Lesson Plan: Social Studies

Symbols
Name: Andrea Davis
Subject: Social Studies

Grade: Kindergarten

Date: 12/18/14

Topic: United States

Symbols- Eagle and White
House

Time: 30 minutes

California State Standards:

Learning and Working Now and Long Ago

K.2 Students recognize national and state symbols and icons such as the
national and state flags, the bald eagle, and the Statue of Liberty.

English Language Development Standards (California Department of Education):

A. Collaborative
1. Exchanging information and ideas with others through oral collaborative
conversations on a range of social and academic topics (Common Core
State Standards for English Language Arts: SL.K.1,6; L.K.1,6)
3. Offering and supporting opinions and negotiating with others in
communicative exchanges (Common Core State Standards for English
Language Arts: SL.K.1,6; L.K.1,6)
B. Interpretive
4. Listening actively to spoken English in a range of social and academic
contexts (Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts:
SL.K.1-3)
C. Productive
11. Supporting own opinions and evaluating others opinions in speaking and
writing (Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts:
W.K.1; SL.K.4,6; L.K.1-2,6)
Objective:
Students will understand that symbols stand for something else and that there
are many symbols for the United States. This will be accomplished through charting
information as well as deciphering different interpretations of what the eagle and White
House stands for.
Academic Language Objective:
Students will discuss many of the topics with a partner, allowing for greater
language development. This practice will allow them to describe their thinking within a
safe environment and feed off peer input (stemming from Vygotskys theory of the more
capable peer). Students will also gain practice of academic language through whole
group response tactics and small group discussions.
Academic Vocabulary:

Symbol
Community
State
Liberty (the quality or state of being free: a. the power to do as one pleases b. the
positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges c.
the power of choice)
United States of America
Statue of Liberty
American Flag
Liberty Bell
Eagle
White House

Materials:
Reflections Big Book, The White House Time For Kids Reader, The United
States, Chart Paper, Marker, Map (world and of the United States), Statue of Liberty
figurine, Liberty Bell figure, White House realia, Sentence Strips (Our community is
Ocean Beach; Our state is California, Our country is the United States of America),
United States Symbol assessment sheet
I.

ANTICIPATORY SET

Motivation/ Purpose
Students will understand that the bald eagle and the White House are also
symbols of the United States of America.
Students will understand what the White House and the eagle represent.
Students will understand that these symbols portray ideals that this country
holds dear.
Activate Prior Knowledge
Students have already been exposed to the idea of a symbol and what this
means through previous lessons.
As a class, students have started a Symbols of the United States of America
chart.
Students have been exposed to the idea of different size communities
referencing terms such as community, state, and country.
II.

INSTRUCTION

List Procedure
Students will review previously learned knowledge regarding symbols.
Students will answer questions such as: Who can remember what a symbol
is? / What symbols have we already talked about? / Can you tell me more
about the flag/ Liberty Bell/ Statue of Liberty?
Review the geographical total physical response activity with the sentence
strips (Our community is Ocean Beach. Our state is California. Our country is
the United States of America.)
Show realia of symbols and discover how much background information, if
any, students have on the eagle and White House as national symbols.

Read through the Reflections Big Book section regarding the eagle and White
House. Question students throughout the reading to analyze text and facts
and think critically.
Make observations about what is seen.
Read more about the White House and the eagle from the Time Reader for
Kids and The United States.
Create the chart for the two national symbols.
Have a discussion of why the ideals these symbols are important to the
United States and us in K2.
Students will brainstorm symbols apparent in everyday life that demonstrate
that these images or things can stand for something else.

III.

GUIDED PRACTICE
Students will be introduced to this concept through multiple facets. Student
participation will be key to engaging the students and helping them gain
confidence to work through some challenging academic language. Students will
be guided through practice and discussion. After reviewing the vocabulary,
students will apply this language when describing the symbols. Setting this
foundation will solidify their understanding of how to properly use this academic
language. Students will be guided through the charting activity that allows
students to further organize the main ideas about the symbols. Students will all
have a chance to speak using partner talk/group talk as well as other methods of
discourse like whole group responses.

IV.

CLOSURE
Students will create a chart of symbols that are found in everyday life. This
will help solidify the real meaning of symbols and bridge student understanding
with real-world examples they are familiar with. Examples of these symbols can
include: heart, smiley face, sad face, plus sign (addition), minus sign
(subtraction), stop sign, boy and girl bathroom silhouettes, waves, sun, rain, etc.
After creating this chart students will once again review the symbols learned in
regards to the United States. After this lesson is completed, the summative unit
assessment will address the level of mastery and understanding of these
American symbols.

V.

INDEPENDENT PRACTICE/ SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Students will be assessed on their understanding of the central focus of the
lesson both informally and formally. Informal assessments will occur throughout
the lesson using a student list grid to help keep track of student responses and
any concerns I may have regarding student comprehension. A summative unit
assessment will demonstrate student knowledge on all American symbols going
to be discussed (flag, Statue of Liberty, Liberty Bell, eagle, White House, Mount
Rushmore).