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    Problem Solving

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    Subject: World Languages

    Lesson Length: 45 mins - 1 hour

    Topic: Expression, Communication, Connection, Culture, Presentation

    Grade Level: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

    Standards / Framework:

    Brief Description: Students will build, reinforce, and expand their knowledge of other disciplines while using the target language to solve problems creatively.

    Know Before You Start: Students should have fluency in the target language sufficient to create a basic dialogue that solves a problem.

    Hook:

    • Ask students:
      • “Why is it important to be able to express problems in a different language?”
      • “What are some problems that may come up when traveling in another country?”
      • “How can we describe problem-solving in a different language?”

    Activity:

    • As a class, have students brainstorm problems they have sufficient vocabulary to discuss.
    • Have students identify creative solutions and choose one problem to write about, e.g., replacing something that was lost, finding the way to a destination, or helping someone who is hurt.
    • Using the sample comic as a guide, have students create a comic that portrays a creative solution to a problem. 

    Closure:

    • Have students share their comics with the class or in small groups.
    • Have students explain why they chose the problem and solution featured in their comic.
    • Discuss why it’s important to be able to talk about problems in a different language.
    • Discuss creative ways to overcome a language barrier, such as body language, gestures, or mimes. 
    • Emphasize that learning languages often requires creative solutions to communication difficulties. 

    Differentiation:

    • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
    • Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
    • Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
    • Students may find it helpful to draft their scripts in English first, then the target language, if they find it difficult to create original sentences in the target language.
    • Allow students to use digital dictionaries/translators as appropriate for your class policy.

    Resources:

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    Related Ideas

    Conversations in School

    Students will use the target language within the classroom to interact and collaborate in their community.

    Cultural Practices #1

    Students will investigate, explain, and reflect on the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied.

    How Are You Feeling?

    Students will interact and negotiate meaning in written conversations in the target language to share information, reactions, feelings, and opinions.