:  30 minutes

Keywords:

• Dictionary

Brief Description:

Using information on the H.I.P. Pocket Change(TM) Web site, students create vocabulary words and a variety of spelling exercises. This exercise can be done either online or offline.

National Standard(s):

• Use grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions

Additional Subject Area Standard(s):

Objectives:

Students will practice dictionary skills and learn to spell coin words.

Materials (online):

Internet access

Classroom accress to the H.I.P. Pocket Change(TM) Website and it's "Time Machine" or a printout of one of its stories- http://www.usmint.gov/kids/index.cfm?Filecontents=/kids/timemachine/index.cfm

Materials (offline):

Dictionaries

Paper

Pens or pencils

Coins Used in Lesson:

No specific coins are needed for this lesson.

Grade Level(s):   3-5     6-8  

Procedures (online):

1. Have your students read one of the historical stories from the Time Machine on the H.I.P. Pocket Change(TM) Web site.

Procedures (offline):

1. Print out a story from the Time Machine from the H.I.P. Pocket Change(TM) Web site. Then make a copy of the story for each student.

2. Have students read the Time Machine story.

3. Divide students into teams of two. Ask them to use the story to create a vocabulary list of 10 or more terms. Then have them look each word up in the dictionary and write down its meaning.

4. Have each student create a version of the vocabulary list where each word is intentionally misspelled. Encourage students to create realistic and challenging misspellings.

5. Tell students to swap lists with their partners. Ask them to edit the lists, checking their corrected answers in the dictionary.

6. Have students return the corrected lists to their partners for proofreading.

7. Hold a classroom-wide spelling bee. You may want to create coin prizes for students.

Assessment / Evaluation:

How accurately are the students able to correct the misspelled words in the lists they create for one another? In addition, are they able to determine which words their partners have not corrected when the lists are handed back to them?

Differentiated Learning Options:

Have students use their vocabulary lists in other exercises. For example, have them alphabetize the list, use the words in sentences, find synonyms, or clap out the number of syllables in each.

Use the vocabulary list in classroom games. For example, students could play hangman-type games, or they could participate in contests to see which team of students can list the most coin-related words within five minutes, or some other set time period.

Use the coin words in the Glossary (also found on the H.I.P. Pocket Change(TM) Web site) to create additional spelling and vocabulary activities.

Ask students to investigate the origin of the coin terms and to find out what language each term's root word is derived from.