Social Studies Lesson Plan: Unit 2 Introduction: In My Community

Teacher: Richelle Colucci-Nunn Grade Level: First

I. Content and Standards:
7.2.3.A Identif the !hsical characteristics of !laces and re"ions.
7.3.3.A Identif the hu#an characteristics of !laces and re"ions usin" the follo$in" criteria:
%o!ulation& Culture& and 'ettle#ent.
CC'' (LA ).*.7 %artici!ate in shared research and $ritin" !ro+ects.
II. Prerequisites:
(LA ,nit *& )ee- 2: .)hat is li-e $here ou live/0
'tudents $ill understand ho$ to classif o1+ects or ideas.
'tudents $ill 1e a1le to $or- in colla1orative "rou!s.
III. Instructional Objective:
(ssential 2uestions:
o )hat #a-es a co##unit s!ecial/ 3lesson and unit4
o 5o$ can I #a-e a difference in # co##unit/ 3unit4
'tudents $ill understand that:
o Co##unities are sha!ed 1 1oth hu#an and !hsical characteristics.
o )hile there are differences a#on" co##unities& there are also #an si#ilarities.
'tudents $ill -no$:
o 5u#an characteristics: 1uildin"s& roads& etc.
o %hsical characteristics: land for#ations& cli#ate& ve"etation
o 6oca1ular ter#s related to co##unities
Given co##unit artifacts& ')7AT classif the artifacts as either related to !hsical or
2
hu#an characteristics.
IV. Instructional Procedures:
e!ore
1. Activate !rior -no$led"e.
As- students to recall $hat the learned in the !revious (LA lessons on .)hat is it li-e
$here ou live/0 %ro#!t for differences 1et$een cit& su1ur1an& and far# life.
2. Introduce ne$ voca1ular $ords: neighborhood and community. 5el! children understand the
difference 1et$een a nei"h1orhood and co##unit usin" the e8a#!le of our class as a
nei"h1orhood and our school as a co##unit. 3If necessar& !ro#!t for reference to the recent
,nionville Co##unit Fair.4
3. %rovo-e sense of in9uir into to!ic.
5ave collea"ue deliver Travelin" Trun- or :ster 7o8 as a .sur!rise.0
Invite students to hel! ou e8!lore contents of the trun-;1o8 $hile thin-in" a1out ho$
the contents #i"ht relate to a co##unit. Allo$ students to discuss ite#s $ith each
other $hile the are !assed around.
4. 'et !ur!ose for learnin".
Co#!lete <-)-L chart on co##unities. Address !ossi1le #isconce!tions such as all
children take a bus to school/live on or near farms/ or there is no place for children to
play in a city because of all of the buildings.
'hare the unit and lesson (ssential 2uestions $ith the students& and e8!lain that $e
$ill 1e e8!lorin" ho$ 1oth hu#an and !hsical characteristics #a-e a co##unit
s!ecial.
"urin#
1. Classification activit - !airs
:odel usin" Thin- Aloud ho$ ou $ould classif a cou!le of ite#s in the trun-;1o8
$hether the are related to !hsical or hu#an characteristics. %lace ite#s into one of
t$o colu#ns on the floor under the la1els: !hsical and hu#an.
3
Guide students to hel! ou classif a fe$ ite#s in the trun-;1o8 as relatin" to a !hsical
or hu#an characteristic.
Grou! students into hetero"eneous !airs to allo$ for student scaffoldin"& assi"n the# 2
ite#s fro# the trun-;1o8& and have the# classif each ite#.
5ave each !artner "rou! !lace their ite#s in the a!!ro!riate colu#n on the floor& and
defend their reason for their classification. Assess student understandin" throu"h
thu#1s-u!;side$as;do$n as ite#s are classified. If so#e students are confused& as-
a student $ho understands to e8!lain their thin-in".
2. Research activit = "rou!s
Assi"n half of the !airs to !hsical characteristics& and the other half to hu#an
characteristics& and create "rou!s of > students to discuss ho$ their assi"ned
characteristics can sha!e a co##unit.
?irect students to the co##unit the#e collection of literature and trade 1oo-s and
i%ads $ith leveled readers to hel! the# research. :odel loo-in" at !ictures as $ell as
te8t for differentiation.
Circulate a#on" "rou!s to assess understandin" and !rovide "uidance as necessar.
5ave volunteers fro# each "rou! .teach0 the rest of the class a1out their characteristic.
$!ter
*. (licit student reflections on lesson.
2. ,!date <-)-L chart 1ased on reflections. %ro#!t for an ne$ si#ilarities or differences
discovered $hile co#!letin" research.
V. Materials and %qui&ment:
Travelin" Trun- fro# Chester Count 5istorical 'ociet: Improving the Land: The People
and Places of Chester County @R if no 1ud"et availa1le& a :ster 7o8 containin":
%la #one& chec-1oo-s and credit cards
7usiness #a! of co##unit
7rochures of local attractions& #enus fro# local restaurants& sa#!les of advertisin"
fro# local 1usinesses
%hotos of co##unit 1uildin"s& includin" "overn#ent 1uildin"s 3current and historical4
%hotos of co##unit service $or-ers
%hotos of local landsca!es and nei"h1orhoods
>
Ne$s!a!er cli!!in"s sho$in" co##unit events and cele1rations
:ushroo#s 3<ennett '9uare: .:ushroo# Ca!ital of the )orld04
':ART 1oard to !ro+ect historical !hoto"ra!hs fro# (ast :arl1orou"h To$nshi! 5istorical
Co##ission $e1site htt!:;;$$$.east#arl1orou"hhistorical.or";
Collection of literature and trade 1oo-s $ith a co##unit the#e
i%ads for students to access leveled readers
htt!:;;leveledreaderdata1ase.#ac#illan#h.co#;lrd1;search.for#
VI. $ssessment'%valuation:
For#ative:
@1servation of student !artner and "rou! interactions
Thu#1s u!;do$n;side$as res!onses
'u##ative:
Lesson: 'tudent !resentations on !hsical or hu#an characteristics
,nit: Co##unit Ne$s re!orts 3ne$s!a!er article& !oster& or oral !resentation4
reflectin" student res!onses to the essential 9uestions
VII. $ccommodations or Modi!ications needed !or students (it) disabilities or %SOL:
'tudents $ill 1e !aired and "rou!ed hetero"eneousl to allo$ students to su!!ort each
other in their learnin".
'tudents $ho $ould not 1e sufficientl su!!orted in a hetero"eneous !air;"rou! $ill 1e
!rovided $ith teacher su!!ort.
'tudents are !rovided $ith leveled readers and 1oo-s $ith !hoto"ra!hs or illustrations to
#a-e content accessi1le.
'tudents are !rovided choice for their cul#inatin" !ro+ect for#at.
As an e8tension activit& "ifted and talented students #a $rite a reflection in their +ournal.
VIII.*ec)nolo#y:
':ART 1oard to !rovide access to visuals.
i%ads to !rovide access to online leveled readers
I+. Sel!,$ssessment
)ere students en"a"ed in the lesson/
A
)ere students a1le to res!ond to the (ssential 2uestions/