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Subject

Languages Other Than English

Authors

• Linda Albrechta, Vestal School District
• Harriet Barnett, Retired, Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District; American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
• Judith Mazziotti, Buffalo City Schools
• Mary McBride, Williamsville School District
• Roseanne DeFabio, Assistant Commissioner, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
• Anne Schiano, Assistant Director, Curriculum and Instruction
• Al Martino, Associate in Foreign Language Education
• Mary Pillsworth, Curriculum Specialist
• Jan Christman, Publication Production

Graphic Design: Harold Lohner Designs

Informal Written Assessment

The completed web

Description

Objective(s):

• Students will decide which gifts they will buy for family members or friends for specific holidays or special occasions.
• Students will review and recycle vocabulary for holidays, special occasions, family, gift items, and stores previously taught.

Materials and Resources

Sample Blank Web
Example Recording Chart
Sample Recording Chart
Example Web-Gift Buying

Suggested Grade

7

Functions

Providing and obtaining information

Prior Knowledge

Some vocabulary in the TL relevant to holidays, family members, gift items, and stores

Materials

Blank webs for each group, board, chart paper, or transparency

Anticipatory Set

Teacher says to students,

“Do you go shopping for holiday or special occasion gifts for your family and friends? It will be easier and more fun to accomplish if you organize the shopping. Let's start by naming some holidays and special occasions we have learned.”

Instructional Phase

1. Teacher writes “Holidays” and “Special Occasions” in the TL on board, chart paper, or transparency while class brainstorms and teacher lists in the TL the holidays and special occasions mentioned in the TL or English by students. TL culture should be reflected in the choice of holidays and special occasions and should be supplied by the teacher, if necessary.
2. Teacher writes “People” in the TL and class brainstorms. Teacher lists possible recipients (family, friends, etc.) in the TL.
3. Teacher writes “Gifts” in the TL and class brainstorms while teacher lists in the TL gift items mentioned (clothing, computers, books, games, etc.).
4. Teacher writes "Stores" in the TL and class brainstorms while teacher lists in the TL the stores to which you might go to purchase the items previously listed.
5. Teacher places students in mixed ability groups of approximately four students. Each group receives a blank web (see sample). Students are instructed to select a holiday or special occasion (from the list) and write it in the center circle of the web.
6. Each group selects four recipients from the list and writes them on the spokes of the web in the circle closest to the center circle.
7. Each group chooses a gift from the list for each of its four recipients and writes it in the next circle.
8. Each group decides the type of store it will go to in order to purchase the gift items and writes the type of store in the TL in the last circle of the web. Culturally correct shopping patterns should be included, whenever possible. (For example, perfume should be bought in a perfume/cosmetics store rather than a drugstore.) At this point, all circles should be completed.

Suggested Follow-up Activities

1. Give each group a letter designation (A, B, etc.) and a recording sheet (see sample). Have groups read their web possibilities aloud while other groups take notes in the TL on the recording sheet.
2. Have groups create a written report on their web or on the information about other groups from the recording sheet. Use these group reports as the beginning step in the writing process.
3. Have students choose a particular store with which they are familiar and write the name next to the store type.
4. Students add prices in TC currency.
5. Groups create “in store” dialogues based on the information mentioned on their webs.

Suggested Sources of Authentic Reading

• store advertisements and flyers
• store catalogs
• advertisements about holiday specials
• department store directories
• product descriptions and labels
• currency

Source

LOTE Writing Team. "Gift Buying." In Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Checkpoint A Resource Guide. New York State Department of Education, 34-39.

Related Academic Standards

New York State

LOTE.ML.1.1.A.A Students can comprehend language consisting of simple vocabulary and structures in face-to-face conversation with peers and familiar adults.

LOTE.ML.1.2.A.B Students can compose short, informal notes and messages to exchange information with members of the target culture.

LOTE.ML.2.1.A.A Students can use some key cultural traits of the societies in which the target language is spoken.

LOTE.AS.1.1.A.B Students express basic needs and compose statements, questions, and short messages to signers of the same age group and to familiar adults.

LOTE.AS.1.1.A.C Students initiate and engage in simple face-to-face conversations.

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