Topic Lesson: Class Chapter Book
Grade Level: 2nd Grade
Teacher of Lesson: Ms. Caravia
Approximate Time: 3 weeks

Objectives:

1. With a partner, students will be able to demonstrate their writing abilities and creativity by contributing a chapter to the classroom novel (Application).
2. Students will demonstrate their ability to work and collaborate with a peer (Knowledge).
3. Students will incorporate all that they have learned about being an author and publishing a book in this final activity (Application/Knowledge).

Materials:

1. Writing paper and pencils
2. Crayons
3. A word processor
4. Materials to bind the book (Book Craft by Henry Pluckrose has a lot of different ways in which the class can bind the book)
5. A photo-copy of the finished story for each member of the classroom

Procedures:

1. Explain to the students about the classroom novel that they will be making.
2. Have the students brainstorm for different plots and titles for their book.
3. Vote on what topic the students like best.
4. Pair up the students: two students will work on one chapter together.
5. Give each pair of students a number (this will be the chapter of the book that they write).
6. The first pair of students has 60 minutes of classtime to write the first chapter of the book. The students can work on this during read-aloud or silent reading/writing time.
7. The next day, read to the class the first chapter of the book. It is now up to the next pair of students to continue on with the story. (Remind the students that there are still 9 chapters to be written: no final endings should be made).
8. Follow this process every day. Each day make sure to have other students edit the chapter for mistakes.
9. Throughout the weeks, discuss with the students the different chapters of the books (what the students like/dislike, any changes that can be made).
10. When all the students have written a chapter to the book, the chapters can be typed (by the students, by parent volunteers, by teachers).
11. Make copies of the chapters for each of the students.
12. Have the students decide on which binding they would like to use to bind the book.
13. Each student will be able to bind their own book. Be sure to include in the book a title page, copyright page, a dedication, an 'about the authors' page, etc...
14. Optional: Send the book to a literary magazine to be published.

Assessment:

1. After a semester of writing activities, the students should be feeling more comfortable with their writing skills. Do the students seem to have a lot of ideas for their chapters? Do they include characters, plot, setting, conflicts, climax, resolution--a beginning, middle, and an end?
2. Observe the students as they work with their partners. Do they seem to cooperate and both contribute ideas?
3. Are the students excited about publishing one final book? Do the students not want to do any more writing activities?