This document outlines a lesson plan for 4th grade students to determine an author's purpose. Over the course of 3-5 days, students will be introduced to different purposes for writing, analyze a story to identify the author's purpose, and create their own podcast identifying the purpose of a passage. Students will use apps on mobile devices for interactive lessons, collaboration, and recording their podcast. The teacher will assess students through observation, rubrics, and reviewing blog posts and comments. Provisions are made for students without their own devices.

1. DETERMINING THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE
BY ANGELA GERBER
Mobile Learning Device
Lesson Plan

2. Essential/Driving Questions
 What is the author’s purpose for
writing?
 How can I determine the author’s
purpose for writing?

3. Standards
 4th Grade PA Common Core Standards for English
Language Arts:
 CC 1.2.4 Reading Information Text
 CC 1.3 Reading Literature
 CC 1.5 Speaking & Listening
 Information Literacy Standards:
 Standards 2, 3, and 4
 Technology Literacy Standards:
 Standards 2 and 3

4. Grade Level/Subject/Length
 Grade Level – 4th Grade
 Subject – English Language Arts
 Length – 3 – 5 days

5. Outcome Goals
The students will be able to:
 Name the three variations of an author’s purpose for
writing.
 Read the story “My Brother Martin” and identify the
author’s purpose for writing.
 Pull evidence and examples from the text to prove the
author’s purpose for writing.
 Read a random passage and identify the author’s
purpose, giving text evidence to prove their response.
 Listen to a classmates podcast and determine if their
response matches the author’s actual purpose for writing.

6. Technology Tools
 Cell phone or tablet device
 Apps:
 Nearpod
 iBooks
 Websites:
 Padlet (padlet.com)
 iPadio (www.ipadio.com)
 KidBlog (www.kidblog.org)

7. Activities
 Day 1 & 2:
 Introduction to reasons why author’s write using an interactive
Nearpod lesson.
 As a class, read story, determine purpose and send text
evidence to Padlet board.
 Day 3 & 4:
 Student pairs assigned a passage. Read and determine
author’s purpose.
 Write script about author’s purpose and record using iPadio.
 Day 5:
 Students will post their iPadio podcast link on their blogs.
 Students will respond to at least two peers’ blog posts.

8. Assessment
 Teacher Observation
 Anecdotal records
 Rubric
 Blog Posting & Comments

9. Students without Tech Tools
 If students do not have their own device, they may
use one of the iPads that are stored in our classroom.
 A second option is to share a device with another
student in the classroom who already has one.

10. Management of Tech Tools
 Before Lesson:
 Have devices charged and headphones available
 Have the apps Nearpod and iBooks on their device
 Have Internet/wi-fi access and are able to access the websites for this
lesson
 During Lesson:
 Students will be allowed to keep their devices at their seat. If the
device is being used inappropriately, the teacher will first give a verbal
reminder and then proceed to follow the guidelines of the district’s
acceptable use policy.
 After Lesson:
 Devices that belong to the school will be stored appropriately and
charged.
 All student work will be kept on each individual student’s blog for
evaluation later on.