Unit Plan #3: Exploring the Midwest/Exploring the West

Submitted By: Sandra Carrillo-Pinedo

Unit Plan #3: Reflection Page

1. Where did you get the ideas and materials for this unit plan? Include website names & URLs, book titles and authors. The material used for this unit comes from the 4th Grade Houghton Mifflin Social Studies textbook States and Regions.

2. What were the easiest and most challenging parts of writing this unit plan? The easiest part to writing this lesson plan is connecting my activity and lessons to the Houghton Mifflin Social Studies textbook. I really enjoy using this textbook, as I believe its really helpful. This textbook guides the teachers in the lessons, sure the teacher can add more activities and change some of the procedures but the way the textbook has step by step makes it easy to follow and comprehend. The most challenging part of this lesson, as with the previous ones is coming up with a good assessment. An assessment, that will help me identify my students level of comprehension. Because as the teacher I want to be able to identify if my students comprehend what I am teaching them, and if they are not, why arent they? What am I doing wrong? What do they need more assistance understanding? In my assessment I have chosen writing because I want to read my students own words what they know. This will built a foundation for me to know where to do intervention.

3. What suggestions do you have for yourself for the next time you write unit plans? Some of the suggestions that I have for next time I write lesson plans is to look into other grade levels from the Houghton Mifflin Social Studies textbook and perhaps use some of those ideas for my lessons, of course I would have to make some changes so my students can understand, not too easy and not too hard. I think another suggestion can include adding a youtube video to a lesson, maybe just on the first day so it can be engaging and gather students attention. Other than that, I like how my lessons have turned out. I believe they are easy to follow.

Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor