Direct Instruction Lesson Plan Template

Grade Level/Subject:
Central Focus:
rd
3 grade/ Reading Literacy
Students will be able to compare and contrast differences
among mythical characters.
Essential Standard/Common Core Objective:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.2
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from
diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or
moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in
the text.
Date submitted: 04/14/16
Date taught: 03/22/16
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations,
or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the
sequence of events
Daily Lesson Objective:
Students will create a Venn Diagram and will add two differences and one similarity between
the two mythical characters. Students will receive two points for each difference and a two
points for the similarity. The total points a student can earn are 6 points and in order to reflect
understanding the students must obtain 4 points.
Performance:
The students will be able to accurately describe different characters through compare and
contrast.
Conditions:
The students will use a Venn Diagram in order to learn differences and similarities between
different characters in stories.
Criteria:
Students will receive two points for each difference and two points for the similarity. The total
points a student can earn are 6 points. In order to reflect understanding the students must obtain
at least 4 points.
21st Century Skills:
Academic Language Demand (Language Function and
The students will demonstrate
Vocabulary):
critical thinking and collaboration Students will be able to compare and contrast different
by analyzing characters and
characters. Students will be able to identify character

thinking through the stories to find qualities and compare them.

differences and similarities
between characters.
Prior Knowledge:
The students have been learning about Greek mythology and have a firm grasp on the
characters and story lines. Students will have learned about Venn Diagrams throughout the year
and should know how to properly label them.
Activity

1. Focus and
Review

2. Statement of
Objective
for Student

3. Teacher Input

4. Guided Practice

Description of Activities and Setting

Time

Teacher: You all have been learning about Greek

Mythology. Can anyone raise their hand and tell me
5-7
something that they have learned about any Greek
minutes
characters or stories? Have you noticed any similarities or
differences between any characters?
Today, we will be learning about two Greek Gods: Medusa
and Heracles. You will be able to read a passage and
1
identify differences and similarities between the two
minute
different characters using a Venn Diagram.
Read Aloud the Twelve Labors of Heracles and
Medusa by Nicole Shelby. Between each story and after
the story the teacher will ask the students questions to
facilitate discussion such as What happened in the story?
15-20
What does this tell you about the character? Did you notice
minutes
anything similar between Heracles and Medusa? How
were Heracles and Medusa different? Are these two
characters different than the other Greek gods that you
have learned about?
The teacher will draw a Venn Diagram on the board. One
10-12
side of the circle will be labeled Heracles and the other side minutes
of the circle will be labeled Medusa. The middle of the
circle will be labeled B for similarities between both
characters. The students will work with the partner directly
to the right of them to make their own Venn Diagram. The
label a difference between each character and a similarity

between the characters.

5. Independent
Practice

6. Assessment
Methods of
all
objectives/skills:

7. Closure

8. Assessment
Results of
all
objectives/skills:

Once the partners have finished identifying a difference for

each character and a similarity between the characters the
partners will leave the carpet and return to their own desk.
5-7
Individually, each student will add two more differences
minutes
between the two characters and two similarities between
the two characters to their Venn Diagram.
Formative: Teacher will be walking around asking questions to make
sure that students are on task and understanding how to compare and
contrast the different characters. The teacher will be asking questions
such as: How do you know Medusa attains that quality? How do
you know Heracles attains that quality? What is a characteristic that
both characters attain? How do you know that?
Summative: Students will receive two points for each difference and
two points for the similarity. The total points a student can earn are 6
points. In order to reflect understanding the students must obtain at
least 4 points.
The teacher will say, Would anyone like to share some of
the differences and similarities that they put down on their
Venn Diagram? Did anyone notice that characters could be
5
different but still reflect some of the same characteristics?
minutes
Would anyone like to share something that they learned
from this lesson?
Formative:
All students were engaged during the lesson and the making of the
Venn Diagram with their partners. They were actively answering
questions to show understanding of the material.
Summative:
15 students received 6 points
2 students received 4 points

Targeted Students
Modifications/Accommodations:
The teacher will guide struggling students
by asking probing questions pertaining to
the reading and by discussing with the
students the differences and similarities
between characters.

Student/Small Group
Modifications/Accommodations:
Students will work with the person to the right
of them to avoid disagreements. The student
who struggles with reading will be specifically
partnered with another student that they work
well with. The stories will be read aloud to help
struggling readers.

Materials/Technology:
-Heracles and Medusa Story
-White board to write the Venn Diagram on
-Sheet of paper to draw the Venn Diagram
References:
-No references

Reflection on lesson:

Overall, I was very pleased with my lesson. The students had been learning about Greek
Mythology for a while and a handful of the students enjoyed learning about it so much that
they had rented books from the library on the topic. My reading lesson was on comparing
and contrasting different Greek mythology characters The lesson began with a review of the
different Greek Mythology characters and then began with reading aloud two different
stories on Greek characters: Heracles and Medusa. Next, I drew a Venn Diagram on the
board and briefly discussed a Venn Diagram and how to properly label it. I had the students
work with partners to find two differences and a similarity between the characters. Once the
students finished with their partner work they returned to their desk to continue labeling
differences and similarities between the characters. If any students finished early they were
to continue coming up with differences and similarities between the characters and/or the
stories. To end the lesson, I had the students share some of their similarities and differences.

The students were able to tell the moral in the stories and make connections between
different characters.
The lesson went really well. The students were very energetic learning about this
particular topic. This lesson taught me to be firm with follow through regarding discipline.
A lot of the students were calling out and talking without raising their hand during the
discussion and it led to the domino effect where each student began doing so. The only thing
I would change about the lesson would have been to have the students read one of the stories
on their own verses reading both of the stories aloud. A few students used the read aloud
time to talk instead of read. Overall, the students were very engaged and really understand
the material and were able to compare and contrast the characters. The students assessment
results were very encouraging because it showed me that they understood the material and
were able to make connections between unlike characters.