Bluefield State College

Daily Lesson Plan

Name: Molly Wickline Date: 2-28-17

Subject: Social Studies Topic: History

Grade: 4th Length of Lesson: 1 hr.

Introduction (Essential Question): What is the purpose of government?

Standard: SS.4.15 Trace the beginning of America as a nation and establishment of the new
government.
Compare and contrast the various forms of government in effect from 1774-1854 (e.g.,
Continental Congress, Articles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc.)
Research the contributions of early American historic figures (e.g., George Washington,
John Adams, Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson,
James Madison, Dolly Madison, etc.)
Explain the political, social and economic challenges faced by the new nation (e.g.,
development of political parties, expansion of slavery, taxation, etc.)

Cluster: History

Objective: Students will trace the beginning of America as a nation and establishment of the new
government.

Specific Objective: Students will use Chromebooks to research the United States Constituiton.

Method(s):
Technology
Internet Scavenger Hunt
Review

Materials:
Chromebooks
Scavenger Hunt handout

Direct Instruction:
Review material covered prior to this lesson.
o How and why was the United States Government created? The new government
was created through the Articles of Confederation; it was created because the
 colonists declared independence from the British government, so they needed a
new government.
o What are some differences between the government laid out in the Articles of
Confederation and our government today? Today we have a judicial branch that
decides what laws mean an executive branch headed by a leader that carries out
the laws; the government under the Articles had neither.
o What were weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? The states had more
power than the central government; representatives to the national government
had limited power; Congress could not pass laws to collect taxes from states.
Tell students Today we will be conducting a scavenger hunt about the United States
Constitution and we will be using the Chromebooks.
Before handing them out cover the rules for using the Chromebooks and review the
Scavenger Hunt handout.
Go over rules of the use of the laptops.
o Stay on topic when searching.
o Follow directions when turning on and off.
o Take care of the equipment.
o Do not touch other students computers.
o Do not use Wikipedia for research.
Go to the website listed on the handout and have it projected on the smart board for the
students to see.
Show the students that as they read they will come across the answers to the questions on
the handout.
Read over each question carefully.
Pass out Scavenger Hunt handouts.
Pass out Chromebooks.

Guided Practice:
Review of the Scavenger Hunt handout
Review of rules of Chromebooks.

Differentiation:
For students who need assistance I will be moving around the room as they are
researching the Constitution in case a student needs help.

Lesson Closure:
Ask students if while they were researching if they found anything else that they find
interesting.
Independent Practice:
Scavenger Hunt handout

Assessment:
 A formative assessment will be taken by the completion of the Scavenger Hunt.