Lesson Plan - A Playground for All

Watch the Video
Watch the video “A Playground for Everyone” and ask: What problems did the students at Glen Lake Elementary School notice with their playground? 

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• accessible
• transform
• fulfilling
• inclusive

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about changes they would make in your school so no one is left out.

1. Describe two ways the students at Glen Lake Elementary School changed the playground at their school.
Sample response: One way the students at Glen Lake Elementary School changed the playground at their school was by adding equipment that all kids can use, like a special wing and an accessible merry-go-round. Another way the students changed the playground was by replacing the wood chips that filled the old play area with a smooth rubber surface that wheelchairs can roll on.”
^{(RI.3.2 Main Idea and Key Details)}

2. What does the article mean when it states that the students “bumped up their fundraising goal”? How do you know?
When the article says that the students “bumped up their fundraising goal,” it means that they decided to raise more money than they had originally planned. The article gives clues to this meaning when it says that at first the students raised $300,000, but “they didn’t stop there.” The article goes on to explain that the kids were able to raise $1 million in the end.
^{(RI.3.1 Text Evidence)}

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “What the Glen Lake Kids Want You to Know”?
The purpose of the sidebar “What the Glen Lake Kids Want You to Know” is to share pieces of advice from the kids at Glen Lake. These pieces of advice are meant to help kids bring about change or achieve other big goals.
^{(RI.3.5 Text Features)}

FEATURED SKILL: Explanatory Writing
Use the skill builder “Make a Difference!” to have students plan a way they might bring about positive change in their school, community, or beyond.
^{(W.3.2 Explanatory Writing)}