Direct Instruction Lesson Plan Template

Name: Sarah Brewster

Central Focus/Big Idea of the Lesson:

Looking at our Neighborhood

Grade Level/Subject: 1st grade Social Studies

Essential Standard/Common Core Objective:
Date taught:
10/28/14
1.H.1.1 Explain how and why neighborhoods and communities change over time.
Daily Lesson Objective: After reading Be My Neighbor and our class discussion students will be able to identify the
differences between neighborhoods and communities
21st Century Skills: (Go to this link for more info about these skills:
Academic Language Demand (Language
http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/P21_Framework_Definitions.pdf) Function and Vocabulary):
Communicate Clearly
Neighborhood-an area near your home
Global Awareness
Community-a group of people who live in
Reason Effectively
the same place of have the same qualities
or interests.
Prior Knowledge: Students should be able to compare the similarities and differences in places.

Activity

Description of Activities and Setting

1. Focus and Review

Today we are going to be learning about the differences between a

neighborhood and a community.

2. Statement of Objective
for Student

Today we are going to be learning about the differences between a

neighborhood and a community.

3. Teacher Input

Today we are going to be reading Be My Neighbor. We will do a quick

picture walk so students can make predictions about neighborhoods.
Introduce the terms community and neighborhood using big sticky notes
and write out the definition. Say: Lets read to find out some more
information about neighborhoods and communities. After reading we will
discuss the different places in a neighborhood.

4. Guided Practice

Explain to the students that we are going to play a game to practice what we
have just learned. Have students form two lines boys vs girls. Explain that we
are going to be playing a game in which they will be answering questions
about neighborhoods and communities. Let the students know they will be
using paper balls to shot baskets after answering the questions. Explain the
rules to the students. (Frist group with their hand up has the chance to
answer the question. They will receive one point for a correct answer and
one point if they make the basket. Groups have to be quite if they are they
lose a point. The group with the most points at the end of the game wins)
Students will work complete the What is a Neighborhood worksheet.

5. Independent Practice
6. Assessment Methods of
all objectives/skills:

Collect worksheet to check for understanding.

Time

7. Closure
8. Assessment Results of
all objectives/skills:

Students will come back to carpet and we will discuss what we have learned
about neighborhoods and communities today.
N/A

Targeted Students Modifications/Accommodations:

ELL students-continual repetition of vocabulary and
definitions throughout the lesson.
Materials/Technology:

Student/Small Group Modifications/Accommodations:

(Include any instructional materials (e.g., worksheets, assessments PowerPoint/SmartBoard slides, etc.) needed to implement the lesson at the end of the lesson plan.)

Be My Neighbor by Maya Ajmera & John D. Ivanko

Paper/trash can
Page 4 of this packet for the worksheet students will complete(( http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Whatis-a-Neighborhood-Mini-Book-and-Word-Search-1311854)
( http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-is-a-Neighborhood-Mini-Book-and-Word-Search-1311854)

References: Cooperating Teacher

Reflection on lesson:
Overall my lesson went really well and I really enjoyed planning and teaching Social Studies. I feel like my strength
for this lesson was that I was well prepared, having more than enough questions prepared for the game and having
spent so much time in the classroom prior to this lesson I gained a good sense of their prior knowledge of the
objective. My cooperating teacher was also very helpful in providing book suggestions and materials that were
needed. I would say that my one weakness was allowing the students too much time to answer the questions during
the guide practice portions of the lesson as my cooperating teacher mentioned moving at a more rapid pace keeps
everyone even more focused.
One of the things that I learned about teaching and student learning is getting the kids up and moving really does
helps them to stay more focused and engaged. These first grades paid more attention to me and the questions during
the game than they did during the actual lesson and reading of the book they knew they had to pay attention to the
questions and responses of their friends because if someone missed it could be their turn to answer.
If I were to teach this lesson in the future I think I would keep almost everything the same minus the
worksheet. We did not have time to get to the independent portion of my lesson plan as their social studies block is
so short my cooperating teacher felt they would benefit from the questions more than the worksheet so in the future
I would come up with something different for independent practice maybe have them write on a sticky note
something they learned.