Eastern Connecticut State University Lesson Plan Format

Candidate Rachel Borden

Grade Level 1st grade

Date of lesson TBD

Length of Lesson Approx. 50 minutes

Content Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central
message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.7
Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
INQ K2.3 Identify facts and concepts associated with a supporting question.
INQ K2.11 Construct explanations using correct sequence and relevant information.
INQ K2.14 Ask and answer questions about explanations.
Prior Knowledge/Connections: In previous classes, children have discussed different
symbols they see on a day-to-day basis, and have demonstrated a basic understanding of
what symbols are. Children showed interest in learning about national symbols and some
of the main symbols of the United States were briefly mentioned.
Student Learning Objective(s):

Students will recognize the symbols and traditional practices that honor and foster
patriotism in the United States by identifying the American flag and
demonstrating respect for the American flag by learning about the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Students will listen to a variety of literary forms (Patriotic Songs). Students will
also participate in an oral language activity by the recitation the Pledge of the
Allegiance.
100% of students will create their own flags with construction paper that contain
symbols they will define.
Students will be introduced to national symbols in the United States by doing a
matching activity
Students will be able to orally retell some of the stories we read, as well as notice
the visuals in the text to demonstrate an understanding of the central message and
ideas.
By the end of the lesson, 100% of students will define at least one symbolic part
of the U.S. Flag.

Vocabulary:
Patriotism
Symbol
American Flag
United States
Assessment
Essential Key Question: What are the traditional practices and symbols that honor
patriotism in the United States and what do they mean?
Informal:
Students will ask and answer questions related to symbols found on flags and the content
of pictures I show them and how the symbols are relevant to those of the flag. For
example, if I show the students a picture with a Bald Eagle in the foreground and a flag in
the background, can students identify what the Eagle symbol represents?
Formal Formative:
Students will match symbols from a list to their definitions. Students will work in small
groups and I will evaluate their initial understanding of the lesson by asking questions
while students work.
Summative Assessment:
Students will create their own flags, defining the symbols included in the flag. Advanced
students will write words that define each symbol to them in either each or the stars,
stripes, or Union (blue field in upper left corner of flag). Students will be evaluated on the
number of symbols they correctly identify.
Materials/Resources:
Scrambled States of America
The Flag We Love
Construction Paper
Elmers Glue, Markers, and Scissors
Chart Paper
Technological resources:
Smart board
Music Player
Learning Activities:
Instructional Strategies:
I will read the book The Scrambled States of America aloud to the class on the rug. I
will scaffold by asking children to point out the differences between the states in the
story. Then after the story is over I will explain that every one of these states together
makes up the United States. I will emphasize some of the key symbols of the United
States and write American Flag, Bald Eagle, Liberty Bell, White House, and Statue of
Liberty on big chart paper. (15 minutes) Then I will draw on another chart paper little

symbols of represent each of the five words. I will break up children into groups and
instruct them to work together to figure out which word matches with which picture.
Then a discussion will be made about the right answers as a whole class.(7 minutes) I
will then play the pledge and ask children to raise their hand when they can think of the
symbol on the board that has to do with the song. I will play, Youre a grand old flag
song and we will march around the room singing. (5 minutes) I will then have children
sit on rug again and I will read aloud, The Flag We Love. I will explain after the story the
significance to all the elements on the flag. I will flip back to a couple of the illustrations
and have children tell me the different elements they see (10 minutes). Then I will
instruct children to go to desks and I will hand out materials for them to create their own
flag. I will model what I did to make my flag and show them the steps I took. (8 minutes)
I will help children put their flag on the classroom walls and we will recite the pledge
together (5 minutes).
Grouping Strategies:
For the entire set of read aloud activities, I will have children sit on the rug as a whole
class. For the matching activity I will break children into groups of 2-3 children and
spread the groups into different areas in the classroom. Then when the students are
sharing their ideas and thoughts about the different activities I will have everyone back
on the rug so that way everyone can participate together and learn from each other. When
children are making their flags they will be sitting at their desks that are formed into
small tables.
Initiation:
I will begin this lesson by reading the book The Scrambled States of America aloud to the
class. This will be an introduction to them about the different states and how each state is
different in their own way. A discussion will be made about how all the states make up
the United States of America. This discussion is important into transitioning into some of
the National Symbols of the U.S. I will focus on the United States Flag specifically.
After this read aloud I will reemphasize what symbols are and introduce some of the
main symbols of the United States. (American Flag, Bald Eagle, Liberty Bell, White
House, Statue of Liberty).
Lesson Procedures:
1. Read aloud the book, The Scrambled States of America. Discussion about each
states differences will occur and will transition into National Symbols of the
United States.
2. I will put pictures of five different symbols on the smart board, and also
separately have five names of the symbols. I will introduce each word aloud and
have the children work together in groups of 2-3 to try and figure out which
pictures match each symbol.
3. Next I will have children come back together as a whole group and discuss what
they think matches. Then I will tell them the correct way to match them all and I
will tell them that today we will be focusing on one of these symbols in particular,
but not tell them what it is.

4. I will then play the Pledge of Allegiance and allow them raise their hand and
guess what symbol is related to this. I will tell them the symbol is the American
Flag. We will discuss properties of our flag in detail and different places they see
their flag.
5. To get the children moving again we will then March to Youre a Grand Old
Flag around the room.
6. I will read the book, The Flag We Love by Pam Munoz Ryan. Discussion will be
made about the significance and meaning behind the stars, stripes, and colors in
the flag. I will explicitly show them certain pictures to help spark discussion
about the different elements of the flag.
7. Children will construct their own American flags with construction paper.
8. Students will put up the flags they made on the classroom wall and I will
reemphasize the main ideas of the flag. Then together we will recite the pledge
allegiance as a class while facing the flags they created.
9. I will hand out flag coloring page that they can color in at home if they would
like.
Closure:
The Conclusion of this lesson requires students to put up the flags they made on the
classroom wall, while I will reemphasize the main ideas of the flag. Then together, we
will recite the pledge allegiance as a class while facing the flags they created and put up.
Intervention:
Children will be split into varying ability based groups when doing group activity so that
way children who need more help can have assistance from the other children.
Additionally, for all three of my read aloud activities, I will have any ELL students sit up
close to where Im reading so they can see the words and follow along better. I will also
have the children who have a hard time sitting still sit in the back so they do not distract
or get in the view of the other students trying to listen and view the pictures in the story.
Enrichment:
A crucial element of this lesson is the students ability to recognize symbols. Although
some symbols seem clear and straightforward from an adults vantage point, they may not
be from a childs. Students who are not as challenged by this classroom activity will
assist students who are. Students who clearly have an understanding of symbols will
create flags with combinations of symbols with significant personal meaning to the
student. Advanced students will include at least one symbol in their flag with a deeper,
and less easily defined, meaning.

Name ________________
National Symbols-The American Flag 2011
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