sarah gaspari december 8, 2014. unit: the big picture theme: “famous people” title creating a...

FIRST GRADE UNIT: FAMOUS PEOPLE

Sarah Gaspari

December 8, 2014

Unit: The Big Picture

Theme: “Famous People”Title Creating a Nation of Leaders

Interdisciplinary Unit Social Studies Science Technology Language Arts Theater

Multicultural Unit Gender Race Ethnicity Age

Unit Outline

Day 2 George Washington: The Cartographer

Mapping Skills History of George

Washington

Map Skills: mapping playground

Day 1: “Who Creates a Nation?”

Unit Timeline

Class Brainstorm

Unit Outline

Day 3: Benjamin Franklin and His Many Hats

Research project

Technology Informational videos Record presentations

Day 4: Who Is Abraham Lincoln?

Dramatization

“Honest Abe” game show dramatization

Unit Outline

Day 5: George Washington Carver & His Peanut Inventions

Discovery Learning

Conduct experiments on peanuts uses

Compare with GWC

Day 6: “First Lady of the World”: Eleanor Roosevelt

Controversial Issue

Great Depression: Making tough decisions on how to help people in need

Unit Outline

Day 7: Cesar Chavez

Literature Connections

Character development of Chavez

Day 8: Marva CollinsProblem-based

Learning

“How does education shape a nation?”

Biography & Case Study of Collins

Unit Outline

Day 9: “Young People Like You Are Leaders, Too!”

Civic Engagement

Primary source examination

Puppet

When have you benefitted your community?

Day 10: Review and Assessment Day

Inquiry

Review with “Who Am I?” bag game

Final Assessment

Students create a “Me” bag

Lesson #2: Mapping SkillsVirginia SOL 1.2 and 1.5 Anticipatory Set:

Visual Representation of George Washington jobs/roles

Instructional Input & Check for Understanding: George Washington’s history as a surveyorDefine terms

Lesson #2: Mapping SkillsModeling• Playground

Map Symbol

Guided Practice• Playground

Map Symbol• Check for

UnderstandingIndependent Practice• Complete map

Lesson #2: Assessment

Lesson #3: Civic Engagement“Young People Like You Are Leaders, Too!”

SOL 1.10 The student will apply the traits of a good citizen by d) taking responsibility for one’s own actions

Objectives: 1. Identify Olivia Bouler’s leadership role 2. Construct 2 puppets and skit about Oil Spill

interaction3. Depict personal responsibility to community

Biography: Olivia Bouler

Olivia’s Drawings

Content Focus Create 2 puppets

(Olivia + other) Skit

Conversation about Oil Spill

Must have 2 questions

Closure

Performances Discuss Bouler’s leadership Students depict examples of their

leadership through service

Extension

Extension: Brainstorm ways to help our community solve real problems and create project

Lesson #4: Controversial Issue

Objectives1. Understand multiple perspectives2. Express and defend opinion3. Identify Eleanor Roosevelt’s

contributions

Eleanor Roosevelt, How Will You Help?

Intro• Read Aloud• Discussion

Content Focus• Letters from

children• Eleanor’s

response • Students express

opinions:•

agree/disagree/unsure

Closure• Explain both

perspectives• Defend position• Assess

Challenges

Weaknesses in my content knowledge

Balancing exploratory learning and direct instruction strategies

Limited by Virginia Standards of Learning

Additional Lessons

Contributions of Arab American leaderZaha Hadid- first woman to design

major American art museumElias Zerhounl, director of National

Institutes of Health

Contributions of religious leaderMartin Luther King, Jr. Dorothy Day- Catholic Worker

Movement

Reflections: Lessons Learned

Personal BiasesUnit studies 5 men and 3 womenUnit only includes 3 individuals of color

Topics I am uncomfortable teaching: Gender discrimination, Religion

Closing Thoughts: Lessons Learned Practice self-reflection

Why am I uncomfortable?What biases do I have?

Multicultural content rewarding/challenging

Thoroughly explore resources!

Rewards

Practicing variety of instructional strategies

Further experience making interdisciplinary connections

Enhanced teaching knowledge