Learning Activity Template

 

Title:  Researching American Symbols                                                                                                  

 

Curriculum:  Social Studies                                                                                                                   

 

Grade-Level Span:  Primary                                                                                                                 

 

Authors Names & School Districts: Kim Linder and Elaine Thudin    Esko School District #99 ________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

PURPOSE:  The student will use the Super3 Skills Model to research an American symbol.    

 

 

DESCRIPTION:  PLAN:  After listening to a read aloud about the American flag, the whole class will brainstorm a list of other American symbols and sources of information.  They will discuss a plan to complete the task of researching one of the symbols.  The class will review a graphic organizer that will be used to answer specific questions. Working with the teacher at the computer, the students will complete the graphic organizer and a mini book about the American flag.   DO:  The students will work with a partner to choose an American symbol for their project.  They will locate 2 information sources to answer the questions asked on the graphic organizer and will formulate 1-2 sentence answers to each question to record on the organizer.  Using the numbers on the organizer, they will transfer the information to the pages of the mini book.  Copies of each completed book will be made for all the students in the class.  Partners will present the mini book to the class, with the class doing a choral reading of the booklet.  At this time, they will also present a 3D representation of the symbol that has been a home project.  After completing their presentation, each group will place a picture of their symbol (possibly using the same clip art picture used in the mini book) on the large United States outline map which has been placed on the classroom wall.  These will be placed on the map in a collage format.  This map will be used to establish the main concept that:  An American symbol stands for a person, place, thing, or event that is important to our country.   REVIEW:  The students will fill in a rubric to evaluate their use of the Super3 Skills Model. 

 

ACTIVITIES

Curriculum Standards

Minnesota Technology Standards

ISTE-NETS

Information Literacy Standard

Big 6

Brainstorm a list of all American symbols and information sources

IV B,

I B

 I.A

1,2,3

1,2

1

Formulate a plan to research one of the symbols

IV B

I B

I.A

1,2,3

1,2

1

Complete a class graphic organizer and mini book to see what it will look like if I do a really good job

 

III.A

1,2,3

3

2

Working with a partner, students will locate, formulate and record the information on the graphic organizer.

I B, IV,A

IV.

A,B,C

4,5,6

4, 6

2

Using the graphic organizer, the students will transfer the information from the graphic organizer to the computerized mini book.

 

IV

A,B,C

4,5,6

 

2

Partners will present the mini book to the class with their 3D representation of the symbol.

 

 

7,8

 

 

Students will review and evaluate their use of the Super3 Skills Model using a rubric.

 

 

 

6

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOOLS AND RESOURCES:

Picture Book:  The American Flag by: Tamara L. Britton

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/index.html

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/symbols/index.html

http://www.kidport.com/RefLIb/UsaHistory/AmericanIcons/AmericanIconIndex.htm

http://schoolweb.missouri.edu/smithville.k12.mo.us/uptegrove/amsymbols.html

http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/symbols.html

 

 

ASSESSMENT:  Students will individually complete the rubric.    

 Super3 Skills Model – American Symbols Rubric

 

Plan:

Did I help plan and make the American flag organizer/mini book model?    YES     NO

Did I help plan where to look for information about my symbol?                        YES     NO

 

Do:

Did I locate 2 sources of information about my symbol?                         YES     NO

Did I put the facts correctly on the graphic organizer?                            YES     NO

Did I complete the mini book correctly?                                                            YES     NO

Was my presentation clear?                                                                              YES     NO

Did my project correctly show the symbol?                                                       YES     NO

Did I work well with my partner?                                                                      YES     NO

 

What would I do differently next time?   

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

CREDITS (INCLUDING CONTACT INFORMATION):

(Record the names and e-mail addresses, if possible, of those who contributed to the development of this learning activity.)

Kim Linder  kilinder@esko.k12.mn.us

Elaine Thudin ethudin@esko.k12.mn.us

 

 

COMMENTS:

 

 

 

 

Used with permission of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Project (http://www.iste.org or http://cnets.iste.org)  Contact:  Lajeane Thomas, Louisiana Tech University, P.O. Box 3161, Ruston, LA 71272;   Voice: 318 257-3923  Email:  lthomas@latech.edu