Context:

The social studies lessons were created for CI 3110, Social Studies in the Elementary School, during the Fall 2007 semester under the advisement of Dr. Claire Mamola.

These lessons were taught in Mrs. Larson's third grade classroom at Gamewell Elementary School.

Impact:

These social studies lessons allow students to learn about a variety of aspects dealing with communities, including citizenship, civic responsibility, and various types of leaders. Prior to the lessons being taught, I had the class complete a KWL chart on communities. At the end of the lessons they completed the rest of the KWL chart.

The following objectives from the North Carolina Standard Course of Study were met:

Competency Goal 1: The learner will characterize qualities of good citizenship by identifying people who made a difference in the community and other social environments.

1.01 Identify and demonstrate characteristics of responsible citizenship and explain how citizen participation can impact changes within a community.

1.02 Recognize diverse local, state, and national leaders, past and present, who demonstrate responsible citizenship.

1.03 Identify and explain the importance of civic responsibility, including but not limited to, obeying laws and voting.

1.04 Explain the need for leaders in communities and describe their roles and responsibilities.

Alignment:

The following NCDPI standards Elementary Teachers were met through this assignment:

Standard 4, Indicator 2: This was met because we discussed rights and responsibilities of democratic citizenship when we made our civic responsibility poster.

Standard 4, Indicator 11: This standard was met because my lessons promoted the basic principles of being a citizen as vital to the development of responsible members of society. These lessons promoted an understanding of character development, including: responsibility, caring for others, respect, perseverance, courage, citizenship, and more.

Standard 7, Indicator 1: I met this standard by aligning these lessons with North Carolina Standard Course of Study goals and objectives.

Standard 7, Indicator 3: For my lessons, I promoted new learning by using student's prior knowledge. I did this through pre-assessment when I had the class complete a KWL chart on communities.

Standard 7, Indicator 4: My lesson on civic responsibility had the students working in groups to make a poster promoting civic responsibility.

Standard 11, Indicator 1: Communication was incorporated into the group lesson because students worked together to create a poster. There were also class discussions before and after each lesson.

Standard 11, Indicator 3: This standard was met because I enhanced social studies lessons by making connections with technological innovations. I discovered various websites that listed different community jobs and information on these jobs.

Standard 11, Indicator 4: Mathematics was incorporated into the community job lesson. The average income for various jobs was determined.