Clinicals Social Studies Lesson Plan Assignment

Direct Instruction Lesson Plan Template

Name: Rachel Barrier Central Focus/Big Idea of the Lesson: Civil War
Introduction
th
Grade Level/Subject: 5 Grade Social Studies
Essential Standard/Common Core Objective: 5.H.1.3 Analyze the impact of
major conflicts, battles and wars on the development of our nation through Date taught: April 12, 2018
Reconstruction.
Daily Lesson Objective: Students will be able to analyze the life of a slave and write a journal entry as a character from
Henry’s Freedom Box. Students are expected to earn 4 out of 5 points.
21st Century Skills: (Go to this link for more info about these Academic Language Demand
skills:
Think Creatively Language Function: Analyze
Global Awareness
Vocabulary: In the Power Point and story

Discourse: Turn & Talk

Syntax: Graphic Organizer

Prior Knowledge: Students should know that slaves existed years ago. Students should know that slaves are.

Activity Description of Activities and Setting Time

Teacher will ask students what they know about slavery.
 What kind of work did slaves have to do?
 Were their masters kind to them?
 Were slaves allowed to marry?
 Did they ever try to escape?
1. Focus and Review 5 mins
Possible responses to these questions: Slaves worked in the cotton and
tobacco fields, their masters were often not kind to them, they could not
marry, and they often tried to escape. Students should also bring up the fact
that not all slaves’ had this kind of treatment—there were rare cases where
masters were kinder to their slaves.
 Students will be able to write a personal journal based on a
character of their choosing.
 Students will be able to put themselves in the time and place
2. Statement of Objective
of their character.
for Student
 Students will learn empathy for those living in the time of the
American Civil War.
 Students will practice their grammar and writing skills.

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 The teacher will now introduce the lesson and give some general information
on the Civil War. The teacher will present a PowerPoint with information on it
for the children. The students will be taking notes on a graphic organizer that
the teacher provides for them. We will later put this in their social studies
notebooks. The information that is provided in the PowerPoint is
3. Teacher Input  Dates (186-1865) 10 mins
 Purpose of war
 Winner
 Where it took place
 How many fatalities
 Results
Teacher will play the book “Henry’s Freedom Box.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6rf9bxDK1o
Students will be asked to think of themselves in Henry’s shoes. Students are
welcome to take notes so that they can remember the events.
Periodically throughout the video, the teacher will stop it to ask questions.
At 1.28 stop the video- ask “Why is Henry made to work when he doesn’t
want to?”
4. Guided Practice At 4.05 stop the video- ask “Why is Henry’s family taken? Can he do anything 12 mins
about this?”
At 5.54 stop the video- ask “Why is Henry going to Pennsylvania? Why does
he have to mail himself? Why can he not just leave?”
After the reading: Ask students what they have learned about slave life?
Tell students to think to themselves- What would you do if you were Henry?
Would you escape? How could you save your family? Remember Slaves did
not have any rights and had to listen to their masters.
5. Independent Practice Tell students that now we will write a journal entry as someone from the 15 mins
story. Children can choose any character:
 Henry’s mother
 Henry
 Henry’s wife (Nancy)
 Henry’s children
 Dr. Smith
 James
Children should write the journal entry as they are the character. What does
your character feel? Who are they writing to? What are they writing about?
What are they going to do?
Children should also draw a picture.
For example:
Dear Henry,
This is your mother. I miss you terribly. How are you? Are you still with our old
master? I think about you all the time and wish we were together. Stay strong
and know that I love you!
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 - Mom

Formative: The Teacher will make observation while students are working. Are the
students involved in discussions? Are the students taking notes? Are students paying
attention and completing assignments?
Summative: Teacher will take the journal entry up. Students should write the journal entry
6. Assessment Methods of as the character from the story and draw a picture to receive full points. Students will need
all objectives/skills: to write a paragraph. (4-5 sentences)
Sentence structure: 2 pts
Picture: 1 pts
Character details from story: 2 pts
Students should earn 4 out of 5 pts.
Teacher will ask students to think about themselves in the shoes of Henry.
Teacher will tell students to turn and talk to a friend and tell what they would
7. Closure 5 mins
do if they were Henry. The teacher will then ask for some volunteers to share
their journal entry.
8. Assessment Results of 73% of students received 5 out of 5 points. 20% of students received 3 out of 5 points. 7%
all objectives/skills: of students did not finish.
Targeted Students Modifications/Accommodations: Student/Small Group Modifications/Accommodations:
 ESL/ ELL: Teacher will walk around and check  Teacher will pull a small group including students with
in periodically. IEPs and ESL students. The teacher will assist with
 IEP Students: Students will be seated near me. anything they need. These students will only be
Students will have fill- in- the- blank notes required to complete 2-3 sentences for their journal
entry
Materials/Technology:
 Paper for students to complete their Journal entry on
 Crayons/ Colored Pencils
 Pencil
 Social Studies notebook
References:
Youtube- Henry’s Freedom Box https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6rf9bxDK1o
Reflection on lesson: (Write several paragraphs about what you learned from this lesson. What were the strengths?
What were the weaknesses? What did you learn about teaching and student learning? How would you teach this lesson
differently in the future?
When I taught this lesson I was nervous because my teacher wanted me to introduce the Civil war. I did not have any
help on creating the lesson. This is a very large topic to introduce. I began by conducting some research on 5 th grade civil
war topics. I found this book that seemed interesting and I thought it would a nice way to introduce slaves to the
children. When we began, some children had already read the book, which was okay. They did not spoil it for the other
children. They knew a lot about slaves already and were very interested to tell me about them. I think he kids were
involved and enjoyed the lesson. They all really liked the writing activity. Half of the students wanted to share. I think if I
were to teach this lesson again, I would have an example of writing already made for the students. I gave them an
example but they did not physically see one. This may help them come up with ideas on their own. I also would stop the
video at certain points. I was planning on doing this, because it was in my lesson plan. But once we got started, I ended
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up not doing it. Over all, I learned that things do not always follow plan. I also learned that student need visuals for
references.
My strengths were keeping all students engaged. I worked hard to make sure to walk around to everyone and make sure
they are understanding the assignment. I also brought a reward for the class IF they worked hard! This motivated the
students to work hard. I also challenged the students who finished early to see if they can add any more to their letter.
Perhaps an escape plan for other slaves, or a way to meet up with Henry’s family. My teacher said that I did a good job of
“working the room.” I circulated the whole time while I was giving instructions, watching the film (book) and during the
activity.
My weaknesses were not making all the students come to the carpet for the read aloud. I had some students stay back
at their desk and I had to ask them twice to put up their other work. If I would have made them come to the carpet with
the other students, it would have been avoided. I also think I should have stopped the video. If I would have followed the
lesson plan directly, I could have made more connections for the students.