Famous People

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Students will increase their self-esteem and learn about how they are important.

OBJECTIVE

Students will:

1. Listen to books.
2. List famous people.
3. Write how they are famous.
4. Plan for an interview.

MATERIALS

1. Judy Moody Gets Famous! By Megan McDonald
2. Shoe Magic by Nikki Grimes
3. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
4. All I Am, by Eileen Roe, Helen Cogancherry
5. The Red Carpet, by Rex Parkin
6. Arthur's Famous Friends, Video based on book by Marc Brown
7. Chart paper and marker
8. VCR and TV
9. Sign-up sheet for roles

SET UP AND PREPARE

1. Two weeks before school starts send home a Back-to-School letter to parents.
2. Put red carpet (or red roll paper) in the entrance to the classroom.
3. Record the book The Red Carpet for the listening center.
4. Set up centers for learning photography, videotaping, editing, reporting, listening, reading, and watching the Arthur's Famous Friends video. These would stay up for the entire unit.

DIRECTIONS
Step 1: Read Judy Moody Gets Famous!

Step 2: Discuss what the word "famous" means.

Step 3: On chart paper write famous people as the students name them. Also list why they are famous. For example: Jan Brett — author, Sally Ride — astronaut, George Bush — President.

Step 4: Read Amazing Grace and All I Am to help the students get ideas for how they are also important.

Step 5: Discuss how the children are Famous First Graders. They may be "famous" for something like being a good runner, writer, singer or helper at home.

Step 6: Talk about how famous people are interviewed because other people are interested in learning more about them. "The children in this class are interested in learning more about you also; so you will each have a turn to become a "Famous First Grader."

Step7: Talk about writing information about themselves that would be interesting to others and how that could make them famous. For example: I like to travel and take photos. So I am a famous photographer for a travel magazine.

Step 8: Allow time for the students to write their information. They may need help with writing or need to dictate their information to an adult. (Great time to use parent volunteers, teacher assistants, or older students.)

Step 9: After the students are finished, or at a later time, make plans for interviewing the Famous First Graders. Guide the students to think of ways famous people get publicity - through paparazzi photographers, reporters, movie, or TV cameras. Plan how they could interview the Famous First grader as a team so that everyone could have a cooperative part. They may want to include limousine drivers and ushers who open the limo door. Also don't forget the crowd who watches for famous people to arrive.

Step 10: Have a sign-up sheet for students to choose a job for the first interview session tomorrow.

Step 11: Conclude the lesson by asking students for their reactions to becoming famous and becoming a team.

ASSESS STUDENTS
Observe how well students listen and participate in discussions. Use the written information sheets to evaluate how well the students can write at the beginning of the year.

ASSIGNMENTS
In class, write about what they are good at doing that would make them famous.

EVALUATE THE LESSON
Observe how well the children understand what it means to be famous.

Gayle has been a teacher for 35 years. She has helped teachers throughout the nation learn about technology, the Internet, and creative ways to use both in the classroom.

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