Lesson Plan: Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision

Related Content 3LA.E.36: speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide
Standards requested detail or clarification
3LA.F.37.j: produce simple, compound, and complex sentences
Lesson Objective: I can form and share Ideas that are clear and precise. (40 minutes)
Opening/Connection 5 Minutes Materials
Brain Warmer: Imagine your friend had a secret that you wanted to know. What questions would you -Brain
ask to find out that secret? Warmer
Students will share their responses. The teacher will make connections to wanting to know more about Slide
a secret to expressing clear and precise thoughts. -Student
“When sharing your ideas, your thoughts are a secret that your listener cannot hear until you share. Journals
When you want to communicate your ideas with a person, you want to give them all of the juicy
details of your thoughts. To do this, you must communicate with clarity and precision.”
Teach/Model (I Do) 8 Minutes Materials
Teacher will discuss the importance of thinking and communicating with clarity and precision. The - Anchor
teacher will describe ways that students can enhance their communications by adding details such as Chart
(Who, What, When, Where, Why and How)
Guided Lesson (We Do) 12 Minutes Materials
Teacher will present students with two question responses that vary in precision and clarity. The -Picture
teacher and students will discuss the differences between the prompts and which response they believe Phrases
is most effective. Slide
Look at the two responses to the question.
Question: What do you think about the shirt I bought?
Response 2: Response 1:
It is nice. I think the shirt looks bright and colorful. The star
shaped patterns on the shirt are a pretty neon pink color
that makes the yellow background stand out.
What do you notice?
How are the responses different?
Independent (You Do) 10 Minutes Materials
I will present students with sample questions and responses that are vague and lack precisions. -Question
Students will discuss with their partner ways to make the language more clear and precise. Students and
will need to explain their reasoning throughout the discussion. Response
Question and Response Prompts: Prompts
Question: How do you feel about not being able to play at recess Response: It is not fair. -Sticky
today? Notes
Question: What was for lunch in the cafeteria today? Response: They had a lot of (optional)
stuff.
Question: How was the field trip to the aquarium? Response: It was fun!
Closing 5 Minutes
Students will reflect on their learning and develop goals using the prompts below. -Student
1. What did you learn about thinking and communicating with clarity and precision? Journals
2. Set one goal for how you will implement more clarity and precision in your communication.