WVDE Language Leaper Episode Planning Guide
Unit Title: What is a Life Cycle?
Essential Question:
What is the Life Cycle of a Butterfly?
Content Standards:
SC.0.2.2.3
Language:
Language
Grade level:
Japanese
Level: Novice
2
Episode Title & Number: Episode #1
World Language Standards:
Outcomes/Objectives (At the end of today’s episode students will be able to):
Students will be able to identify the four stages of the life cycle of a butterfly after hearing the words
mentioned in the target language.
I can statement: I can understand the four stages of the life cycle of a butterfly when they are spoken
in Japanese.
Materials: picture flashcards for the stages of a life cycle, daily Language Leaper self-assessment card,
shower curtain grid or paper grid
Warm-up/Introduction/ Review (5 minutes):
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Distribute the picture flashcards to the students. (1 minute)
Play the Opening segment of today’s episode. (2 minutes)
As the four stages of the life of a butterfly are mentioned, the video teacher will draw the
images and label the words on screen. Instruct students in the classroom to hold up their
corresponding picture flashcard as the words are mentioned. Monitor to see that students are
holding the correct picture.
Distribute today’s Language Leaper self-assessment cards. (1 minute)
Transition students to today’s Teaching Content. (1 minute)
Teaching Context (8 minutes):
Today the students will be working with the story called story called “The Life Cycle of a Butterfly”.
Words for the stages of life are highlighted in today’s lesson. Play the story a minimum of four times.
See below for specific suggestions regarding activities you can facilitate during each viewing.
1st pass: Students view the story and listen (2 minutes)
2nd pass: Students view the story and hold up flash cards for the stages for the life cycle as words are
mentioned. (2 minutes)
3rd pass: Each student is assigned a specific word (butterfly, caterpillar, pupa, egg). As their assigned
word is mentioned the student stands. (2 minutes)
4th pass: Students act out the stage of the life cycle as the story is narrated. (2 minutes)
Transition students to Interactive Activity One
Interactive Activity One (5 minutes):
Activity: TPR-four stages of the Life Cycle of a Butterfly.
WVDE Language Leaper Episode Planning Guide
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Play the video 3 times and instruct the students to act out each of the words as performed by
the teacher. Be sure to act out the commands with the students. ( 2 minutes)
Use the control panel to randomly select stages for the students to act out. Repeat multiple
times in random order. Be sure to act out with the students the first pass with the students so
that they understand. (2 minutes)
Transition to Magical Transportation/Video Segment. (1 minutes)
Magical Transportation/Video Segment (2 minutes):
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Play the video segment a minimum of two passes. Encourage students to hold up the
vocabulary card that corresponds with the word that is stated or image that is shown. ( 2
minutes)
Transition to Interactive Activity Two
Interactive Activity Two (5 Minutes):
Activity: Shower Curtain Identification.
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Place the shower curtain grid on the floor or distribute copies of the finger grid to the class ( 1
minute)
Play the Interactive Activity Two segment and have the students move with the puppet to the
appropriate quadrant of the shower curtain or paper grid. Repeat the modeling segment as
many times as needed in order for students to understand. (1 minute)
Use the control panel to randomly select different stages of the life cycle of a butterfly. Instruct
students to move to the appropriate picture as the stage is described. Repeat multiple times in
random order. Be sure to model the activity the first time with the students. (2 minutes)
option.
Transition to Wrap-Up (1 minute)
Wrap –up (2 minutes):
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Play the wrap-up segment
Pause the DVD player after the teacher asks students to complete their Language Leaper selfassessment card. (.5 minutes)
Ask the students to rate their ability in accordance with today’s “I can” statement. Have the
students complete their self-assessment cards (green, yellow, red). Instruct the students to hold
up their card so that you can gauge their level of ability. ( 1. 5 minutes)
Resume the DVD and prepare students for the Closing Song.
Closing Song (2 minutes):
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Students sing the Closing Song with the video. Play multiple points if needed. (2 minutes)