theLearnia -Description of Activity One: Core Curriculum: Social Studies lesson for 1st Graders

This lesson is the introduction lesson in a unit about Families and Communities. The unit will
last for four weeks. Lesson Title: Family Celebrations Essential Question: Why are family
celebrations important? Learning Objective: Students will examine, identify, compare and
contrast celebrations from different cultures to understand that people celebrate in different
ways for several purposes. Common Core Standard addressed: Reading Informational Text
(RI. 6): distinguished between information provided by pictures or other illustrations and
information provided by the words in a text SL: participate in collaborative conversations with
diverse partners about Grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and large groups
AASL Standard for the 21st Century Learner addressed: 1.1.2 Use prior and background
knowledge as context for new learning 1.1.3 Develop and refine a range of questions to frame
the search for new understanding. 1.1.4 Find, evaluate, and select appropriate sources to
answer questions. Academic Language: Librarian and classroom teacher will introduce content
specific vocabulary at the beginning of the unit. Students will interact with terms: celebration,
culture, tradition, past, present, future, history and family. Students will listen to the reading of
the text, All Kinds of Families by Norma Simon and illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen. Students will
write the terms on flash cards, draw a picture of what they think it means, then share/compare
with a partner. Activity: This is an active learning activity because students will be compare and
contrast celebrations from different cultural backgrounds. The students will identify the
different cultures in their classroom and examine the various celebrations. They will understand
that families celebrate for many reasons and in different ways. Students will examine different
language, beliefs, customs, clothing, and traditions they identify among their classmates. Before
the unit begin, students will be given a survey to ask parents about their celebrations. The
librarian and classroom teacher will introduce the unit together. The librarian and the
classroom teacher will model retelling a real life family event in sequence. Students will be
asked to pair-share about their family celebrations. Librarian will chart student responses.
Then, librarian and classroom teacher will model completion a graphic organizer (Web) to
explain the celebration events of the past, present and the future in their family. Students will
complete the graphic organizer based on their family research completed on the survey.
Students will include: What I See? What I feel? What I Wonder? What I Feel? Using theLearnia
tool: On the video made with theLearnia tool, Librarian will model choosing one family
celebration. Librarian will model step by step way to complete the components of the graphic
organizer. Then, students will use the video recording of librarian explaining the steps as a
resource for completing the task.
Description of Activity Two: Core Curriculum: Social Studies lesson for 1st Graders. This lesson
is the second lesson in a unit about Families and Communities. Lesson Title: Family Similarities
and Differences. Essential Question: Describe in what kinds of communities do families live?
Learning Objective: Students will be able to identify and write about the different kinds of
communities families live in, and understand that families are similar and different. Common
Core Standard addressed: W.1.8. With guidance and support from adults, recall information
from experiences or gather information from provides sources to answer a question. SL:
participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about Grade 1 topics and texts
with peers and adults in small and large groups. AASL Standard for the 21st Century Learner
addressed: 1.4.2 Use interaction with and feedback from teachers and peers to guide own
inquiry process. 1.1.9 Collaborate with others to broaden and deepen understanding. Academic
Language: The librarian and classroom teacher will introduce the vocabulary as a motivational
activity at the beginning of the lesson. Use the learnia to display photographs of diversity in
types of homes and physical buildings. The communities will be Urban, Rural, and Suburban.
Librarian will engage students in discussion about the different kinds of communities. Students
will pair-share their understanding about the different communities, and about the similarities
and differences between families. Students will listen and discuss the text- Same, Same, and
Different by Jenny Sue Kosteckei-Shaw Activity: This is an active learning lesson because the
students will be engaged in discussion, writing and reading about diverse communities.
Librarian will give feedback to students about their findings, notetaking and completion of the
graphic organizer. Students will use the anchor chart created in lesson one about their
classmates family celebrations and complete a graphic organizer (Venn Diagram). The Venn
Diagram will include Family A and Family B comparison. Students will also use self-assessment
strategies to seek help from peers and teachers as needed. .The librarian will reinforce the fact
that families live in different kinds of communities with a rich history. Using theLearnia tool:
Librarian will model comparing two communities using information from the video. Students
will use notetaking skills as they view the video. Then, students will be able to use the graphic
organizer to write and share their comparisons with their classmates.
Conclusion: According to Eric C. Sheninger, there is a need for change. Meaningful change has
and always will begin at the individual level. This is also where it is sustained to the point that it
becomes an embedded component of school or district culture. (Sheninger, 2016). I agree with
Sheninger, as technology change educators must become adaptable so classrooms can reflect
the change. Students must feel that the lessons are relevant and engaging. In my opinion,
technology is a great equalizer for all learning styles to reduce the achievement gap.
Technology tool like theLearnia creates equal access for all students. For example, a student
with special needs can easily be included in all learning environment if educators take the time
to adapt the lesson using a technology tool. Consequently, when students are exposed to
learning tools with several options within that tool, the outcome is demonstrated in increase
achievement. Finally, as digital learning become widespread, students from all socioeconomic
backgrounds will experience great learning experiences. Technology must take center stage in
all libraries and classrooms.
References:Sheninger, E. C. (2016). Uncommon learning: Creating schools that work for kids.
United States: Corwin