Writing+-+It's+My+Cloud+-+K-5


 * Lesson Plan Title:** It's My Cloud (Beth Hopkins)
 * //It's best to do this activity on a sunny day when there are distinct clouds in the sky rather than a day when there is overcast and clouds are not definitive.//**


 * Grade(s) Suggested:** K-5
 * //This lesson was originally done with a 1st grade class. You may not need the writing template for older students and could expand the lesson to have older students write a poem or Haiku.//**


 * Content Areas:** Art, Writing

Art 9.1.I - Create and exhibit visual art. Reading 1.3.A - Identify, analyze and apply knowledge of the elements of a variety of fiction and literary texts to demonstrate an understanding of a literary selection. Writing 1.4 Types of Writing - **Narrative** - Develop and demonstrate the writing of narrative pieces that include a main idea based on read, imagined or personal events, characters and a sequence of events.
 * Standards Addressed:**

Students will identify different images, weather and the time of day in a read aloud. Students will use observation skills to find images in clouds. Students will create a visual image of a cloud. Students will create a poem to accompany their artwork.
 * General Objectives:**

**Time Required:** 60 Minutes with an additional class period for the writing activity.

**Required Materials:** //__It's Your Cloud__// by Joe Troiano Blue construction paper white tempera paint Writing Template


 * Procedure:**
 * 1) Begin by asking the class if they have ever seen shapes in the clouds.
 * 2) Have some students share shapes they have seen in the clouds.
 * 3) Introduce the book //__It's Your Cloud__// by Joe Troiano to the class.
 * 4) Read the book to the class. Discuss the different images in the clouds, the different times of day and the weather throughout the book.
 * 5) Tell students that they are going to go outside to look for images in the clouds.
 * 6) Once outside lay down if possible to observe the clouds.
 * 7) Have students share the different images they see.
 * 8) Once you are back inside give each student an 8.5x11 piece of blue construction paper.
 * 9) Fold the paper in half and open it back up.
 * 10) Student (or teacher depending on age) should squirt some paint along the crease of the paper.
 * 11) Fold the paper shut and smooth out the paint.
 * 12) Open up the paper to see the cloud image that was created.
 * 13) Students now use the //**It's My Cloud**// writing template to write about their poem.
 * 14) Display clouds with writing attached.


 * Closure:** Students share clouds and writing. Pictures can be turned different directions to see if others see a different image.