Writing For Understanding– Zero the Hero
Central Idea- What is it I want students to understand and know about the content?
Students will create a well-developed opinion writing piece. Students will use information
gathered from several sources to give supporting evidence to their opinion. They will form a
well-developed paragraph with linking words and evidence from a passage set.
2nd GradeW.2.1-Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about,
state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because,
and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.
W.2.8- Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to
answer a question.
3rd GradeW.3.1-Write an opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view, with reasons.
A: introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an
organizational structure that lists reasons.
B. Provide reasons that support the opinion.
C. Use linking words and phrases (e.g., because, therefore, since, for example) to connect
opinion and reasons.
D. Provide a concluding statement or section.
W.3.8-Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital
sources: take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.
*Math Standards: Identify arithmetic patterns 3.OA.D.9
Focusing Essential Question-What is it I want students to understand and know about the content?
What role does zero play in the various mathematical processes? (addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division, rounding, as a counting number, even and odd
numbers)
Building Content Knowledge-How will I make sure the students know enough about the subject by the end
to actually write about it?
What is an opinion?
Zero has many roles depending on the equation he is in.
Arithmetic patterns
Even and Odd numbers
Rounding to 10
How zero functions in multiplication.
Figurative language
Zero’s role in place values
This is a long book, you will want to teach this lesson in several chunks.
Do a close reading on Zero The Hero by Joan Holub. The first time through just read for
enjoyment.
After reading have a short discussion about opinions. Give an example like “I like corndogs,
how many of you like corndogs?” Discuss that this is an opinion, it can change based on the
likes or dislikes of a person. Now point out that to back up your opinion you should use
evidence to convince your mom why she should buy corndogs or not. “I like corndogs
because they taste delicious.” Or “I do not like corndogs because they are mushy.”
The second read have the students take notes in their math journal. Stop reading at each
operation and have them turn and talk. Discuss the question “What is Zero’s role in
_________?” (Use a whole group discussion first, and turn and talk later so they get a feel
for what you are looking for.) After discussion have them write a sentence in their journal
describing his role. Also, closely read the illustrations looking for evidence to support the
emotions that Zero might be feeling. Get students used to looking at facial expressions,
body language, for evidence to further support their claims.
Discuss together the attributes of a hero. You may want to list these on chart paper to keep for future
reference.
Model making a T chart with your students. Use only evidence from the text to decide if Zero is a hero
or if he is not a hero. (At this point the evidence will suggest that zero is not really much of a hero,
however the students will REALLY want to believe he is. Point out that the evidence really doesn’t prove
that he is. Make the point that when we are writing opinions we need to write toward the opinion with the
most evidence, or find more evidence to back our own opinion.)
Watch School House Rock- Zero the Hero. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxYsgRsNg2s
Have them take notes on their T chart again. You may want to watch one time through, and then the
second time through (close reading another form of text) pause each time the students put their thumbs in
the air to signal they found evidence so they can add to their notes.
We are now ready for writing. We have collected evidence from two sources, (called a passage set) and
we can decide which opinion we will write to. To challenge some of the higher students have them write
toward the negative opinion, even if they really don’t believe that zero isn’t a hero.
Organize the information into an OREO chart or if you prefer, Anita Archer opinion writing chart. Notice
that the 3rd grade standard calls for students being able to create their own organizational structure.
Begin by modeling structure but let them create as you go. For second grade you may want them to use a
pre-made structure. Point out to teachers that consistency across the grade levels would be very helpful.
Understanding the Writers Craft- How will I make sure they know enough about the craft of Writing?
Opinion
3rd Grade:
Introduce their topic
Create and Group related information together in an organizational structure
Develop the topic with facts and details
Use linking words and phrases to connect ideas within categories of information
Provide a concluding section (sentence)
Demonstrate growing command of the conventions of standard written English (with
occasional errors that do not interfere materially with the underlying message)
2nd Grade:
Introduce the topic
Use facts and information to develop points
Provide a concluding statement or section
Structure-How will the students know how to organize their ideas and construct a piece of writing?
List
Note taking: Closely read division page: take notes on the rule of dividing any number divided by 0,
write an example. Do for each function of zero.
T Chart-List on one side “Hero” the other “Not a hero”
OREO Chart-Opinion, reason, evidence, restate opinion
Writing / Revising- How will students draft / revise so that their final writing is clearly focused, organized, and
developed to show understanding of the central ideas?
Use the OREO chart or Anita Archer chart to organize a well-developed paragraph, first stating their opinion,
next giving a reason for their opinion with evidence to support that reason. If they are in second grade just use
a regular OREO. 3rd graders could use the triple stuff OREO. Final assessment would be their completed
opinion paragraph.