Heroes in Our Country

Submitted by: Michael Feher

EDEL 453: Teaching Elementary School Social Science Nevada State College Spring 2013 Instructor: Karen Powell

Heroes in our Country

Summary of the Lesson Plan: This social studies lesson is created for first grade students and is designed for them to learn what a hero is and some examples of past heroes in our country. This lesson uses the Social Studies textbook School and Family (p. 250-254) Target Population: First grade Students at all learning levels. Whole group reading and individual assessment. Materials: Houghton Mifflin Social Studies textbook Heroes in Our Country. Paper, colored pencils, markers, crayons, pencils. Large Poster paper Objectives: W.1.5 With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed. W.1.5 I can write about heroes with detail. Procedure: 1. Ask students if they can explain what a Hero is. Then Read p. 250 to them. Open the Vocabulary definition for hero Discuss Martin Luther King, Jr. and have students explain why he was a hero. Have the students brainstorm in groups of four as many heroes as they can. They will write their names on a big poster board and must be able to explain why each is considered a hero. Have each group hang their poster on the wall. Teacher will ask students to look and see if they can see any names on a poster that are not on any other poster. If they do then the group will tell why they listed that person as a hero. 2. Read pages 251 and 252 and 253 aloud Do the review question Why do we remember these heroes? Go to the Homework (Vocabulary and Study Guide) and have students do the matching (heroes with what they are remembered for) discuss and collect. 3. Have students write a letter to their hero. Teacher will show them how to get started (the salutation Dear..) Students will write a short letter thanking their hero for being so inspirational to them.

Heroes in our Country

Assessment: The teacher will collect the vocabulary/study guide page and will also collect their letters and check to see that they can communicate their ideas well. The teacher will also check for understanding about what a hero is and why they are important to us. Reflection:
Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? I think the part of the lesson that will be the easiest is having the students come up with examples of heroes will probably be easy. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? I think the part that will be challenging will be having students decide which hero is important enough to write to. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? I would ask for volunteers to see who the students wrote to and why. I could also invite a local hero to come in and talk to the class. What can you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? I would use review and more examples. If they still didnt understand I would pull them aside and do some mini lessons. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? The lesson seems pretty straight forward. I might have to HELP with getting them on the right track for writing their letter. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? The most difficult part was finding a standard that goes with my lesson.