Objectives:

1. Students will understand the premise of the class.

2. Students will discuss class procedures and rules.

3. Students will demonstrate basic skill navigating Internet Explorer.

4. Students will briefly explore the class website and linked sites.

5. Students will save work into assigned files.

Introduction:

In this class students will learn the basics of mystery writing through listening to mystery selections, journaling, practicing elements of mystery writing, listening and responding to other students' work and publishing at least one online mystery story. Once your first story is published, you will begin receiving email from readers from around the country. You will be expected to answer the email courteously.

Optional activities include reading mystery stories and taking AR tests when available, reading online mystery selections, playing Clue with classmates, additional time journaling, helping your classmates, or self-selected activities which are related to mysteries or writing and are approved by your teacher.

Procedures:

1. Students are to log into a computer immediately upon entering the class. Use the login: "mystery" and the password: "story". It is not necessary to use the same computer each time.

2. After logging on, students are to begin writing in their journals. Students may write about any "school appropriate" topic. Students may choose to share the writing with classmates if they wish. The teacher reserves the right to read all journal entries, but these will not be corrected. This is considered a warm-up activity.

3. Students are to save their work in the assigned files. (Specific procedures will follow)

4. Students are to open and/or edit their own files only.

5. Students are to select from the optional activities when assigned projects are finished.

Rules:

1. Students are expected to follow the Student Rights and Responsibilities for the Seneca Elementary Summer School program.

(Elaborate on how this relates to critiquing other student's work)

2. Students are to follow the Seneca R-7 School District Acceptable Use policy for computers.

Basic Computer Skills:

Students will demonstrate appropriate login and password use. Students will access Internet Explorer. Students will follow along as teacher demonstrates the use of the Magical Mystery Tour Website with a video data projector. A quick look at each mystery writing link will follow. The teacher will provide a quick demonstration of mystery writing tools using student input. Students will minimize the Internet Explorer.

Students will open Microsoft Word (or other assigned word processing program). Features such as font, size, style, and color will be demonstrated. Students will type the date and begin their first journal entry. (Allow ten minutes to work). Teacher will model journal writing as students write.

Teacher will demonstrate how to save work onto the I drive. Student choses "save as". Student choses the I drive. Then selects the folder with student's name. Names the journal: "studentname journal". Clicks "Save". Student completely closes out of MW.

Teacher demonstrates how to reopen file. Students reopen their journal files. Student closes MW.

Students ask questions and discuss ideas.

Teacher begins reading the first mystery read aloud for the rest of the class period.

Objectives:

1. Students will add to personal journals.

2. Students will review procedures and rules.

3. Students will read and discuss Joan Lowery Nixon's autobiography.

4. Students will write and share a brief autobiography.

5. Students will save work into assigned files.

Journaling:

Students will open their journals, add the current date and write about the "school appropriate" topic of their choice for five minutes. Several students may volunteer to share their journal entries with the class. Students save journal files.

Procedures:

Teacher and students will review class procedures and evaluate how well everyone was remembering them so far.

1. Students are to log into a computer immediately upon entering the class. Use the login: "mystery" and the password: "story". It is not necessary to use the same computer each time.

2. After logging on, students are to begin writing in their journals. Students may write about any "school appropriate" topic. Students may choose to share the writing with classmates if they wish. The teacher reserves the right to read all journal entries, but these will not be corrected. This is considered a warm-up activity.

3. Students are to save their work in the assigned files. (Specific procedures will follow)

4. Students are to open and/or edit their own files only.

5. Students are to select from the optional activities when assigned projects are finished.

Rules:

Teacher and students will review rules and evaluate how well they are being followed.

1. Students are expected to follow the Student Rights and Responsibilities for the Seneca Elementary Summer School program.

(Elaborate how this relates to critiquing other student's work.)

2. Students are to follow the Seneca R-7 School District Acceptable Use policy for computers.

Read Aloud:

Teacher will continue reading from the current mystery selection.

Workshop:

Students will read Joan Lowery Nixon's biography either silently or aloud (group choice). Students will discuss what they have learned about her. Each student will write a brief autobiography. Students will open MW and start a new document. Students will write for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Students are to save this work in their files with the name: "studentname autobio". The teacher will open each "autobio" file on the class computer and the author will read the story aloud to the class. Class members will be encouraged to comment positively and ask questions about each one.

Optional Activities:

Students may choose from optional activities if time allows.

Objectives:

1. Students will add to personal journals.

2. Students will review procedures and rules.

3. Students will read and discuss Joan Lowery Nixon's "A Purrfect Mystery".

4. Students will read and discuss "Step Two - Writing Tips".

5. Students will find the elements of mystery writing in "A Purrfect Mystery".

6. Students will begin to make notes about their mystery in light of the mystery writing tips.

7. Students will save work into assigned files.

Journaling:

Students will open their journals, add the current date and write about the "school appropriate" topic of their choice for five minutes. Several students may volunteer to share their journal entries with the class. Students save journal files.

Procedures:

Teacher and students will review class procedures and evaluate how well everyone was remembering them so far.

1. Students are to log into a computer immediately upon entering the class. Use the login: "mystery" and the password: "story". It is not necessary to use the same computer each time.

2. After logging on, students are to begin writing in their journals. Students may write about any "school appropriate" topic. Students may choose to share the writing with classmates if they wish. The teacher reserves the right to read all journal entries, but these will not be corrected. This is considered a warm-up activity.

3. Students are to save their work in the assigned files. (Specific procedures will follow)

4. Students are to open and/or edit their own files only.

5. Students are to select from the optional activities when assigned projects are finished.

Rules:

Teacher and students will review rules and evaluate how well they are being followed.

1. Students are expected to follow the Student Rights and Responsibilities for the Seneca Elementary Summer School program.

(Elaborate how this relates to critiquing other student's work.)

2. Students are to follow the Seneca R-7 School District Acceptable Use policy for computers.

Read Aloud:

Teacher will continue reading from the current mystery selection.

Workshop:

Students will read Joan Lowery Nixon's "A Purrfect Mystery" either silently or aloud (group choice). Students will discuss the story. Students will read "Step Two - Writing Tips". Students will look for evidence of the different elements in "A Purrfect Mystery" and discuss these.

Students will open MW and start a new document Each student will begin to make some notes about the mystery he/she plans to write. . Students will write for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Students are to save this work in their files with the name: "studentname notes".

Optional Activities:

Students may choose from optional activities if time allows.

Objectives:

1. Students will add to personal journals.

2. Students will review procedures and rules.

3. Students will read and discuss Joan Lowery Nixon's "Writing Challenge #2 - Getting to Know your Characters"

4. Students will use the "20 questions" technique to get to know their characters, either individually or with a partner.

5. Students will make notes about their main character.

6. Students will save work into assigned files.

Journaling:

Students will open their journals, add the current date and write about the "school appropriate" topic of their choice for five minutes. Several students may volunteer to share their journal entries with the class. Students save journal files.

Procedures:

Teacher and students will review class procedures and evaluate how well everyone was remembering them so far.

1. Students are to log into a computer immediately upon entering the class. Use the login: "mystery" and the password: "story". It is not necessary to use the same computer each time.

2. After logging on, students are to begin writing in their journals. Students may write about any "school appropriate" topic. Students may choose to share the writing with classmates if they wish. The teacher reserves the right to read all journal entries, but these will not be corrected. This is considered a warm-up activity.

3. Students are to save their work in the assigned files. (Specific procedures will follow)

4. Students are to open and/or edit their own files only.

5. Students are to select from the optional activities when assigned projects are finished.

Rules:

Teacher and students will review rules and evaluate how well they are being followed.

1. Students are expected to follow the Student Rights and Responsibilities for the Seneca Elementary Summer School program.

(Elaborate how this relates to critiquing other student's work.)

2. Students are to follow the Seneca R-7 School District Acceptable Use policy for computers.

Read Aloud:

Teacher will continue reading from the current mystery selection.

Workshop:

Students will read Joan Lowery Nixon's "Writing Challenge #2 - Getting to Know your Characters" either silently or aloud (group choice). Students will discuss the story.

Students will open MW and start a new document Each student will write questions and answers about the main character he/she plans to include in his/her story. Students may work independently or with a partner. Students are to save this work in their files with the name: "studentname character".

Optional Activities:

Students may continue to add to their "notes" file. Students may choose from optional activities if time allows.

Objectives:

1. Students will add to personal journals.

2. Students will read and discuss Joan Lowery Nixon's "Writing Challenge #1 - Writing the Opening Sentence"

3. Students will write and share opening sentences.

4. Students will critique each other's opening sentences in light of what they learned from Writing Challenge #1.

5. Students will revise sentences if desired and save work into assigned files.

Journaling:

Students will open their journals, add the current date and write about the "school appropriate" topic of their choice for five minutes. Several students may volunteer to share their journal entries with the class. Students save journal files.

Read Aloud:

Teacher will continue reading from the current mystery selection.

Workshop:

Students will read Joan Lowery Nixon's "Writing Challenge #1 - Writing an Opening Sentence" either silently or aloud (group choice). Students will discuss the important ideas.

Students will open their notes page in MW and write an opening sentence. Students will use bold face type to differentiate the opening sentence from the rest of their notes. Each student will share their opening sentences with the class and students will critique each other's sentences. Students may revise their sentences and save the revisions to their "notes" page.

Optional Activities:

Students may continue to add to their "notes" or "character" file. Students may choose from optional activities if time allows.

Objectives:

1. Students will add to personal journals.

2. Students will read and discuss Joan Lowery Nixon's "Writing Challenge #3 - Develop Suspense"

3. Students will add suspense to their ideas on their "notes" and/or "characters" pages.

4. Students will critique each other's suspense elements in light of what they learned from Writing Challenge #3.

5. Students will revise ideas if desired and save work into assigned files.

Journaling:

Students will open their journals, add the current date and write about the "school appropriate" topic of their choice for five minutes. Several students may volunteer to share their journal entries with the class. Students save journal files.

Read Aloud:

Teacher will continue reading from the current mystery selection.

Workshop:

Students will read Joan Lowery Nixon's "Writing Challenge #3 - Developing Suspense" either silently or aloud (group choice). Students will discuss the important ideas.

Students will open their notes page in MW and add elements of suspense. Students may also add suspsense to their character descriptions. . Each student will share their ideas for adding suspense with the class and students will critique each other's ideas. Students may revise their notes and/or character pages and save the revisions.

Optional Activities:

Students may continue to add to their "notes" or "character" file. Students may choose from optional activities if time allows.

Objectives:

1. Students will add to personal journals.

2. Students will write a mystery story using notes/characters pages.

3. Students will critique each other's stories in light of what they learned from the Writing Challenges. We may take some class time to critique as a group, or students may ask peers to read and critique their stories on an informal basis.

4. Students will revise ideas if desired and save work into assigned files daily.

5. Students will read Joan Lowery Nixon's "Revision Guidelines" when the student is finished with the first draft and follow the guidelines.

6. Students will advise teacher that they are finished and teacher will edit page and return to student.

7. Students will complete final edits and teacher will upload stories to website.

8. Students may print a certificate if they desire.

Journaling:

Students will open their journals, add the current date and write about the "school appropriate" topic of their choice for five minutes. Several students may volunteer to share their journal entries with the class. Students save journal files.

Read Aloud:

Teacher will continue reading from the current mystery selection.

Workshop:

Students will write their mystery stories using all of their preliminary work. Students will edit and critique each other's work on an informal basis. Some class time may be used to critique student work. Each student will consult the revision guidelines when first draft is complete and revise work. Teacher will edit the revised drafts and students will make revisions. Final stories will be uploaded to the website. Students may print a certificate if they wish.

Optional Activities:

Students may choose from optional activities if time allows.