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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Learning about Ezra Jack Keats

Students will learn about Ezra Jack Keats using a variety of resources in the media center.

A lesson plan for grade K English Language Arts and Information Skills

By Brittany Basinger, Jenni Conine, and Vickie Mcmillan

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Learning outcomes

The students will be able to identify and use various information sources in the media center. (As stated to student: Today we will learn about Ezra Jack Keats using many different resources in the media center.)

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

5-8 days

Materials/resources

This lesson is designed to be taught in the media center. The stations were set up in various areas of the library. Some of the materials needed for the stations are:

  • TV/VCR and an Ezra Jack Keats video
  • construction paper, glue and other art supplies for the winter collage
  • writing paper and pencils
  • various books by Ezra Jack Keats
  • cassette player with 5-6 headphones and an Ezra Jack Keats cassette with several books
  • 5-6 computers with internet access

Pre-activities

Students will have been introduced to Ezra Jack Keats in previous lessons and will be aware that he is an author and illustrator. The classroom teacher and/or media coordinator will have already read and discussed several Keats’ books with the students.

Activities

The Media Coordinator will introduce the following stations and explain what the students will do at each station. The teacher, assistant, media coordinator and any volunteers will circulate to make sure students stay on track. One adult will stay at the computer station.

  1. Computer Station: Computers will be open to the Ezra Jack Keats Website. The students will navigate around this official Ezra Jack Keats web site to view his books and illustrations as well as play a matching game.
  2. Video Station: Students will watch an Ezra Jack Keats video at this station. This video discusses Keats’ methods of illustrations.
  3. Illustration Station: Students will construct a winter collage using The Snowy Day as inspiration.
  4. Writing Station: Students will write or dictate a story to go with their winter collage. These pictures will be shared with the entire class later.
  5. Browsing Station: This station will consist of beanbag chairs, pillows and a variety of Ezra Jack Keats’ books. The students will get comfortable and read the book(s) of their choice.
  6. Listening Station: Students will listen to an Ezra Jack Keats’ book on tape using ear phones at this station.

Assessment

The students will demonstrate mastery of the objective by completing the task assigned at each station. The classroom teacher will evaluate work products completed at the stations.

Supplemental information

Comments

The user can add or change stations as needed.

North Carolina curriculum alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Kindergarten

  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.06: Write and/or participate in writing behaviors by using authors' models of language.

Information Skills (2000)

Kindergarten

  • Goal 1: The learner will EXPLORE sources and formats for reading, listening, and viewing purposes.
    • Objective 1.01: Participate in read-aloud, storytelling, booktalking, silent and voluntary reading experiences.
    • Objective 1.09: Demonstrate awareness that resources convey meaning and exist in a variety of formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia).