Context:

I taught my three social studies lessons at Mountain View Elementary to my third grade class in Block II.  This was a requirement for my CI 3110 course (Elementary Social Studies Methods).  I had to research the topic of American culture because all three lessons were based on this topic. I used books, textbooks, internet, and maps to help me in my lessons. I also created a graphic organizer using Microsoft Excel for the lesson on American heroes.  I assessed the students learning in the beginning of the lesson by listing as a class categories of American culture and then the post assessment was a test on all the information they have learned over the four day period. The three lessons consisted of myths, legends, tall tales, American heroes, places such as memorials and statues in America, and holidays with celebrate in America. I also reflected on my lesson plans suggesting changes I would make, what went well, and outcomes.

Impact:

I had never planned a social studies lesson, so this helped me learn the format and actually plan this type of lesson. It helped me better be prepared as a teacher in the future, especially to use many resources. These lessons impacted my students in many ways. They learned what exactly American culture was and how it is defined. They learned new things such as myths, American heroes, and memorials. They also got some review in with tall tales, holidays, and legends. Students got a small introduction to American culture and they could further research if they wanted to do so. Many of the students wanted to research more about Casey Jones because they got into the character when I read one book about him. I also kept the student engaged with charts and the acting out of gods and goddess, they enjoyed getting up. They also remembered more about the gods and goddesses just from acting them out. The students also learned a pretty important study habit, which is to study vocabulary and all the material otherwise they will struggle with a test. They also learned the importance of reading a homework assignment because it might come back in another one the next day. Overall, the students learned bits and pieces of American culture that they will expand on in the coming years.

Alignment:

I met Standard 4, Indicator 5, by reading about the holidays we celebrate in America and telling the students about certain ones that are traditions every year.

I met Standard 4, Indicator 6, by looking for Mt. Rushmore on a United States map, so I could show the students during the lesson.

I met Standard 4, Indicator 8, by looking up what who North Carolina put in the statuary hall in Washington D.C. I also looked at all the people that were put there by each state.

I met Standard 4, Indicator 12, by researching people that have made change, who are now American heroes. I also learned about how Memorial Day is not mentioned enough and recognized to where people understand why we have this day.

I met Standard 7, Indicator 1, by using the North Carolina curriculum standards for the third grade.

I met Standard 7, Indicator 4, by using different strategies of teaching such as reading books, reading from the textbook, students wrote down vocabulary, used graphic organizers, had students act out gods and goddesses, and had them draw.

I met Standard 7, Indicator 7, by assessing the students prior knowledge creating a list by the students of categories of American culture. Students were also constantly asked review questions every day on the lesson taught the day before. Sometimes content from another lesson was incorporated into a different one, such as the American heroes and monuments.  Lastly, students were given a post assessment which was a fill in the blank and multiple choice test.

I met Standard 8, Indicator 3, by having students think about the book we read about on Casey Jones. They had to think about the story and then tell me why he was hero in it.

I met Standard 8, Indicator 4, by using children's books in Social Studies to help promote learning and reading. I also let the students interact using the book by making train noises.

I met Standard 11, Indicator 1, by placing students in groups in lessons and letting them lead the discussion with comments about a question I have asked.

I met Standard 11, Indicator 3, by introducing Jonas Salk, who invented the vaccine for polio.

I met Standard 11, Indicator 5, by having students display their facts found about American heroes in a chart.