Leann's+Content+Area+Plan

working copy:

Power Point Lesson on the How we got Here.....
====This is a brief look at the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America. This lesson teaches why the Colonists chose to seek independence from England and the struggles they face in establishing a government by the people and for the people. This lesson can be further extended by a content area unit plan on the Founding Fathers. ====

=Content Area Unit Plan on The Founding Fathers: Lesson #1 =

** Content Area Unit Plan ** Problem based learning can help students meet the standards and learning goals by synthesizing their understanding through solving problems and applying that knowledge and understanding of content concepts (Ertmer,2009). A well designed problem is the key to allowing students the opportunity to demonstrate and expand their understanding. The students will learn new content as they solve the problem. They will clarify and refine the problem as they collect and analyze the data. The students will become self directed learners as they learn to collaborate with others. (video)

Second Grade
 * Grade level: **

Students will undertake an in-depth investigation of the principles and characteristics found in the lives of one or more of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. Students will investigate, collaborate and evaluate principles and virtues that made this country strong.
 * Objective: **

Students in grade two explore the lives of actual people who make a difference in their everyday lives and learn the stories of extraordinary people from history whose achievements have touched them directly and indirectly **.**
 * Standard: **

**Problem:**
America was founded on principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. America has always been a beacon to the world of strength and power and good will toward man. What principles and characteristics did our Founding Fathers have that helped to establish a nation of strength and courage? "We...solemnly publish and declare, that these United colonies are, and of Right ought to be FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES...And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

The Declaration of Independence In Congress, July 4, 1776

**Lesson:**
Review: In our last lesson (power point) we learned about the founding of this great nation. We have discussed the kind of commitment that was required to establish this new kind of government. America has always been a beacon to the world of strength and power and good will toward man. Are we still that beacon of strength and integrity? In this lesson we will investigate those principles and values that this nation was founded on. We will study the character traits of the men who pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

Instruction:

What does this mean? "... our sacred Honor."

What does it mean to make a pledge on your "sacred Honor"? What would the equivalent be in our times? Is there an equivalent in our times? More importantly, I wonder what it means when people who took an Oath, a sacred Oath, a Holy Oath to serve America and Americans desecrate that Oath and by doing so the "sacred Honor" of our collective ancestors?

All 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence took this sacred oath. What other stories and characteristics about these men can we learn? The names of all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence will be placed in a container. Some of the names will be very familiar to you, others will not. Each student will pull out 3 names. Each student will conduct a brief investigation of the three names they chose. ( The purpose of this is to become more familiar with these names and choose someone who might be of interest to the student). Students will then choose one of the three names to do an in depth investigation on. Students will use computer technology learned in a previous lesson on correct internet investigation techniques. Students will read and collect data and stories about their Founding Father. Each student will establish their own wiki page on the classroom wiki site to record information they find. The researching and gathering part of the lesson will take several computer days. Computer opportunities are 1 hour once a week. It is estimated that this will take about 4 computer sessions. Each student will have access to their own computer. The teacher will monitor closely all student activities and will provide assistance to any student with diverse needs.

Using the district approved search engines found on the school web site, students will conduct their investigation.
 * Technology: **

http://quinturakids.com/ http://www.kids.gov/ http://www.infotopia.info/ http://search.yippy.com/

=Social Networking and online Collaboration: Lesson #2=

**Grade level:** Second Grade

**Standard:** Students in grade two explore the lives of actual people who make a difference in their everyday lives and learn the stories of extraordinary people from history whose achievements have touched them directly and indirectly**.**

**Objective:** Students will undertake an in-depth investigation of the principles and characteristics found in the lives of one or more of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. Students will collaborate and evaluate principles and virtues that made this country strong.

**Problem:** America was founded on principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. America has always been a beacon to the world of strength and power and good will toward man. America is a country founded on sacred honor. Are we still that nation?

**Lesson:** We have been collecting data and stories about our Founding Fathers. We are beginning to understand a little bit about who they were and what they stood for. You each have been recording your data and stories about each of your Founding Fathers, on the class wiki. Today you will read and share comments on each other’s Founding Father. Your job as a class will be to choose 6 Founding Fathers that you find unique and extraordinary. These 6 Founding Fathers will be to focus of the next phase of our Founding Father Unit.

**Technology:** Computer for each student Wiki Wiki page for each student

= = = **Digital Storytelling: Lesson #3** =

**Grade level:**
Second Grade

**Standard:**
Students in grade two explore the lives of actual people who make a difference in their everyday lives and learn the stories of extraordinary people from history whose achievements have touched them directly and indirectly**.**

**Objective:**
Students will work in groups of four to create a digital story on one of the Founding Fathers.

**Lesson:**
Students will be divided into 6 groups with 4 students in each group. These groups will be preselected by the teacher, giving special attention to students with diverse needs, and taking special care to balance the skills and abilities of the groups. There will be 1 adult or parent helper assigned to each group. Each group will be assigned one of the Founding Fathers chosen from the last unit. Students will follow these steps in developing their digital story. (2009) The parent helper will only give guidance as the students work through their digital storytelling project. Students will include data that supports evidence of principles and characteristics that demonstrate strength and courage.

· Decide on a format; students may become the character and tell their life story, students may go back in time and discuss the major happening of the time, students may create a report like story · Develop a story (it helps to circle key words) · Organize your ideas · Sequence the events · Develop sequence into a script or storyboard · Find visuals to go with key words · Customize images to fit (you may need to resize) · Add titles · Edit

** Presentation: ** Each group will present their digital story in front of a group of their peers.

** Technology: ** The groups will use teacher tube or PowerPoint to present their digital storytelling