Lesson+4

**Lesson 4:** **Edgar Allan Poe: Word Watcher Radio Show**

** Description of lesson: **

This lesson will introduce students to the new vocabulary words encountered in the short stories and poetry of Edgar Allan Poe. Students will be able to tune in to the different episodes associated with the assigned short story or poem to learn new words and enrich their vocabulary. Students will also have the opportunity to create their own podcasts with vocabulary not discussed in the teacher's podcast episodes.


 * Assignment: **

In literature circles, students will discuss new and intriguing vocabulary discovered in the assigned readings. On the first day of the assigned short story or poem, the class will listen to a podcast created by the teacher on new vocabulary terms. The literature circles will then discuss other vocabulary words and be responsible for creating a podcast with 1 new vocabulary term in the reading. The podcast must include the term, part of speech, meaning in context, 1 synonym, and 1 antonym. For each story or poem, the literature circle group will nominate a member to record the podcast using Vocaroo for homework. This will provide the opportunity for each student to record a podcast at least once during the unit.

** Resources/materials needed: **

The original episode introducing the radio show (Episode 1)

media type="file" key="Word Watcher Radio Show Episode 1.mp3" width="240" height="20"

Teacher example of vocabulary term recording (Episode 2)

media type="file" key="Episode 2.mp3"

Computer Audacity or Vocaroo Assigned Reading Dictionary or dictionary.com Headset plus microphone unit

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14pt;">** Technology reflection: **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt;">This unit provides students with a creative way to learn new vocabulary terms. Small group literature circles will listen to a podcast created by the teacher and then come up with a new or unique vocabulary term to discuss in their own podcast. These podcasts will be recorded as episodes throughout the unit. The technology will allow the vocabulary terms to be placed on the course wiki and serve as a word wall.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14pt;">** Evaluation: **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Each group will be responsible for 1 new vocabulary term for each short story or poem studied. It will be important that there are no repeat words in the small literature circles. The teacher will need to create a sign-up station to insure that each term is only used once. The teacher will also need to make sure that the vocabulary words are appropriate and add to the students knowledge. Before the podcasts are created, the teacher will need to make sure and approve the criteria.