Performance Tasks:

 Last year the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, Arnie Duncan, created The New Reading Initiative. The program is designed to strengthen your reading skills and increase reading scores. The program has four reading components, which consist of reading fluency, comprehension, writing, and word knowledge.

This year, Arnie Duncan added the scientific method as another component to the New Reading Initiative.  He chose our school to pilot his new idea. In addition he gave us a list of books, which our teachers will guide us to use the seven steps of the scientific method to investigate the problem of the characters. You and your teachers will also use artifacts within the text to conduct a science experiment. 

Arnie Duncan also wants us to help him create a character education media guide. For each conflict that a character/s faces, you will identify and write the problem, using the following character education traits to create a new solution. The character traits are: honesty, compassion, justice, courage, generosity, perseverance, self-discipline, responsibility, caring, and respect.  Also, you will use your imagination to develop your own medium. 

The Process:

The first stage of this lesson you will have to answer one question. What are life experiences?

You will be placed in-group’s of two.  Then you will have two tasks to complete at the first stage of the scientific method.

The navigator will choose one picture on the link page.

The analyzer will write one main idea and two details about the photo.

Now you will combine your minds and complete two sentences about the photo.

Click on your group’s number to begin:

Group #1

Group #2

Group #3

The second stage of this lesson requires you to collect information.

Bring photos from home or cut pictures from magazines that portray a life experience.

The third stage of this lesson you will predict the out comes like Jean and Professor X, the main characters of the cartoon XMen.

The navigator will choose one story on the linked page.

As the navigator skips every other page the reader will read aloud.

The predictor will predict and record the characters' characteristics.

The word grabber will select eight words from the story.

Your group will choose two words each and web the meaning of each word using inspiration.

Print out your words.

The tour guide will collect two artifacts from the story and direct students to travel on The Reading Road Map. Also, do not drive too fast because your group will have to complete several activities on The Reading Road Map.  

Click on your group’s number to begin:

Group#1

Group#2

Group#3

The fourth stage of this lesson you will test your predictions.

The navigator will click to each story and your group will read aloud each page.

The predictor will then compare and contrast his or predictions with the outcome of the author’s characters.

The fifth stage of this project you will observe and record information.

You will create two plays.

First your group will reenact the authors solution to the problem.

Secondly, your group will act out their solution to the story.

Also, you will be assigned duties.

The props person will design one backdrop.

Actor-portray main character.

Actor-portray main character.

The audience will pay attention and treat their peers with respect.

Also, you will take notes.

The sixth step you will compare and contrast data. You will analyze the author’s solution, your solution, and notes to revise the solution of the characters' problem.

You are almost completed with your project. The conclusion of this lesson you will have the option to choose a medium to record your solution.