Drag a stone to reveal how storing runoff helped wells.
Stones That Bring Wells Back
Ralegan Siddhi water work
ScienceCoding
Students build a two-page interactive story about Ralegan Siddhi's stone check dams. They write the cover and ending, explain how stored monsoon runoff helped wells, and code a stone drag that reveals their explanation.
Pacing
1 class period
Grade
Grade 5
Coding
Beginner
Students codeOn Page StartBackground Music
Opens a private practice project in the Studio — no account needed.
Write an explanatory ending about the village water work
Label a cover title and subtitle
Explain how seasonal rain and runoff relate to water availability
Code a drag interaction that starts an animation
Key vocabulary
monsooncheck damwater tableshramdan
The student journey
This is a build — not a worksheet packet
Every lesson runs like the story students are about to make: read it, write it, build it, polish it, publish it. The printables scaffold each stage — the published Elementari project is the destination.
1
📖
Read
Students read a short, high-interest passage — a real-world hook, not a dry textbook definition — to spark ideas for what they'll make.
📖The Village That Brought Back Water
In a village called Ralegan Siddhi, life depended on the monsoon rains. Located in a subtropical part of India, the community faced hot summers and mild winters, but rainfall came in distinct wet and dry seasons. This often led to long peri…
In the studio, students bring the project to life — adding art and following the exact writing and coding steps shown below. The Studio Compass walks them through it, one step at a time.
🧭Studio CompassStep 1 / 2
Design the cover page
Write the page text, add its scene image, and set music to play when the page opens.
Key words — tap to learnOn Drag
Each step checks off & advances on its own
All 2 studio steps · dynamic to the project
1Design the cover page~0 min
2Create the ending page~0 min
4
🔁
Polish
ongoing
Teacher and peer feedback pin right onto the project — students revise until it's ready to share.
Feedback on the project2 pins
🍎
Add one more sentence here so readers get the full picture.
👍 2Teacher
A
The interaction is clear — it helps the reader follow the project!
Common Core State Standards — English Language Arts
4 standards
W.5.3
Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
Also addressedL.5.6 · W.5.1 · W.5.2
Full task-by-task mapping — including Depth of Knowledge — is in the answer key.
Differentiation & accessibility
Built to reach every learner
One lesson, three built-in paths — with accessibility baked into the materials, not bolted on afterward.
Extra support
Emerging readers & writers
Read-aloud and multilingual support in the Elementari build
Studio Compass highlights one task at a time — including the coding
Sentence frames and a word bank so it is never a blank page
On grade
The core lesson
The passage and storyboard exactly as written
Model answers and “look-fors” in the answer key
Self-check chips at every milestone
Ready for more
Extension & challenge
Challenge vocabulary and a real-world extension question
Deepen one existing page or interaction — without changing the required mechanics
A longer, evidence-based reflection prompt
Accessibility, built inPredictable step-by-step structureOne task at a time · Studio CompassHighlighted response areasLow-stimulation printMovement-friendly pacingDesigned so every student can design, write, and code — with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia in mind.
Questions
Teacher FAQ
Do I — or my students — need to know how to code?
No. Coding concepts are introduced in plain language exactly when students need them, and Studio Compass confirms each milestone so students keep moving without you troubleshooting. The teacher guide walks you through the whole build, answers included.
How long does this lesson take?
About 1 day, paced into 45-minute class periods. You can spread it out or compress it — students pick up where they left off, so it doesn't have to finish in one sitting.
What devices does this lesson work on?
Students can read, write, code, and publish on Chromebooks, iPads, tablets, laptops, or desktops. All they need is a modern browser — nothing to download or install.
What is Studio Compass?
Studio Compass is the step-by-step guide inside the Studio. It shows students what to do next, identifies the exact coding blocks they need, and confirms completed milestones so they can keep moving independently.
How does this lesson support different learners?
This lesson includes read-to-me with synchronized highlighting, a built-in glossary, and picture-based storyboarding, with writing and coding scaffolds you can dial up or down. Students can work with guided support or more independently — and still finish the same project.
Ready when you are
Bring this lesson to your class
Import your class, assign in one click, and watch them build — the whole kit comes with it.
