Unit Plan: Communities

Lesson Plan for Thursday Grade: 3rd Social Studies Strand: Civics

Submitted By: Michele Arnold

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

Lesson Plan for Thursday

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Michele Arnold

B. Summary of the Lesson Plan: This lesson plan is designed for third grade students to learn about their local government and how it is part of our community. Students can recite the President and the mayor. C. Basic Information: Grade Level: 3rd grade Time to Complete this Lesson: about 50 minutes Groupings: whole class reading and discussion, individual writing of speeches

D. Materials: Book, The Ladybug and the legislature by Lois Halsinger (see final page) Houghton Mifflin Social Studies Textbook, Communities Pencil, paper E. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards o C14.3.1 Name the current President of the United States. C.14.3.2 Name the current mayor of the town. I know about our local government and can name the President and the Mayor of our city.

Student-Friendly Standards

F. Vocabulary Mayor-leader of a citys government Democracy-type of government in which citizens decide what the government will do Citizen-an official member of a community, state, or country

G. Procedure: 1. The class gathers together for a discussion about our local government. Teacher asks students who the mayor of our town is. Teacher asks if they know what the role of the mayor is. 2. Class popcorn reads pages 224-226 about citizens, democracy and the local government. Teacher stops to ask, What is A Democracy. Teacher points out information about citizens, voting, and makes sure students ask questions as we read through the pages. 3. Students are assigned the activity to write a speech as if they were running for a local political office. Students must include what they would do to help the
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2

Lesson Plan for Thursday

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Michele Arnold

community in the speech. They must also include somehow the name of the mayor and the president in this speech. Students have about 20 minutes to write this speech. 4. The class comes together and students share their speeches. There will not be time for all the speeches in one day, but we will do as many as possible. As students are reciting their speeches the other students will be scoring and making notes of the speeches to turn in.

H. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding? I will monitor students during the class discussion and through their speeches. Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. Students must include the Mayor and the Presidents name in their speech. I. Closure: Teacher gathers the class and reads the book, The Ladybug and the Legislature to the class.

J. Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? The popcorn reading will be the easiest to teach because it mostly prepared already. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? Keeping the students on track while writing their speeches and making sure they include the required information might be a bit difficult. 3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? I am extending on the lesson the next day with our field trip. Also, students will be voting on their favorite speech and actually holding an election. 4. What can you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? I will pair up students who are having trouble understanding with other students while they are writing their speeches. 5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? I might want to read the book, The Ladybug and the Legislature at a different time in the lesson.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 3

Lesson Plan for Thursday

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Michele Arnold

6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? I had trouble finding standards that were more relevant to this lesson. I would have liked something a bit more compelling than knowing the mayor and the president, but I still know the lesson is important for students.

Materials: The Ladybug and the Legislature to be read to class.

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

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