Department of Teacher Education & Learning Sciences

Elementary Education Program

Pre-Observation Form

Directions: This form is to be completed prior to every lesson that will be observed by the mentor
teacher or university supervisor. It is to be submitted no later than 3 business days prior to the actual
observation along with your lesson plans.

Name: Paige Christianson Date: 10/30/17

1. What is the topic of your lesson?

The topic of my lesson involves using flags to teach how different countries and
cultures value different things. I provide students with the opportunity to create a
flag that represents their own classrooms culture and show how different
symbols can represent ideas on a flag.

2. Why are you teaching this lesson? What is your rationale for teaching it?
I am teaching this lesson because culture and artistic expressions of culture is an
important standard in second grade. Students will soon be doing a culture unit,
so this lesson directly relates to this topic. Flags are one way that a
country/culture represents itself and its ideas and values, and students can think
about this same idea for their own classroom.

3. What is your Teaching Behavior Focus? Why did you choose this?
My teaching behavior focus is classroom management is positive and
appropriate. I chose this behavior focus because this lesson integrates both art
and social studies. In an arts lesson, it is important that classroom management
is organized so students can make the most of the time they have to be creative.
I want to ensure that my own instructions and management of the classroom
during all aspects of the lesson provides for the most optimal learning space for
students.

4. Why did you design your instruction in this lesson the way that you did?
Why did you choose this way of teaching the lesson (e.g., Was the idea
from a methods course? From your mentor teacher? Another source?)
I got the idea of doing a class flag in my ELM 450 textbook. I also knew that I
needed to teach a social studies lesson, so the class flag was a perfect way to
integrate visual art and social studies in one lesson. I wanted to make sure that I
incorporated aspects of culture into this lesson because flags are so
representative of cultures all over the world that students need to be aware of. I
included elements of diverse cultures as well as elements from the students own
personal experiences (their own classroom).
5. As you are thinking through this lesson, what do you believe will be the
most challenging part of this lesson for you when you teach it? Why?
I think the most challenging part of the lesson will be helping students understand
the idea that a color can symbolize an idea. I will do my best to outline simple
ways that a color on a flag can represent something like generosity or
strength, but this is an abstract concept for them to understand. I will be happy
if at the end of the lesson, the students at least draw pictures and symbols on
their flags that could represent the class; I am not as much worried about the
specific colors they use.

6. How will you know if your learning outcomes for the students are met
successfully?
If students are able to convey, either verbally or in writing, how their flags
represent the class in any way, I believe the learning outcomes will be met. This
is a more difficult and abstract task that I am asking students to do, so I am just
looking for them to be able to convey ideas and values of the classroom in some
way on the flag. I will be both circulating the room during presentations as well
as reading their written responses as evidence of their understanding.

7. How will your classroom management support the learning outcomes?

I have planned small groups for students to collaborate with, if needed, and an
organized group presentation session at the end of the lesson. I have done a lot
of preparation in ensuring students have the background information about flags
to complete the task at hand, and in ensuring that the group presentations will be
done in a timely, efficient manner.

8. List 1-3 areas which you would like for your observer to pay particular
attention. Why do you want your observer to focus on these areas?
I have never done an arts-integrated lesson before, so I would like my observer
to pay attention to how well I handle the logistics of the arts aspects. Could the
activity been better prepared? Could the transition and clean-up times been
handled more effectively?

9. Is there anything else you would like your observer to know before the
observation?
I am nervous about how this lesson will go in terms of time and classroom
management! I am hoping that my preparation will pay off.