Teacher Librarian Name: Donna Miller
School: West Middle School
District: Mesa County Valley School District #51
Subject/Grade/Teacher(s): GT Literacy/8th/Boyd
Length of Lesson: 3 weeks
Brief Description of Lesson/Project: Students will select three
books that they have read in the past that made a significant impact
on their lives. They will prepare a book talk on one of these books and
create a podcast using Audacity. The minimum requirement for the
book talks will be a podcast. However, students can also produce a
video, Powerpoint presentation, or other product. The Teacher
Librarian and Classroom Teacher will edit the book talks and provide
suggestions to help student include the “so what” (how the book
impacted their lives in significant ways). Students will present their
book talks to the class. Classmates will assess the book talks using a
rubric and provide feedback to each presenter. In addition, students
will participate in a class Wiki discussion about the book Welcome to
the Ark. Questions will be posted weekly, and students will respond to
each question, as well as responding to the responses other students
have contributed. The culminating project will be a one-page essay in
which students synthesize what they have learned from each of the
three books they have read, as well as Welcome to the Ark to describe
how these books specifically, and literature in general, have impacted
their lives. A rubric will be provided for the teacher, librarian, and
students to assess their work.
Stage 1 – Desired Results:
*Standards and Benchmarks are to be listed at end of template.
Understandings:
Essential Questions:
Students will understand that…
Literature has the power to change our lives
Literature can influence how we think and
improve our understanding
Students will know…
The components of a book talk
The difference between a book talk and an
objective review
How to analyze the impact that specific books
have on them
Questions/Scenario that focuses the learner
probes for deeper meaning
How does literature impact our lives?
Why does literature impact our lives?
What insights do you gain about yourself
through literature?
Students will be able to…
Use Audacity to prepare a podcast
Deliver an engaging and informative book talk
Articulate how literature has helped to shape
their lives – both verbally and in written form
Colorado Power Libraries Program Planning Template
Rev. 2/10/2016 Adapted from Jefferson County Planning Template
Vocabulary
Cross-content
Content
Book talk
Reader’s Advisory
Analyze
Evaluate
Synthesize
Medium
Podcast
Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence

What will you accept as evidence that shows the students understand the concepts?
 Attach assessment rubric
Performance Tasks:
Other Evidence:
Audio podcast of book talk plus an Informal discussions among
optional product as selected by
students observed by the teacher
the students
and librarian
Weekly wiki responses
Written essay
Stage 3 – Learning Plan
Learning Activities (Teacher
Learning Activities (Teacher is
Librarian is Responsible for):
Responsible for):
Modeling good presentation and
content for booktalks (give sample
booktalks; show video clips)
Teaching/assisting Audacity
Editing/revising written booktalks
Posting questions and reviewing
answers on wiki
Explaining the Libraries of Life
project to students
Assessing Libraries of Life essays
Editing/revising written booktalks
Posting questions on wiki and
assessing answers
Accommodations/Differentiations:
Giving students choices of product formats for booktalks
Allowing students to assist each other with Audacity recordings
Letting students use rubrics to decide what elements to include in all
projects
Materials/Resources:
Fiction books; computers with Internet access and software such as
Audacity, Powerpoint, Inspiration, Microsoft Office, etc. installed
Colorado Power Libraries Program Planning Template
Rev. 2/10/2016 Adapted from Jefferson County Planning Template
Prioritized Benchmarks:
 Content Benchmarks

Content Standards
Reading Standard 4d analyze what is read, heard, and viewed; 4e identify the main
idea of text; 4f respond to written and oral presentations as a reader, listener, and
articulate speaker; 4i use brainstorming techniques, etc.; 5c summarize, paraphrase,
organize and synthesize information, etc.; 5e give credit for others’ ideas, etc.; 5i
evaluate own research and raise new questions for further investigations; 6a read,
respond to and discuss a variety of literature; 6b apply knowledge of literary
terminology to understand text

Standards for the 21st-Century Learner
1. Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge. Skills: 1.1.1, 1.1.2. Dispositions in
Action 1.2.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.7. Responsibilities 1.3.4, 1.3.5. Self-Assessment 1.4.2,
1.4.4.
2. Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations,
and create new knowledge. Skills: 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4
What other curricular areas will the unit cover? N/A
Colorado Power Libraries Program Planning Template
Rev. 2/10/2016 Adapted from Jefferson County Planning Template