Sample Lessons
5th Grade Native American Unit Lesson
Overview/Introduction
In fifth grade, the social studies curriculum focuses strictly on the early history of the United States. The first era that students are introduced to is that of the American Indians. In this unit, students will be introduced to the four general American Indian regions and how those regions differ from one another. Students will learn about the culture, lifestyles, and the kind of government that was in place during this chapter of American history. By the end, students should have a stable understanding of what life was like for American Indians.
Rationale
American history is an important topic for all Americans. These young student should have an understanding of how this country began, starting with the Native Americans. Not only is it important for students to learn this information, but it needs to be meaningful to them. This is something we want students to remember. This unit gives students fun ways to learn and take notes on American history. With hands on activities and creative engagement, students will find this topic exciting and memorable.
In fifth grade, the social studies curriculum focuses strictly on the early history of the United States. The first era that students are introduced to is that of the American Indians. In this unit, students will be introduced to the four general American Indian regions and how those regions differ from one another. Students will learn about the culture, lifestyles, and the kind of government that was in place during this chapter of American history. By the end, students should have a stable understanding of what life was like for American Indians.
Rationale
American history is an important topic for all Americans. These young student should have an understanding of how this country began, starting with the Native Americans. Not only is it important for students to learn this information, but it needs to be meaningful to them. This is something we want students to remember. This unit gives students fun ways to learn and take notes on American history. With hands on activities and creative engagement, students will find this topic exciting and memorable.
final_unit_plan.pdf | |
File Size: | 1021 kb |
File Type: |
Below are some additional attachments to the Unit Plan that could not be attached to the PDF
sst_anticipatory_map.pptx | |
File Size: | 1131 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
a_glance_at_the_first_americans.pdf | |
File Size: | 1464 kb |
File Type: |
portable_word_wall.pdf | |
File Size: | 56 kb |
File Type: |
Integrated Literacy Assingment
The ILA is a series of literary items that help to teach a lesson. The literary items can include books, poems, songs, videos, pictures, magazines, or websites that pertain to the lesson. It is a helpful tool to teach the lesson in ways that reach students visually or through auditory. Click on the link below to see the Prezi demonstration of the literary items I found for teaching about American Indians.
ILA
ILA
Social Studies In My Life
This assignment is a way to see what students already know about social studies and what their prior experiences with social studies has been. Students are asked to write a short response to the following questions: “What are positive elementary or middle school experiences you have had with social studies?” “What experience might not have been so good?” “What do you want to do similarly or differently when you teach Social Studies?” This is a good introduction to the subject of social studies and a good way to get to know your students.
ss_in_my_life.pdf | |
File Size: | 265 kb |
File Type: |
Economics Mystery
Students explore the economic reasons behind people's actions and historic events with the economics mystery assignment. They use the "Handy Dandy Guide" to discover how economics play a part in history. The example provided is just one of many scenarios that could work for this assignment. Students could even use this guide to make sense of the events that happen in their own lives or classroom.
economic_mystery_cable_vs_electricity.pdf | |
File Size: | 62 kb |
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Geo Diary
The geo diary is a way for students to explain the main themes of geography with the places they visit each day of their lives. The can take pictures of their homes, school, parks, streets, stores, and more to show how it relates to the themes of location, place, human/environment interaction, movement of goods, and region. This also allows students to show their creative sides by displaying their pictures with a brochure or a poster or any way they please. This integrates writing, creativity, and social studies.
geo_diary_sst_309.pdf | |
File Size: | 417 kb |
File Type: |
CDVs in the News
This lesson is a good way to incorporate current events with Core Democratic Values. Students look through news articles identify a CDV that relates to the article. Students write up a short response as to which CDV is presented in the article, the branch of government that is also presented, how the CDV they chose relates to the article, and there are some follow up questions for them to answer.
exploring_cdvs.pdf | |
File Size: | 194 kb |
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Library of Congress Webquest
A webquest is like a scavenger hunt for students to go on through a new website. The Library of Congress website provides a ton of primary sources that can help teach any social studies subject. Having students explore some of the primary sources for a certain topic would be helpful in letting the students become the historians and make sense of the history for themselves. Below is provided a webquest about American Indians with the LOC website.
loc_worksheet.pdf | |
File Size: | 100 kb |
File Type: |
Geohistogram Lesson
I found a link to a Geohistogram assignment that allows students to create their own Geohistogram. It provides students with a blank timeline and a series of events that the students must plot on the timeline graph. It shows students how the geohistogram works and it introduces the students to some of the main events in world history.
Geohistogram lesson
Geohistogram lesson