This lesson plan is to help learners form an opinion and find evidence to support their opinion with picture evidence. Because it requires little writing, it is a great lesson to start an opinion writing unit. 

Students gather factual information about frogs and toads to create nonfiction and fiction stories. Drawing is used for prewriting.

According to Paiute legend, the hawk and the coyote were not always animals as we see them now. Long ago, they were people, like you and me. The hawk was known as Kuhsawv, and the coyote was known as Soonungwuv. Coyote tales are part of the Paiute oral tradition used to teach proper behavio, natural phenomenon and values from an early age. These stories are only told during the winter time. The Coyote illustrates the mischievous nature in all of us. Students will listen to a Paiute tale and learn about folktales. They will also be introduced to the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, the location and how tribal members are working to preserve their language and culture. Students will also learn about how external structures and adaptations of animals help them to survive in their environment through a group activity. 

This lesson involves students creating a digital story about a time when they lost a tooth. It will connect to their narrative writing standard in 3rd grade, as well as to the speaking and listening standard when they produce the digital story from their writing and planning.