Context: This lesson plan was created for CI 3110 under the instruction of Dr. James Bryant during Block II in the fall of 2007. Using resources from the internet and word processing I created this lesson to be taught in an upper elementary class. This lesson is aligned with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and was intended to make students aware of the importance of the Declaration of Independence to our country.

Impact: During this lesson students discover the history behind the Declaration of Independence. The focus of this lesson is that students understand why the Declaration is important to our country and how its significance is often overlooked and under estimated. Students researched a signer of the Declaration looking specifically for reasons why their respective signer agreed to put their signature on such a radical document. Students then presented their research to the class in different forms and lastly wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson explain how the Declaration has affected their life today.

Alignment:

NCDPI Standard 4 indicator 2: I met this indicator by making connections with the past by researching how the Declaration has affected this country over time. By planning this lesson I also became more aware of my responsibilities as a democratic citizen.

NCDPI Standard 4 indicator 3: This indicator was met because I was able to understand the connection between an individual citizen and the country as a whole be researching and reading the Declaration of Independence.

NCDPI Standard 4 indicator 5: Based on the planning and research that accompanied this lesson plan I was able to understand and appreciate the history of the Declaration.

NCDPI Standard 4 indicator 7: I met this indicator by researching the building blocks of the United States including its economic concepts past and present.

NCDPI Standard 4 indicator 8: During my research and planning for this lesson I was able to gain a greater sense of basic historical concepts both past and present and how the Declaration affected the state, country and the world.

NCDPI Standard 4 indicator 9: I met this standard by gaining a better understanding of our nations political fundamentals and early international relationships.

NCDPI Standard 4 indicator 12: I met this standard by creating a lesson that connects past influences with present influences based on the Declaration of Independence and researching its affects on people then and now.

NCDPI Standard 4 indicator 14: This indicator was met through the planning and implementing of this lesson by asking higher order questions and allowing students to gain an understanding of opposing opinions among men and women in the past.

NCDPI Standard 4 indicator 15: I met this indicator by developing a sense of human and physical perspectives based on how the Declaration of Independence affected all humans in the United States and around the world.

NCDPI Standard 11 indicator 1: I met this standard by allowing time for discussion and presentations of research.

NCDPI Standard 11 indicator 2: I met this standard by incorporating art into my lesson plan.

NCDPI Standard 11 indicator 3: I met this indicator by researching the newest scientific preservations used to restore and preserve the Declaration of Independence.

NCDPI Standard 11 indicator 5: I met this indicator by presenting information in a variety of ways while teaching.