SSE 4313 Lesson Plan Template Name: Amanda Enos

Grade Level Being Taught: Subject/Content: SS- Group

1 American Symbols Size:18

Lesson Content
Essential Question Essential Question:
What is the big, open- How do people and symbols stand for America?
ended question to be
investigated during the
lesson?

What Standards (national SS.1.C.3.2: Recognizes symbols and individuals that represent American constitutional
or state) relate to this democracy.
lesson?
You should include AT LEAST 3
LAFS.1.RI.1.1: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
standards:
SS
LAFS: Reading for
LAFS.1.W.2.5: With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to
Informational Texts
questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed.
LAFS: Writing or LAFS:
Speaking and Listening
Be sure to include the
entire standard, not just
the number.

What NCSS Theme relates 10. Civic Ideals and Practices

to this lesson? Be sure
include the entire theme,
not just the number.
Objectives- What should
students know and be able
to do after you teach this
lesson?
What will students know
An understanding of civic ideals and practices is critical to full participation in
society and is an essential component of education for citizenship, which is the
central purpose of social studies. All people have a stake in examining civic ideals and
practices across time and in different societies. Through an understanding of both ideals and
practices, it becomes possible to identify gaps between them, and study efforts to close the
gaps in our democratic republic and worldwide.
Students will know the following:
What a symbol is
What democracy is
What a pledge is
Examples of American symbols such as the flag, the statue of liberty, and the bald
SSE 4313 Lesson Plan Template Name: Amanda Enos
Grade Level Being Taught: Subject/Content: SS- Group
1 American Symbols Size:18

and be able to do after this eagle

lesson?
Are your objectives Objective: With support from a text, students will be able to identify American symbols
measurable? Can you and correctly describe what they stand for.
assess them?
Are your objectives aligned
with your standards? Are
you assessing the
standards?
SSE 4313 Lesson Plan Template Name: Amanda Enos
Grade Level Being Taught: Subject/Content: SS- Group
1 American Symbols Size:18

Lit Connection
Book must explicitly
connect to objectives.
Provide rubric and
description of text
complexity.
Provide rationale for book
selection.
Why Are There Stripes on the American Flag? By Martha E. H. Rustad . See attached
rubric.
This book provides an illustrated look into what the American flag symbolizes and what
the pledge of allegiance means. This book also discusses key vocabulary such as
indivisible, symbol, liberty, and justice.

Rationale
Address the following This lesson fits into the larger unit of Citizenship. I am teaching it in a visual manner
questions reflecting on your because symbols are images that convey meaning. My students will view these images
readings over the semester: and by the end of the lesson, they will understand the meaning behind them. I hope that
Where does this lesson fit students will learn what a symbol is and what American symbols stand for. It is important
within a larger unit? for students to learn this concept so that they can be educated citizens of America and
Why are you teaching it grasp a understanding of the countrys values. This will also open a door for the history
this way? (What skills, behind the symbols they are learning about. Students will explore these concepts of
values, or beliefs do you history throughout school, thus this lesson provides foundational support for further
hope your teaching learning.
method will help develop
within students?)
Why is it important for
students to learn this
concept?

What Content Knowledge

is necessary for a teacher
to teach this material?
What research have you
performed to properly
teach the material?
Provide specific resources:
books, articles, websites.
I have used the Hillsborough county curriculum guides and McGraw Hill Florida Social
Studies book for first grade to build knowledge of the concepts in this lesson. I also
searched on the internet what the definition of a symbol was.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=symbol
For instruction, I adapted a movement lesson from Movement in Learning by Marcus Van
SSE 4313 Lesson Plan Template Name: Amanda Enos
Grade Level Being Taught: Subject/Content: SS- Group
1 American Symbols Size:18

Cite them on your

reference list, including
names of authors, titles of
books, articles, websites,
etc.
http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1544&context=ipp_collection
For information on the books used in this lesson, I used the following:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ_19RxAjm0
https://www.amazon.com/There-Stripes-American-Cloverleaf-Books/dp/1467744654

Evaluation Plan- How will Formative: Students will participate in Turn & talks and bell work. Bell work: students will
you know students have be given three pictures. One picture is a McDonalds sign, one is a red octagon, and
mastered your objectives? another is an American flag. The students will answer the following for each picture:
what does this make you think of?. Answers will be discussed and lead us into the topic
Address the following: of symbols.
Describe in detail the Summative: Students will complete a symbols activity page. In this activity, students will
formative assessments have the opportunity to work in pairs and search the classroom for symbols. There will be
you will use to determine if pictures of American symbols posted all around the classroom (the bald eagle, the flag,
students are learning (with the statue of liberty, the president) and students will use these symbols to fill in the
you) during this lesson. blanks on their fact sheets. To accommodate ELL students, the word of the symbol will be
Describe in detail the written on the back side of the picture. See attached.
summative assessment
(product) you will have
students complete to show
their
understanding/learning,
either at the end of this
lesson or in upcoming
lessons.
Are your assessments
aligned with your
objectives?
You will attach all formative
SSE 4313 Lesson Plan Template Name: Amanda Enos
Grade Level Being Taught: Subject/Content: SS- Group
1 American Symbols Size:18

and summative
assessments that are to be
handed out to students.

Lesson Implementation
Teaching Methods Visual Discovery: Students will observe pictures of American culture symbols to
(What teaching method(s) will introduce the lesson. They will then answer the question on their own: What does this
you use during this lesson? make you think of? Answers will be discussed as a class. I chose this method to
Examples include inquiry- introduce the topic of symbols and activate prior knowledge.
based, experiential exercise, Reading for understanding: Students will participate in an interactive read-aloud. I
social studies skills builder, chose this method to teach students American symbols through literature and
visual discovery, incorporate language arts standards into the social studies lesson.
writing/reading for
understanding, Teach through
Deliberation, Focus In, Teach
for Ideas, Teach for Inquiry,
Teach through Drama, etc.)
Explain why you selected
this method.
SSE 4313 Lesson Plan Template Name: Amanda Enos
Grade Level Being Taught: Subject/Content: SS-
1 American Symbols
Step-by-Step Plan
(What exactly do you plan to
do in teaching this lesson? Be
thorough. Act as if you
needed a substitute to
carry out the lesson for
you.)
Be sure to address the
following:
What preview activity will
you use to open the lesson
(make personal
connections, make
connections to previously
learned content, etc.)?
What Higher Order
Thinking (H.O.T.)
questions will you ask?
How will materials be
distributed?
Who will work together in
groups and how will you
determine the grouping?
How will students
transition between
activities?
What will you as the
teacher do?
What will the students do?
What student data
(formative assessment)
will be collected during
each phase? Why this
Group
Size:18
Part 1: Introduction to Symbols
1. Display Symbols Bell Work on the overhead. As students arrive to class, give each
student a lined sheet of paper with numbers 1-3 written down the column. Ask
students to write their names at the top of their paper.
2. Explain to students that they are going to look at the picture and then answer the
question next to each picture. Explain that they will write their answer the best
they can on their paper.
3. If students have a difficult time reading the questions, read them aloud.
4. Collect papers as students finish. Review answers to ensure you understand what
students wrote. If you are unsure, ask students to clarify for you and write it on the
column of the paper.
5. When all students are finished, ask students to share their answer to #1 aloud. Ask,
How do you know that this yellow M stands for McDonalds?. Allow students to
turn and talk. Share a few answers aloud.
6. Discuss #2 answer. Ask students where they would see this symbol. Answers might
include on the corner of streets or on the sign their teacher carries for fire drills.
7. Discuss #3. Ask students why they think of _______ when they see a picture of the
flag. Ask students how they know this flag stands for America. Allow students to
use accountable talk and popcorn off of each others responses.
8. Wrap up: Explain that these images were all symbols. Explain that a symbol is
something that stands for something. Use examples from bell work. Ex. A red
octagon is a symbol for the word stop, The yellow arches is a symbol for
McDonalds because when you see the sign, you know it means French fries and
Ronald McDonald.. Explain that we will be exploring American symbols.
Part 2: Read Aloud
1. Remind students that we will be exploring American symbols. Reinforce the word
symbol and write the definition somewhere where all students can see and refer
back to it. Ask, What symbols do you recognize around the classroom?. Answers
might include math symbols such as the equal sign, color symbols that indicate
students behavior for the day, and other various symbols.
2. Tell students that we are going to read Why Are There Stripes on the American
Flag? And while we are reading, I want you to pay close attention to the symbols
that stand for America and what they mean. Later, you will use information from
this book to help you complete a fact sheet.
SSE 4313 Lesson Plan Template Name: Amanda Enos
Grade Level Being Taught: Subject/Content: SS- Group
1 American Symbols Size:18

data (formative 3. Read Why Are There Stripes on the American Flag. Stop on page 4 and ask, What
assessment)? does the American flag stand for according to our book?.
YOU MUST UPLOAD ANY 4. Continue reading. Stop on page 10 and ask, What does the pledge of allegiance
HANDOUTS, mean?. Allow students to turn and talk. Share one or two responses aloud.
MATERAILS/RESOURCES, 5. Continue reading to the end of the story. Ask student to answer the following: What
ETC. USED TO CANVAS. American symbols did you learn about in this book and what did they stand for?
Have students turn and talk. Walk around and listen to student answers. Discuss a
few answers aloud.
Part 3: Fact sheet Activity
1. Ask for a few students to tape the symbols to a visible location around the
classroom.
2. Explain that students will work with a partner to fill in the blanks on their fact
sheet. Tell students they may refer to their Social Studies workbooks (which they
would have read prior to this lesson) for help if they need it. Students will walk
around the class and observe the symbols that are hung up. They will use the
images to fill in the blank. Each image equals one answer on their fact sheet.
3. Allow students up to 15 minutes to complete their fact sheet. Students may use
clip boards and their workbooks to refer to.
4. When the time is up, have students return to their seats. With their table groups,
have students share their answers and make revisions on their papers if necessary.
Tell students that if they change an answer, they must tell why on the back of their
paper.
5. Discuss answers and collect papers.

Extensions/Differentiatio
n
a student struggles with the content?
What will you do if Students will use their workbooks if they struggle with the content. The teacher may
direct them to the correct page if necessary. Students also have their partners to help one
another.

Keep in mind the student must master the standards you have outlined for the
lesson.

What will you do if a student masters the content quickly?

SSE 4313 Lesson Plan Template Name: Amanda Enos
Grade Level Being Taught: Subject/Content: SS- Group
1 American Symbols Size:18

There is a bonus question on the fact sheet for students who finish early. Students must
identify one symbol and then draw and label it as a bonus activity. This is done
individually.

BE SPECIFIC! And consider how the modifications you provide extend the
content.
SSE 4313 Lesson Plan Template Name: Amanda Enos
Grade Level Being Taught: Subject/Content: SS- Group
1 American Symbols Size:18

Reference List

Cite all books and authors,

website titles and links,
articles and authors, etc.
on your reference list.
Attach copies of all
handouts students will use,
including any formative
and summative
assessments