Lesson Plan
This plan was created by TQ Team under the guidance of Mrs. Millman

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"The Road Not Taken" - Robert Frost
Oh, the Places You'll Go - Dr. Suess
LESSON PLAN for a 5th grade class
By Margaret Millman (coach) and the ThinkQuest Team
ThinkQuest Competition Website - Building Your Future

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I. Goal - The children/website visitors will read this poem and book. They will interpret it and will relate it to making choices on their way to "building their futures."
PROCEDURES
After listing career choices and what we know of their requirements, related to Take your Child to Work Day, the class will explore the ThinkQuest Competition site called "Building Your Future."
The class will do the following activities:
1. They will generate their own questionnaire to survey the current 5th graders. They will interpret the survey results.
2. They will generate some charts and graphs using Excel ChartWizard for display, using the survey results.
3. They will choose a career to research. The research will include: an overview, schooling needed, experience needed, job opportunities, salary range, and special skills needed ( as per the format on the website.) They may use links mentioned at the above website and/or any other resources
4. As part of that research, the children will locate a person in that career to interview. They will need to; write a letter to contact that person to set up the interview, develop a set of suitable interview questions, write the interview up in newspaper format.
5. When the interviews are completed the class will create a newspaper using them.
6. The class will also sign in at the website and make comments as to its usefulness to them personally.

READING OF "The Road Less Traveled" by Robert Frost and Oh! The Places You'll Go! By Dr. Seuss
1. Children will write an interpretation of the poem after reading it by themselves.
2. The class will then discuss it with the teacher for help with interpretation. Why did the poet think he wouldn't get back to the other road? What does the poet mean by " I took the one less traveled by, /And that has made all the difference."? What difference do you think he meant?
3. The class will then write about the poem's relevance to them personally.
4. The class will listen to a recording of the poem. (See the website.) Children will volunteer to read poem aloud.
5. The teacher will read Oh! The Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. The teacher will lead a discussion about the book. What is the theme of the book? What are some of the obstacles Dr. Seuss mentions? What are some of the good things along the road? What are some things we all should know? How does this relate to you personally?
6. Children, in small groups, will develop a Venn diagram comparing/contrasting the two writings. Groups will share with class.
7. Children will draw a picture of their personal interpretation of the poem or book.
8. Children will create maze that is a visual representation of a past or future decision.
ASSESSMENT
1. The children will write an essay in which they state which writing that meant the most to them personally and why.
2. Or, the children will write an essay relating one of the two perspectives from the writings to a decision that have had to make, or are about to make.
NYS standards met:
Career Development and Occupational Studies
Standard 1
Students will be knowledgeable about the world of work, explore future career decisions.
Students will:
- Describe different occupation in the community and world at large.
- Ask relevant questions after exploring different occupation.
ELA Standard 1
Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.
Students will:
- Summarize, with help with interpretation, the meaning of the book and poem.
- Use graphic organizers to compare/contract the two pieces.
- Successfully identify unfamiliar words in developmentally appropriate reading materials.
- Draw their own visual interpretation of the poem or book.
ELA Standard 2
Students will read, write, listen, and speak for literary response and expression.
Students will:
- Talk about a particular piece and link its content to their won life experiences.
- Express opinions about the intent of the character in the poem.
- Respond to these pieces in literary journals.
ELA Standard 3
Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.
Students will:
- Discuss the meaning of actions and events in a poem.
- Give an opinion of the poem based on the words in the poem itself.
- Tell what they like best about the poem.
- Compare, contract, or analyze two pieces of literature on this topic ("The Road Less Traveled" by Robert Frost and Oh, The Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss).
ELA Standard 4
Students will read, write, listen and speak for social interaction.
Students will:
- Participate in group discussions.
- Interview someone in the career they are most likely to choose for their career.
- Engage in conversation with classmates about shared experiences in the classroom.
Math, Science and Technology Standard 2
Students will access, generate, process, and transfer information using appropriate technologies.
Students will:
- Use a computer or library resources to find information on a topic of interest to an individual student or a small group of students.
- Interview various individuals to determine how they yes the telephone, radio and other common media to obtain information for a variety of purposes.
- Access the Internet to communicate with students in other schools to plan and implement a collaborative projects.
Health Education, Physical Education and Home Economics
Standard 3
Students will understand and be able to manage their personal and community resources.
Students will:
- Discuss and list individuals who can help them make decisions.

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