Unit Title: American Symbols and Leaders

Subject/Topic Areas: Social Studies/History and Civics

Grade Level: 1st Grade

Time Frame: 2 weeks

Key Words: American Flag, bald eagle, Statue of Liberty, Mt. Rushmore, Presidents

Technology: PowerPoint, Kidspiration, World Wide Web

Unit Designers: Leanne Lohan, LuAnn Murren

School District: Canton Public Schools

School: E.O.Lawrence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brief Outline

 

This is a First Grade Social Studies Unit which students will make patriotic connections through the understanding of American symbols and past and present leaders.

 

Enduring Understandings

 

·        Students will understand that we each have an important role and responsibilities as citizens

·        Students will understand that individuals have shaped America throughout history

 

Essential Questions

 

1.      How do our American symbols reflect our past history?

2.    How have people influenced our country?

 

 

Links to Content Standards

Social Studies

 

Civics:  Students will acknowledge patriotic connections by explaining the design of the flag, understanding the importance of the eagle symbol, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and identifying the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.

 

History:  Students will identify through biographies and stories the admirable deeds performed by past leaders.

 

 

 

Link to Content Standards

 

Content Area:  Social Studies

Source: SD Content Standards K-2

Goal:  Civics (Government)

Indicator:  (2) Evaluate the impact of historical events, ideas and documents on the formation of the United States government

Benchmark:

·        Explore the historical formation of the local community

·        Explore the fundamental principles of local and state government

·        Explain the influence major contributors have had on local documents

 

Content Area:  Social Studies

Source:  SD Content Standards K-2

Goal:  History

Indicator:  (1) Analyze the chronology of various historical eras to determine connections and cause/effect relationships

 

Benchmark:

·        Explore significant characteristics of past and present time periods

·        Recognize there is chronological order and sequence in history

·        Explore various cause and effect relationships

 

 

 

 

Evidence of Understanding

 

Range of Evidence:

 

Goal:  To inform and explain to parents and other students how American symbols and people have influenced our country. Students will design posters, clay models and create journals that will be made into a class booklet

 

Role:  Students will take on the role of historical figures as they are reporting information they have learned in the unit. Their job will be designing and reporting about American symbols and historical figures.

 

Audience:  The target audience will be parents and other classmates.

 

Situation:   the students will participate in class discussions, hands on and written activities, role playing and reporting while learning informational facts about America.

 

Performance:  Students will perform a final production given to parents and peers informing them of the knowledge they have gained throughout this unit.

 

Standards For Success:  Students will have completed a clay model of an American symbol.

Students will write at least two facts about each historical figure and symbol. These facts will be combined and placed into their Unit Journal. 

 

 

Other Evidence

 

·        Students will put all work into portfolio for teacher and parental examination

·        Students will have pre and post test on American symbols and historical leaders of America

 

Unprompted Evidence

 

·        Student participation will be noted during all activities by the teacher

 

Self Assessment/Peer Assessment

 

·        Students will share and explain to a peer what their clay model is and what it stands for

 

 

Learning Activities

 

Lesson 1

American Flag

 

·        Introduce symbols of America by watching video “U.S. Symbols”

·        Teach the vocabulary of the flag. Terms: stars, stripes, field, colonies and states

·        Do worksheet – “Our Flag”

·        Children will name the colors of the American flag. Blue-justice, white-purity, red-courage

·        Students will make an American flag from red, white and blue construction paper and sticker stars

·        Discuss that the American flag has 50 stars, one for each state, show the first flag which has 13 stars for 13 states

·        Students will write at least 2 facts about the American flag and add to their Journal Book

·        Invite veterans to explain the importance and significance of the flag as well as watch demonstration on correct folding of the flag

 

Lesson 2

Bald Eagle

 

·        Make a KWL chart on the bald eagle

·        Have students tell what they know about the bald eagle

·        View pictures of bald eagle from websites and books

·        Discuss how the eagle got its national position-its been the national bird since 1782-when it was placed on the Great Seal of our country

·        Go to web site http://www.greatseal.com/ to view seal

·        Have a blank seal-give students directions to color and make Great Seal

·        Have coins; penny, dime, nickel, quarter, half-dollar and have students identify coins with eagle

·        Discuss what eagle represents-the eagle represents and is seen as a symbol of strength, courage, freedom and immortality for generations

·        Add to KWL chart what they have learned

·        Add at least 2 written facts to Journal Book

 

Lesson 3

Statue of Liberty and Mt. Rushmore

 

·        Display various pictures of the monuments such as State of Liberty, Mt. Rushmore and Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson Monuments

·        Discuss where each monument is located

·        Have US map and place stickers to where they are located

·        Add at least 2 Facts to Journal Book

 

 

 

 

Lesson 4

George Washington

 

·        Build background about Presidents’ Day –Shared reading

Presidents’ Day by Helen Frost

·        Make KWL chart – Presidents

·        Teacher will read the book – George Washington-Our 1st President

·        View the internet/digital curriculum-G.WASHN.MOV

·        Return back to the KWL chart and continue completing

·        Cherry tree facts activity-Students will take cherries off a tree and read the fact. The teacher will add them to the KWL chart.

1.      Born February 22nd-Presidents’ Day

2.    First President

3.    Known as the “Father of the Country”

4.    Only President not to live in the White House

5.    His picture is on the $1.00 bill and the quarter

6.    He could not tell a lie, he chopped down the cherry tree.

7.    Washington Monument

8.    He is on Mt. Rushmore

 

·        Art: Make a 3 cornered hat

·        Reading: Follow 3 step directions and make cherry tarts

·        Reading: Read a paperback story about George Washington

·        Writing: Write 2-3 facts on journal page about George Washington

·        Technology: kidspiration- view chart about President Washington

 

Lesson 5

Abraham Lincoln

 

·        Review George Washington Facts

·        Watch the video Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’ Aulaire

·        Shared reading Abraham Lincoln by Lola M. Schaefer

·        As a large group students will discuss the facts learned from the video and the story. Students will identify that:

1.       Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president.

2.    He was known as “Honest Abe.”

3.    His face is on the five-dollar bill and the penny.

4.    He was shot at Ford’s theatre.

5.    Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC

6.    His face is on Mt. Rushmore

·        Art: Make paper bag log cabins

·        Reading: Read paper back book Abe Lincoln – A Great President

·        Writing: Write 2-3 facts on the journal page.

·        Venn Diagram- to compare and contrast George Washington and Abraham Lincoln

 

Lesson 6

George W. Bush

 

 

1.      Read through the facts about George W. Bush

2.    Take Spotty’s Tour of the White House

3.    Click on Life in the White House (Oval Office)

·        Shared Reading: Let’s Read About George W. Bush by Sonali Fry

·        Closure: Students will understand that:

1.      George W. Bush is the 43rd President.

2.    George Bush, his father, was also the President of the United States.

3.    The Oval Office is the room in the White House where the President speaks to the public on important issues.

4.    The President lives in the White House in Washington, DC.

Culminating Lesson

 

·        Create and paint clay models of American symbols or monuments

·        Combine journal pages together to make a unit booklet

·        Practice plays and speeches to be performed to parents and peers

·        Complete portfolio to be displayed at the final performance

 

 

 

Resources and Credits

 

Book Titles

 

1.                  Gibben, James Cross. George Washington a Picture Book Biography

2.                Dils. E. Tracey. George Washington-Country Boy, Country Gentlemen

3.                DeVillies, Christy. George Washington

4.                Jackson, Garnett. George Washington-Our First President

5.                Gross, Ruth. If You Grew Up With George Washington

6.                Hobbler, Dorothy and Thomas. George Washington and Presidents’ Day

7.                Santrey, Lawrence. George Washington Young Leader

8.                Schaefer, Lola M. George Washington

9.                Usel, T.M. George Washington a Photo Illustrated

10.            Sherron, Victoria. The Big Book of U.S. Presidents

11.             Usel, T. M. Abraham Lincoln-A Photo Illustrated Biography

12.            Adler, David A. A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln

13.            Greene, Carol. Abraham Lincoln President of a Divided Country

14.            Barkan, Joanne. Abraham Lincoln and Presidents’ Day

15.            Schaefer, Lola. Abraham Lincoln

16.            McGovern, Ann. If You Grew Up With Abraham Lincoln

17.            Fry, Sonali. Let’s Read About George W. Bush

18.            Ansary, Mir Tamin. Presidents’ Day

19.            Frost, Helen. Presidents’ Day

20.          Sorenson, Lynda. American Symbols-Mount Rushmore

21.            Sanders, Mark. The White House

22.          January, Brendan. The National Mall

23.          Doherty, Katherine M. & Doherty, Craig. The Washington Monument

24.          Ansary, Mir Tamin. Flag Day

25.          Loewen, Nancy. Washington, D.C.

26.          Melmed, Laura Krauss. Capital Washington D.C. from A to Z

27.          Radlauer, Ruth Shaw. Honor the Flag

28.          Ryan, Pam Manor. The Flag We Love

29.          Herman,John. Red, White & Blue-The Story of the American Flag

30.          Johnson, Linda Carlson. Our National Symbols

31.            Sorenson, Lynda. American Symbols-The American Eagle

32.          Binns, Trestan Boyer. The Bald Eagle

 

Videos

 

1.                   United States Symbols. The United States Video Collection- 1998 (E.O.L. Library)

2.                American History For Children. Schlessinger Video Production-1996 (E.O.L. Library)

3.                Presidents’ Day. 100% Educational Videos-1992 (E.O.L. Library)

4.                George Washington. Spoken Arts, Inc. –1987 (E.O.L Library)

5.                Abraham Lincoln. Spoken Arts, Inc.-1987 (E.O.L. Library)