Instructional Common Core Aligned Lesson Plan Template

Title:
Bringing Change to the Community

Primary Subject Area and Grade Level:

U.S. Government, sophomore

Overview:
After participating in this lesson students will be able to create a plan of action for changing something in the
community, being able to back this up with sound reasoned arguments offers their alternative solution. They
will also understand the constitutional principles and laws that allow for making these changes.
Standards
6.1.4 Address a public issue by suggesting alternative solutions or courses of action, evaluating the consequences of each, and
proposing an action to address the issue or resolve the problem.
6.1.5 Make a persuasive, reasoned argument on a public issue and support using evidence
(e.g., historical and contemporary examples), constitutional principles, and fundamental values of
American constitutional democracy; explain the stance or position.
Danielson, 1c

Approximate Duration:
4 50 minute classes

Class (student) Information:

I believe the class will be excited about this lesson.

Danielson, 1b

Common Core Learning Standard(s) Addressed: Focus on literacy and comprehension

piece with presenting a project. Having students use higher level thinking orders.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.7
Integrate quantitative or technical analysis (e.g., charts, research data) with qualitative
analysis in print or digital text.
Interdisciplinary Connections (Specific Standards): Connection to math with the planning of
a budget.
Outcomes/Objectives (Include student friendly as well):
After participating in this lesson students will be able to create a plan of action for changing something in the
community, being able to back this up with sound reasoned arguments offers their alternative solution. They
will also understand the constitutional principles and laws that allow for making these changes.
Danielson, 1c

Technologies and Other Materials:

Tablet, Phone,Laptop,Desktop. District has a bring your own device policy but devices can be provided

Danielson,1d, 1e,3c

Activities/Tasks (Lesson Procedure):

Teacher Name ~Course Title

1. Students will pull out their piece of tech or take one of the devices that I have in class
2. Students will answer the warm up question from poll anywhere
3. During pair and share students discuss each other then share in back channel chat that I shared with
them
4. Students only post relevant and appropriate answers into the back channel chat.
5.

Danielson, 1e, 2c, 3c, 3b

Lesson Procedure:
Review Class Expectations/Norms
o When I am speaking as the teacher I expect the class to be silent and listening and to lend this
courtesy to other students when they are speaking. I expect students to be engaged and
questions as they come up.
Outcomes and Relevance
o The students will present this idea by showing how much it will cost and the benefits from their
idea and why it would be a positive change.
o This will prepare students to be able to actively participate in their government and perform
their duties as a citizen.
Motivating Introduction
Students will pair up and brainstorm ideas for something they would like to add to the community or
change, they will share this in a back channel chat that will show on the the smart board and we will
discuss ideas.
Or students can create a brainstorming map and share it off their ipad with me as the teacher.
Content of Lesson

I will explain the project to the students that they are to come up with an idea for the community (Ex. Skate
park,pool,Basketball court, or recycling.)
The students will present this idea by showing how much it will cost and the benefits from their idea and why
it would be a positive change.
The students will have to look up local laws and zoning laws to make sure the idea is possible.
They will also have to site democratic principles that allow them the ability to pitch these ideas to the
local government and their classmates.
Input/modeling
Show some past ideas that students have used
Discuss in small and large groups about why we have democratic values in place that allow us to suggest ideas
of change to the government.
Talk with small groups about their ideas, make sure they are aware of budget, the students will attempt to
create a budget that is cost effective but environmentally responsible.
and understand that their presentation will hopefully be able to convince local officials of their project idea.
Allow kids time to work, create their presentations and rehearse them.

Closure and Review: After all students have presented they will have to share a reflection in the class
blog about what they found most challenging and how this has changed their thinking on the way the
united states government functions.

Extension Activity:
Groups that finish early can pull out book they are reading as an extension for the class, or I might challenge
them to improve some portion of their presentation.
Higher Level Thinking Skills Noted
o Students are creating a proposal to present, finding laws that support their idea with zoning
laws along with providing an outlined budget that shows cost effectiveness but being
environmentally minded.

Relevance/Rationale:

Teacher Name ~Course Title

What the students are doing is creating and thinking for themselves in teams. This will prepare students when
they have to make pitches to their bosses on different business solutions. This will also teach teamwork and
being able to collaborate with others.

Explorations and Extensions:

1. If a group finishes early they can work on rehearsing their project our looking into extra details to support
their point. They can also pull out their books they are reading as an extension.
2. EXTENSIONS (Reteaching): I will check for understanding throughout the project at various points. After
groups are done brainstorming ideas I will discuss their plan with them. Students have to show the
constitutional backing along with zoning laws to me. Ensuring that students are expressing themselves and
being creative and staying on task.

Danielson,1a

Assessment Criteria for Success (Assessment Plans):

Content knowledge, student knowledge, and appropriate resources aligned to instructional outcomes. (NOTE:
Consider a chart to express this information.) BE DETAILED! Attach any quizzes, rubrics, scoring plans, questions
used for assessment or activities. Teacher Observation must include a checklist of specific behaviors
observed.
My Poll everywhere quiz will help gauge where the students level of prior knowledge is.
By checking in on groups progress I will be able to see their progress.
Projects will be well thought out and creative.
The students will have a well thought out solution to whatever problem they are solving are new fixture
they would like to add to the community
This means they present a budget for their project with different constitutional backings local and state
laws along with how these allow for their project or solution to happen.
The presentation will explain the students position and what they want to add or change to the
community. The presentation will attempt to convince the class to support each groups project.

Danielson, 1f, 3d

Universal Design for Learning:

http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines
This lesson allows for students to present information in any way they believe will be convincing. With allowing
students to pick their own topic and research in multiple forms allows for students to research in whatever way
is best for them, meaning they have multiple means of representation.
Danielson, 1c, 3e

Reflections:
This lesson reflects my attitude that students learn best when they are active participants in the lesson creating
their own knowledge with me as a guide to push them through this process.
1. After teaching lesson:
a. How do you evaluate this lesson?
b. One of the strengths of this lesson is how personal it will be to the kids and hopefully foster a great
deal of engagement.
c. One of the weakness is in my actual lesson plan I need to pay a greater deal to attention.
d. Once I teach this lesson I am sure I will find ways to improve it.

Danielson, 4a, 4e

Teacher Name ~Course Title