Unit Plan: This is My Country

Lesson Plan for Thursday Grade: Kindergarten Social Studies Strand: Civics

Submitted By: Elizabeth Prisbrey

EDEL 453: Teaching Elementary School Social Science Nevada State College Spring 2014 Instructor: Karen Powell

Lesson Plan for Thursday

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Elizabeth Prisbrey

B. Summary of the Lesson Plan: This social studies lesson is designed for kindergarten students to learn that the fourth of July is a traditional U.S. holiday. This lesson uses a strategy from the Integrating Language Arts and Social Studies textbook, Symbolism and Social Studies (p. 143 148). C. Basic Information: Grade Level: Kindergarten Time to Complete this Lesson: Approx. 50 min. Groupings: Whole group for discussion, independent for assessment

D. Materials: Happy Birthday, America video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_8Z1mi6eyM Language Arts and Social Studies textbook, Symbolism and Social Studies (p. 143 148). Pictures of celebrations (cake, balloons, presents, and people celebrating) Pictures of 4th of July celebrations (barbeques, fireworks, American Flag, patriotic colors) ELMO Smart Board White card stock folded in half for each student Crayons E. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards o C13.K.5A - Develop an awareness of traditional U.S. and Nevada patriotic activities, holidays, or symbols. C13.K.5 I know that the fourth of July is a U.S. holiday.

Student-Friendly Standards

F. Vocabulary Independence Day Americas birthday Holiday a day we celebrate something special; people usually get work off

G. Procedure: 1. Invite the students to the carpet. Show the pictures of cake, balloons, presents, and people having a good time.
EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2

Nevada State College

Lesson Plan for Thursday

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Elizabeth Prisbrey

Ask the students what these pictures make them think of (parties). Discuss special events such as birthdays, sporting events, and holidays. Define and discuss holidays. Show pictures of barbeques, fireworks, the American flag, and people wearing patriotic colors. Ask the students if the pictures give them any hints. Discuss. Ask the students again if they think they know what Independence Day is after watching the video. Briefly discuss Independence Day. For example, discuss July 4, 1776 being the day America claimed its freedom. Discuss Independence Day being celebrated on the 4th of July every year, just like we celebrate our birthdays on the same day every year. Discuss the 4th of July being a U.S. holiday that is celebrated every year. Discuss how some people celebrate the holiday. Allow students to share what their families do.

2. Ask the students why we have parties.

3. Ask the students if they know what Independence Day is.

4. Play the Happy Birthday, America video.

5. Explain to the students that Independence Day is the United States birthday.

6. Tell the students that today they will get to create a birthday card for the U.S. (This is a strategy taken from the ILASS textbook on page 145, in which the students will create a visual to help them remember important information). Tell the students it is important that they remember the date of the United States birthday. Have the students write the date on their card. Encourage the students to decorate their card with things that remind them of the U.S. Remind them that they have been learning about U.S. symbols. Show the students a card you have created and leave it up on the ELMO for the students to reference.

7. Send the students back to their seats to work on their cards. Tell the students they will find a white card and crayons at their table to create their card.

H. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding? The students will create a birthday card for the United States. Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 3

Lesson Plan for Thursday

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Elizabeth Prisbrey

The students must develop an awareness of traditional U.S. and Nevada patriotic activities, holidays, or symbols. By creating a birthday card for the U.S., the students will show they are aware of a traditional U.S. holiday. I. Closure: I will close the lesson by allowing a few students to share their birthday card with the class.

J. Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? I think the easiest part of the lesson to teach will be discussing parties and birthdays, because the students will be very familiar with these, and they will most likely get excited to share what they know. I think they will be very engaged in this. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? The most challenging part will be to teach the students that a country can have a birthday, because it is not a person or an animal. However, I think the students will be familiar with celebrating the 4th of July, so I dont know if they will be too hung up on it. They may even like the idea. 3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? I will extend the lesson by having the students plan a pretend birthday party for the U.S. We will discuss what type of events we want to take place and schedule the date. If I have done my job right, they will schedule the party for July 4th. 4. What can you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? If the students still do not grasp that Independence Day, or the 4th of July is a U.S. holiday, we will discuss other holidays that we celebrate. For example, we will revisit what a holiday is, and we will discuss more well known holidays like Thanksgiving and New Years to help the students make the connection. 5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? Im not sure at this point what part of the lesson will need to be changed. I think we should be able to get through everything, and I think the pictures and video will really help the students grasp the concepts. We may need to spend a little more time discussing holidays and giving other examples of holidays, but this is something I think can be changed on the spot, depending on student comprehension. 6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? The most difficult part was finding an extension or another way to teach the lesson if the students dont comprehend it. I feel that the students at this age should be able to comprehend the initial lesson, so it was hard for me to find something to further the concept or make it a little easier for them.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 4

Lesson Plan for Thursday

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Elizabeth Prisbrey

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 5

Lesson Plan for Thursday

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Elizabeth Prisbrey

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 6