Title of Unit: The Basics of Politics Title of Lesson: Political Parties Submitted By: Martha Rendon

A. Summary of the Lesson Plan: This lesson will be used to introduce students to the political parties in our country. Students will be able to identify the differences and similarities between both of the political parties. B. Target Population: Grade Level: 5th grade Skill Level: all skill levels Grouping: Whole group for step 1-2, table groups step 3, whole group step 5, table groups step 6 and 7, whole group steps 8 and 9, pairs step 10-12, whole group closure C. Materials: 33 copies of Political Parties worksheet

D. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards o C15.5.2 Name the two major political parties.

Student-Friendly Standards C.15.5.2 I can name the political parties in our country and name significant people in each party.

E. Procedure: 1. TW prompt the question to students, How many of us have heard of political parties? 2. TW have students discuss in their groups what the political parties are in our country. 3. SW share with the class what their group discussed. 4. TW explain that the two major political parties are Democrats and the second one is Republican. 5. TW then pose the question to the class, Why do we have two political parties? 6. SW discuss with their table groups why we think we have two political parties. 7. SW then share with the class what their groups discussed. (i.e. The two parties believe in different things.) 8. TW pass out the Political Parties" worksheet. 9. TW review how to fill in Venn Diagrams. One side will have the Republicans ideas, while the other side will have Democratic ideas with the area where the circles intersect being the ideas that both parties share.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2013 Karen Powell- Instructor page 1

Title of Unit: The Basics of Politics Title of Lesson: Political Parties Submitted By: Martha Rendon

10. TW have students break out into pairs to do research (a group of students can use computers, others can go to the library.) Be sure to explain that the research the students come up with will be used to fill in the Venn diagram. 11. TW allow about thirty to forty-five minutes for students to start their research and get at least two to three things in both circles and one item in the intersecting area. 12. TW collect worksheets from each student. 13. CLOSURE: Today, we learned about our countrys political parties and why we need to have two political parties. For tomorrow, we will be researching important people from both of the political parties and you can start your research tonight. F. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding? I will be using student discussions and the worksheet to measure student understanding. Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. I will be walking around the room during discussions and reading student entries in their Venn diagrams. G. Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? I think the easiest part about this lesson will be to introduce the political parties. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? I think this lesson plan would be difficult to its entirety and it is because it involves the students starting to think about the political system and how it branches out in different ways. Id be learning with the students, as politics was not the best subject for me growing up. 3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? I would want to have students come up with their own political parties and come up with a list of ideas that their party believes in (they can use the ideas of Republicans or Democrats as a guide.) 4. What will you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? I would allow students to work with me (I would pull aside ELL and any IEP students to check for understanding before I let them work in pairs) during their research component. I will also be asking additional questions as I walk around and listen to student discussion.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2013 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2

Title of Unit: The Basics of Politics Title of Lesson: Political Parties Submitted By: Martha Rendon

5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? I think that the research component may need to be individual to minimize copying. 6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? The most difficult part of writing this lesson plan was thinking about how I would want to word everything and if I wanted to include a worksheet of some sort.

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

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Title of Unit: The Basics of Politics Title of Lesson: Political Parties Submitted By: Martha Rendon

Sample worksheet Political Parties

Name:_____________________________ Date: ______________________________

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

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