Lesson Plan Guide

Teacher Candidate:Lakisha Culpepper

Grade and Topic:

4th Grade Social Studies

Mentor Teacher: Philips/Murdock

Date: December 4, 2016

Length of Lesson: 45-60 minutes

School: University of Memphis

UNIT/CHAPTER OBJECTIVE/GENERALIZATION/BIG IDEA:

The First Tennesseans
This is a chapter within a Unit that describes the interaction between humans and the environment. The unit is
called Our Land and First People.
The chapter discusses the first residents of Tennessee as described in the TN. State Social Studies standards 4.2
Core Lesson 1 focuses on the settlement patterns and historic culture of the Cherokee people.

LESSON OBJECTIVE:
Given a fourth grade Houghton Mifflin Tennessee Social studies book, students will read Chapter 3 pages 54-57
on The Cherokee.
Given a worksheet, students will answer 5 lesson review questions.
Given a computer, internet and teacher login instructions, students will create a comic with their assigned group
and include facts about Cherokee living in Tennessee.
By the end of the chapter, students should be able to list at least 3 things they learned about Cherokee living in
Tennessee.

STANDARDS ADDRESSED:
State standard 4.2 Analyze religious beliefs, customs, and various folklore traditions of the Cherokee, Creek,
and Chickasaw, including: Principal Chief, summer and winter homes, Beloved Women, recreation, clans, and
maternal designations.
4.5.spi.1 Cherokee, Creeks, Chickasaw
ISTE Standard 3. Research and information fluency Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
a. Plan strategies to guide inquiry b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a
variety of sources and media c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to
specific tasks d. Process data and report results

MATERIALS:

Smart board
Access to the internet
4th grade social studies textbook
Pencil
Teacher login information for ToonDoo comic creating tool.
Technology will be integrated when students use the internet to create a comic strip about how

the Cherokee lived in Tennessee. ToonDoo comic strip website will be used. Each group will use the
teacher login information to create a comic. Students will save the finished comic strip for the teacher to
print out and grade later. A sample of the comic strip can be viewed at
http://www.toondoo.com/cartoon/10651821

1.
2.
3.
4.

BACKGROUND and RATIONALE:

Students will demonstrate a clear understanding of who the First Tennesseans (The Cherokee) were and how
they lived.
Students will demonstrate a clear understanding of listing information on a comic strip about the Tennessee
Cherokee. They will provide a visual presentation and written reflection about the Cherokee in Tennessee.
This lesson starts the unit on The First Tennesseans. This lesson is the Core 1 lesson and it focuses on the
settlement patterns and historic culture of the Cherokee. The follow up lesson is the Core 2 lesson and it
discusses the settlement patterns and historic culture of the Chickasaw, Shawnee, and Creek peoples.
I am aware that the lesson will be differentiated for students who do not master the objectives, but modifications
are not part of this particular lesson.
PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE:
Introduction: Begin by asking the students a question. Who do you think were the first people to settle into
their state of Tennessee?
Discuss answers amongst each other.
Go to https://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/history-of-native-americans/history-of-tennessee-indians.htm to
read and discuss Tennessee Cherokee and watch the video on the smart board.
Procedures: Prior to the computer (20minutes)
Teacher procedures: 1. After the introduction, students will get out their textbook and begin reading Chapter 1
pages 52-57 as a class.
2. Ask questions as students take turns reading each page out loud.

3. Pass out review questions handout for students to complete and put in the class work basket
before the computer assignment.
Student procedures: Students will read 52-57 as a class and complete the review handout and put
completed assignment into the class work basket.
Teacher procedure: (20 minutes)
1. Start off by showing students the Comic section of the Sunday paper.
2. Ask them, Wouldnt it be fun to create your own comic strip?
3. Show the students at tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX5oKA2j3So
4. After going over the tutorial, put students into groups of 3.
5. Have students go back to their seats with their group.
6. Tell them to write down ideas about what they want to add about how Cherokee lived in
Tennessee on their comic strip. Students may go back to the link to
https://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/history-of-native-americans/history-of-tennesseeindians.htm to help them with ideas.
7. Write the teacher username and password on the board so students will be able to login into
ToonDoo.
8. Allow students to get laptops/ or go to desktops to begin their assignment.
9. Have the tutorial on the smart board for needed assistance.
10. Remind students that their comic must be about things they learned about how Cherokee lived in
Tennessee from their readings or the video.
11. Monitor and instruct as needed.
Student procedure: At the computer (45 minutes)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Login into http://www.toondoo.com

Sign in using teacher login information.
Choose your template, character, backgrounds and props
Explore the rest of the tools and create your comic with the template, characters and
props.

5. Click on the text box to choose a bubble or text box to add the facts that you and your
group previously wrote down.
6. Look over your comic to make sure you added everything you want to be on it.
7. Go to the top left corner and click on the TooDoo main menu picture next to the
characters icon.
8. Click Save.
9. Add a Title and a Description for your comic.
10. Click publish.
11. Click Print.
12. Write each member of the groups name on the Comic.
5. Closure: Students will share their comic strips as a group to the class. Students will verbally express what they

liked or didnt like about creating their own comic. Once every group as presented, the comics will be turned in
to be graded.

ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE:
The First Tennesseans Rubric
Criteria
Completeness
Writing Skill
Visual appeal
Understanding of concept

3
Student creates a story,
elaborates on details, and
completes cartoon.
Student organizes the
cartoon well and clearly
explains the situation.
Student uses multiple
backgrounds, characters,
and props.
Student shows evidence of
clear understanding of
subject.

2
Student creates a story,
but, does not elaborate the
details.
Student explains the
situation clearly.
Student uses some
backgrounds, characters,
and props.
Student shows evidence of
partial understanding of
the subject.

Student sample(Comic)

Student Lesson review Handout

1
Student does not finish the
cartoon story
Student omits necessary
information or elements to
convey the situation.
Student does not use
backgrounds, characters,
or props.
Student shows little to no
evidence of understanding
of subject.

Lesson Review:
Use pages 54-57 to answer the questions.
Name_________________________
Date_______________________
Vocabulary
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.
plaza
council
The Green Corn Ceremony took place in the town______________. 4.1.01a
Reading skill
Why do you think the Cherokee used all of the resources around them? 4.2.01b

Main Idea: Geography

Why did the Cherokee build their towns near water? 4.2.01b

Main idea: Culture

Who were the Beloved Women? 4.4.01a

Critical thinking: Analyze

Why do you think the Cherokee had leader for war and a leader for peace? 4.4.01a

MODIFICATIONS: I am aware that modifications will be made for students who do not master the objectives
and for those who are ready for enrichment.