All About Me

Curriculum Information

• Subject: English Language Arts (ELA)
• Grade Level: 3rd Grade
• Standards: Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.4: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Express ideas about themselves through speaking and writing.
2. Organize thoughts using complete sentences and descriptive details.
3. Present information about themselves confidently to peers.

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Materials Needed

• Chart paper / whiteboard
• Markers
• Index cards
• "All About Me" template (Prepared by the teacher)
• Timer (optional)

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Lesson Breakdown (30 minutes)

1. Warm-Up: Identity Brainstorm (5 minutes)

• Write the phrase "Who Am I?" on the board.
• Ask students: "If someone wanted to know about you, what are three things you would tell them?"
• Give students one minute to turn to a partner and discuss.
• Invite 3-4 students to share their responses with the class.
• Write common themes on the board (e.g., family, hobbies, pets, favorite foods).

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2. Guided Writing: "All About Me" (10 minutes)

• Distribute "All About Me" templates to students.
• Guide students to write 3-5 complete sentences about themselves. Encourage them to use descriptive words.
• Prompts to help:
  • What makes you special?
  • What is your favorite hobby and why?
  • Who is in your family?
• Walk around and assist students in organizing their ideas.

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3. Speaking Activity: Mystery Student (10 minutes)

• Collect all students’ "All About Me" sheets.
• Shuffle and randomly select one sheet (without revealing the name).
• Read aloud a few sentences from the paper.
• Class guesses who wrote it!
• Repeat for 3-4 students, keeping it fun and engaging.

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4. Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Ask students: "What did you learn about your classmates today?"
• Pair students for 30-second connections where they share one thing they have in common.
• End with a thumbs-up/thumbs-down check-in: "Did you enjoy learning about each other today?"

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Differentiation Strategies

• For struggling writers: Provide sentence starters (e.g., "I am special because…").
• For advanced students: Encourage full paragraph writing with additional details.
• For shy speakers: Allow them to present first to a small group before sharing with the class.

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Assessment

• Informal assessment through:
  • Participation in discussions.
  • Completion of "All About Me" writing task.
  • Engagement in the speaking activity.

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Teacher Reflection

• What worked well?
• Did students engage with the topic?
• Were there any students who needed additional support?

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This lesson fosters self-expression, strengthens writing skills, and builds community in the classroom—all while aligning with key ELA standards! 🚀