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Determining Solutions to a Problem - Fire Cloud

Lesson Plan for Grades 4-12
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Resource Produced by:

WNET

Collection Developed by:

WNET

Collection Credits

Collection Funded by:

U.S. Department of Education

Funding for the VITAL/Ready to Teach collection was secured through the United States Department of Education under the Ready to Teach Program.

Resources for this Lesson:

Fire Cloud

Fire Cloud
(Video)

 

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Overview

Given a problem, students will analyze a text to identify the solutions. First, students identify the problem presented in the video clip: a fire is burning out of control on the horse range. Then students determine what measures are taken to solve the problem. Finally, students identify the solutions to the problem.

Grade Level:

4-6

Suggested Time

50-minutes

Media Resources

Materials

The Lesson

Part I: Learning Activity

1. Photocopy the Fire Cloud Problem/Solution Graphic Organizer handout and distribute to each student.

2. Provide an introduction to the video segment, Fire Cloud. The video is set in the Arrowhead Mountains in Montana in an area where bands of wild horses live. (Groups of horses traveling together are called bands.) The purpose for viewing the video is to identify the problem and the solution to the problem. After viewing the video segment, distribute the Fire Cloud Transcript handout.

3. Students use information from the video and the print text to help them complete the Fire Cloud Problem/Solution Graphic Organizer.

4. In pairs or individually, students identify the problem and the causes of the problem and record their ideas on the graphic organizer. Next, they identify the attempts made to solve the problem and ultimately the solutions.

5. Note the relationship between the causes of the problem and the solution to the problem. In this case, the causes of the problem and the solution are directly related, which is often the case when determining solutions to problems.

For students who need additional teacher guidance:

1. Introduce the video segment, Fire Cloud QuickTime Video (See #2 above.)

2. Stop after the official says, "That's the plan. We sure hope so," and discuss the problem. Show students where to write the problem on the Fire Cloud Problem/Solution Graphic Organizer handout. Also discuss the causes of the problem and record those on the graphic organizer. Use the print transcript if students need to review the content in order to determine the problem and causes of the problem.

3. View the remainder of the segment. The purpose for viewing this segment is to determine what firefighters did to try to solve the problem and to determine the ultimate solutions to the problem.

4. Guide a discussion about what firefighters did to try to solve the problem. Assist students as they complete the "Possible Solutions" section of the graphic organizer. Then discuss the ultimate solutions to the problem and record those ideas on the graphic organizer. Use the Fire Cloud Transcript handout.

Part II: Assessment

In small groups, students use the print transcript to verify their answers. They identify in the margins the problem, its causes possible solutions and solutions. This aspect of the activity will verify that students can identify problems and solutions in print text.

Portfolio: Completed graphic organizer and the print transcript with the problem, causes of the problem, and solutions identified can be included in a portfolio to demonstrate students’ ability to identify the problem and solution/s in an expository text.