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Free Books - Unlimited Library - (Mobile App)

Details

Activity Description

Free Books
Source: My Books-Unlimited Library App (License: Protected by Copyright (c) [i.e. screenshot])
 

In this activity, students use a free iPad app to read a book they or their teacher select. Students read assigned chapters and highlight new vocabulary and important information. During a class discussion, students are able to refer to their highlighted notes. Students are then asked to look up new vocabulary words and write a short synopsis of the chapter.

The Free Books – Unlimited Library – The Ultimate Ebooks And Audiobooks Library In Your Pocket app by Digital Press Publishing provides notes, highlights, bookmarks, and dictionary support. The upgraded version ($$) includes audiobooks; however, the student is not able to see the printed text while listening to the audio.

 

Preparation

  1. Check to be sure iTunes is not blocked at your site.
  2. Download the app on each iPad to be used.
  3. Select the book your students will be reading and download.
  4. Decide whether you want your students to read the box silently or out loud.
  5. Pre-read the selection and decide on any overriding question you want your students to consider as they are reading the selection.

How-To

  1. Introduce the book and a little background about the author.
  2. Introduce the app and demonstrate the features you want them to use.
  3. Introduce the reading assignment and any overriding questions you want your students to consider.
  4. Give students time to read the selection.
  5. Discuss the selection.
  6. Have students look up new vocabulary words for homework or in class work.
  7. Have students write a short synopsis of each chapter.

Teacher Tips

It may be necessary to give students an assignment to work on after they complete the reading since students will finish at different times.

More Ways

Purchase the audiobook version for students that are struggling. You will need another iPad or a hard copy for the student to follow the written words.

Program Areas

  • ASE: High School Diploma
  • ABE: Adult Basic Education
  • ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation

Levels

  • Intermediate
  • High

Lesson Plan

Warm-up
Engagement

Activity: Quick Brainstorm

Description: Students will pair up and discuss their favorite books and why they enjoy reading.

Time: 5 minutes

Introduction

Activity: Book and App Introduction

Description:

  • Introduce the selected book and provide background information about the author. Explain the purpose of the lesson and how the app will be used.

Time: 10 minutes

Materials: iPad with Free Books app, selected book
 

Presentation

Activity: Demonstration of App Features

Description:

  • Demonstrate key features of the Free Books app such as highlighting, note-taking, bookmarking, and dictionary support. Show students how to navigate the app and access the book.

Time: 15 minutes

Materials: iPad with Free Books app, projector for demonstration
 

Practice
Engagement Enhancement

Activity: Reading and Highlighting

Description:

  • Students will read the assigned chapters of the book on their iPads, highlighting new vocabulary and important information.

Interactive Activity: In pairs, students will discuss and compare their highlighted sections, explaining why they chose to highlight certain parts.

Collaborative Activity: Small groups will create a shared document with their highlighted notes and important information to present to the class.

Time: 30 minutes

Materials: iPad with Free Books app, selected book
 

Evaluation

Activity: Class Discussion and Vocabulary Lookup

Description:

  • Conduct a class discussion where students refer to their highlighted notes. Students will look up new vocabulary words as homework or in class. Each group will share their findings and how they think the new words fit into the context of the reading.

Time: 20 minutes

Materials: iPad with Free Books app, selected book, online or physical dictionaries
 

Application
Engagement Enhancement Extension

Activity: Writing a Synopsis

Description:

  • Students will write a short synopsis of the chapter they read, incorporating new vocabulary words. This can be done as homework or in class.

Collaborative Activity: In small groups, students will peer review each other’s synopses, providing feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Extension Activity: If time permits, students can visually represent the chapter’s events using digital tools or drawing materials.

Time: 30 minutes (in class) or as homework

Materials: iPad with Free Books app, writing materials
 

Documents

Subjects

  • English Language Arts
    • American Literature
    • English 1-4
    • Literature
    • World Literature
  • Reading
    • Vocabulary

Standards

  • Reading
    • CCR Anchor 1 - Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
    • CCR Anchor 2 - Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
    • CCR Anchor 3 - Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
    • CCR Anchor 10 - Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

Tags

classics, free books, app, book

Conditions

Apple - All text, graphics, user interfaces, visual interfaces, photographs, trademarks, logos, sounds, music, artwork and computer code (collectively, "Content"), including but not limited to the design, structure, selection, coordination, expression, "look and feel" and arrangement of such Content, contained on the Site is owned, controlled or licensed by or to Apple, and is protected by trade dress, copyright, patent and trademark laws, and various other intellectual property rights and unfair competition laws. Except as expressly provided in these Terms of Use, no part of the Site and no Content may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, publicly displayed, encoded, translated, transmitted or distributed in any way (including "mirroring") to any other computer, server, Web site or other medium for publication or distribution or for any commercial enterprise, without Appleā€™s express prior written consent.

AI Reference

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OTAN activities are funded by contract CN220124 from the Adult Education Office, in the Career & College Transition Division, California Department of Education, with funds provided through Federal P.L., 105-220, Section 223. However, OTAN content does not necessarily reflect the position of that department or the U.S. Department of Education.