Lesson Plan Teaches 5th Graders Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning. Students Analyze Texts and Videos to Support Arguments.

Lesson Plan: Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning

Grade Level: 5th Grade Subject: English Language Arts Duration: 60 minutes

Objective:

• Students will understand the concept of claim, evidence, and reasoning.
• Students will be able to identify and construct claims, provide evidence to support their claims, and explain their reasoning.
• Students will apply the concept of claim, evidence, and reasoning to analyze texts and videos.

Materials:

• Whiteboard or chart paper
• Markers
• Texts: Short passages or articles related to a topic of interest for 5th graders (e.g., endangered animals, space exploration, climate change)
• Videos: Short educational videos related to the chosen topic
• Online resources: Computers or tablets with internet access

Procedure:

1. Introduction (10 minutes):

• Begin the lesson by asking students if they have ever had to convince someone of something or prove a point. Discuss their experiences briefly.
• Explain that today, they will learn a strategy called "Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning" that will help them make strong arguments and support their ideas with evidence.
• Write the terms "Claim," "Evidence," and "Reasoning" on the whiteboard or chart paper.

1. Understanding Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (15 minutes):

• Define each term:
• Claim: A statement or opinion that answers a question or problem.
• Evidence: Facts, data, or information that supports the claim.
• Reasoning: The explanation or logical thinking that connects the evidence to the claim.
• Provide examples of each term using simple statements and ask students to identify the claim, evidence, and reasoning.
• Discuss the importance of using evidence and reasoning to support claims.

1. Analyzing Texts (20 minutes):

• Divide the class into small groups.
• Distribute short passages or articles related to the chosen topic to each group.
• Instruct students to read the text and identify the claim, evidence, and reasoning used by the author.
• Encourage students to discuss their findings within their groups.
• Afterward, have each group share their analysis with the whole class, and facilitate a class discussion on the different claims, evidence, and reasoning found in the texts.

1. Watching Videos (10 minutes):

• Show short educational videos related to the chosen topic.
• Instruct students to pay attention to the claims made in the video, the evidence provided, and the reasoning used to support the claims.
• After watching, facilitate a class discussion on the claims, evidence, and reasoning presented in the videos.

1. Applying Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (5 minutes):

• Provide a prompt related to the chosen topic and ask students to individually write a claim, provide evidence to support it, and explain their reasoning.
• Collect their responses for assessment purposes.

1. Conclusion (5 minutes):

• Recap the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of using claim, evidence, and reasoning to support arguments.
• Encourage students to apply this strategy in their future discussions and writing.

Extension Activity:

• Assign students to find an article or video on a topic of their choice and analyze it using the claim, evidence, and reasoning strategy. They can present their findings to the class or write a short reflection on their analysis.

Online Resources:

• ReadWorks (www.readworks.org): Provides free reading passages and comprehension questions for various grade levels.
• BrainPOP (www.brainpop.com): Offers educational videos on a wide range of topics, including science, social studies, and English.
• Newsela (www.newsela.com): Provides news articles at different reading levels, allowing students to practice analyzing claims, evidence, and reasoning in current events.