PATRIOTIC SYMBOLS

Unit Plan: Understanding Symbolism in Social Studies

Lesson Plan for Monday Grade: 1st Social Studies Strand: Civics

Submitted By: Patty Medeiros

EDEL 453: Teaching Elementary School Social Science Nevada State College Spring 2014 Instructor: Karen Powell

Lesson Plan for Monday

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Patty Medeiros

B. Summary of the Lesson Plan: This lesson is designed to introduce students to symbolism and to recognize how such American symbols as the American Flag, the bald eagle, the Liberty Bell, and the Statue of Liberty symbolize patriotism. This lesson uses the PowerPoint embedded in the materials section listed below. C. Basic Information: Grade Level: 1st grade Time to Complete this Lesson: approximately 50 minutes Groupings: Whole class discussion, read aloud, and PowerPoint. Cooperative groups for assessment activity.

D. Materials: Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who? by Teresa Bateman Computer and projector to display PowerPoint American Symbols PowerPoint:

AMERICAN SYMBOLS
Follow along with your American Symbols Graphic Organizer

Student copies of American Symbols Graphic Organizer (located at bottom of lesson) Heavy duty white construction paper Markers/colored pencils E. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards o C13.1.5 Name a traditional U.S. patriotic activity, holiday, or symbol. C13.1.5A Develop an awareness of traditional U.S. and Nevada patriotic activities, holidays, and symbols. C13.1.5 I can identify the American Flag, the bald eagle, the Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty. C13.1.5A I can explain how American symbols represent patriotism.

Student-Friendly Standards

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 2

Lesson Plan for Monday

F. Vocabulary

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Patty Medeiros

symbol anything that stands for or represents something else patriotism the love of ones country nation- a group of people living in a particular territory under the same government

G. Procedure: 1. Introduce and discuss vocabulary (symbol, patriotism, nation). 2. Create a class list of common symbols and what they stand for. Discuss the importance of having symbols. How could they promote patriotism?

3. Read aloud Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who? by Teresa Bateman using think-aloud strategy. Before read aloud, take students on a picture walk through Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who? Preview key words. Have students make predictions about what the symbols may stand for.

4. View American Symbols PowerPoint. Students will complete coordinating American Symbols Graphic Organizer while viewing slide show. Discuss the symbols and how they represent our nation and patriotism.

H. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding? Create an American Symbolism Poster: Working in cooperative groups of 2 3, students will collaborate to create a poster for one chosen American symbol discussed during the days lesson. The poster should reflect the students understanding of one American symbol and how it relates to our nation and patriotism. Each poster must include: o A title o An illustration of the chosen American symbol o A location where the symbol may be found o At least one fact about the chosen symbol o At least one sentence describing how the symbol represents patriotism. Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. Posters will include accurate facts and will describe the symbols links to patriotism. I. Closure: Cooperative groups will present their posters to the whole class and explain the key features.
EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 3

Nevada State College

Lesson Plan for Monday

J. Reflection:

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Patty Medeiros

1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? Using the PowerPoint and coordinating Graphic Organizer will make step 4 of this lesson the easiest to teach. In this way students are seeing the image of the symbol being taught while the class discusses the importance of the symbol. This also allows students to have an organized place to write down the important facts they learn so they can reflect on their learning throughout the lesson and at later times. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? The most challenging part of this lesson may be trying to teach students what symbolism means and how an object can be used to represent something, especially non-tangible things such as feelings. 3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? I would follow up this lesson with a more in-depth lesson on the American Flag and possibly the Statue of Liberty since this is really just the introduction to American Symbolism. 4. What can you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? For students who are struggling, they may receive extra support with me or an Aide in a small group working cooperatively together to grasp the concepts. Special Graphic Organizers may also be created prior to the lesson that includes more text filled in to help students who may be slower thinkers/writers. 5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? If there is a technical problem in which the PowerPoint cannot be used, the lesson would need to be changed slightly. The read-aloud that is used in the beginning of the lesson can be used with the Graphic Organizer, however and still fulfill the same objectives. 6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? The most difficult part of this lesson was deciding on the assessment piece. I was stuck on a vocabulary matching piece until the poster idea came to mind. I need to remember that assessments do not always have to include the traditional pencil and paper writing assignment.

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 4

Lesson Plan for Monday

Strand: Civics

submitted by: Patty Medeiros

Name:____________________

American Symbols
The American Flag
The American Flag was first flown in ______. The stars represent___________________ and the stripes represent _____________________. The color red is for _______________________. The color blue is for ______________________. The color white is for _____________________.

The Bald Eagle

The bald eagle was chosen as the national bird because of its ______________________, __________________________, ______________ _______________, and because it is native to _________________________. The bald eagle symbolizes _______________, ___________________, and _________________.

The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty symbolizes ___________ ___________. It was a gift from ____________ and is located in _______________ City. The Statue of Liberty holds a _________________ In one hand and a __________________ in the other. She is also known as ___________ _____________________.

The Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell symbolizes ________________, and _______________________. It can be found in _________________________________. The Liberty Bell weighs ____________ pounds.

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 5