UNIT+OF+INSTRUCTION





ORIGINAL PLAYS KIM WAHL UNIT OVERVIEW

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This is an introduction to our Unit.

Overview In this unit, we will learn about the different periods of American life. At the end of this unit, you will get into groups and use this information to write an origianl play based on a certain period of time in American history.

Student Audience This unit will cover 5th grade level content. We will cover different subjects such as Colonial life and the Revolutionary War. We will also incorporate the other subject areas of math, science, and language arts associated with the period of time we are learning about. Math will help us determine travel by knowing metric measurements and also how can a chart be used with information we are learning. Science will teach us about why time/seasons were important, temperatures and thermometers, and electricity. For language arts, we will be using all this information and with your group, you will write an original play based on your specific period of time in America.

Timeframe There is a lot of information to be covered with this unit. I’m expecting this unit to take 3 weeks. We will be devoting most of our day with this unit. Since the unit covers all subject areas, we will use that subject time to learn about information that will help with your plays.

Rationale I am teaching this unit because there is so much information to learn about American history and I think the students will be able to better comprehend the material if they are part of the learning process. The students will be more invested in their learning if they are part of the lesson and they take ownership in how the material will be presented. I think that allowing students to take information and be creative will help them learn and remember information.

Unit Objectives Students will be able to know the the reasons why Pilgrims came to the new land, their struggles to survives and the role of the Native Americans, they will understand the causes of the Revolutionary War and the influential people involved, they will understand why metric measurement was important and how seasons and temperature were important for surviving during these times. How electricity affected life. Finally, the students will be able to know how to research, create technology based projects, and write an original play.

Unit Standards 1.1 Students know the general chronological order of events and  GRADES 5-8

As students in grades 5-8 extend their knowledge, what they know and are able to do includes

• chronologically organizing major events and people of United States history; and

• describing significant events and people which form the foundation of United States history in

the chronological context of the history of the Americas and the world.

Colorado Content

Variations or Adaptions I would expect students in the gifted and talented program to be creative and go beyond the standards set for this unit. They would be expected to do higher level research to come up with information beyond the classroom teaching. I would allow for this group to meet and work on their own when information discussed in class is not up to their level of learning. Students will be allowed to research on the computers, or have an arranged time to work in the library. They will be able to work on ideas that are beyond the original play concept such as handouts, video, etc. However, they will be required to come up with an original play. Since they will be doing some of this work on their own, I will allow their group to choose first what subject they would like to work on.



Lesson // # 1 //:

Title of lesson: Colonial Life

__Description of lesson__: In this lesson, the students will be learning about American Colonial life. We will be studying about their way of life and what they needed to do to establish the colonies and survive in a new country. They will also learn why Europeans decided to come to this country, how they got here, and how/why they declared their independence from Britain.

__Assignment__: Assignments in this unit will involve in class lecture and group discussions. Homework will consist of research to bring to your group to aid in class and group discussions.

__Resources/materials needed__:

__Technology reflection__: // In this lesson plan, technology of the internet will allow the students to find more information than before. They will be able to see pictures of how people looked and the ships they came on, find different articles and possibly different points of view regarding the Revolutionary War. //

Evaluation: // I will use their predictions and then what they found as facts as a way to assess what they are learning. I will also look to see if they were able to find more websites or books for research. //

// (as a STUDENT right now, this is where you jot your concerns about teaching this lesson and important things you need to focus on) //

These pages can be used with the Lesson 1 assignment. On the first page you can click to get a list of interesting books to read, click to get to a website that will give you a timeline and information, and there is a video to watch. Did you notice that there are blank cards on the page? As a class, we will fill in these answers after you have researched and turned in your questions. These pages gives you quick access to information you may not have been able to find. All 3 of the resources can be used to help you answer the questions for lesson 1.

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Click on the Mayflower link to find some interesting information about the Mayflower. There are also 2 videos to watch that you may find fun.

Slideshow Click on the Slideshow link to view a few pictures I wanted to share with you. When we do our play, we will add pictures to our slideshow to show how much work and fun you put into it.

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Lesson // # 2 //:

Title of lesson: How to do research on the internet. __Description of lesson__:

This lesson is going to help you learn how to find information using different websites. There is so much information on the internet and this lesson will help you find exactly what you are looking for. This lesson will start with helping you find answers to questions you should already know about Colonial life and the American Revolution. At the end of this lesson, you will need to find information to share with the class about what happened to cause the American Revolution.

__Assignment__: Assignments in this unit will involve in class lecture and group discussions. Homework will consist of research to bring to your group to aid in class and group discussions.

__Resources/materials needed__: Look at the Cool Websites of the Week tab on our web page. I have listed many websites that will help you with research. __Technology reflection__: // In this lesson plan, technology of the internet will allow the students to find more information than before. They will be able to see pictures of how people looked and the ships they came on, find different articles and possibly different points of view regarding the Revolutionary War. //

Evaluation: // I will use their predictions and then what they found as facts as a way to assess what they are learning. I will also look to see if they were able to find more websites or books for research. //

// (as a STUDENT right now, this is where you jot your concerns about teaching this lesson and important things you need to focus on) //

C

Lesson // # 3: Presentation //

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Lesson // # 4 //:

Title of lesson: Causes of the American Revolution.

__Description of lesson__: This lesson is going to help you find specific information using different websites. This lesson will start with getting into groups of 2 and choosing one of the listed topics to research. __Assignment__: Causes of the American Revolution

__Resources/materials needed__: Using the internet is the quickest way to find information. In the assignment, I have listed a few websites for you to start your research.

Here is my Selfari website that lists some great books to read and learn about the American Revolution. If you have read other books about the American Revolution that you enjoyed, please tell me and we can add to the bookshelf.

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__Technology reflection__: In this lesson, I expect groups to find other websites to use for research and not just the ones provided in the lesson. I also expect groups to find visuals for their debates to support their arguments.

__Evaluation__: Students will be assessed based on the information they present to the class in their debates. I will also be looking at the quality of the visuals they use.

Lesson // # 5 //:

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This Podcast about Squanto is an example of what you will be expected to do for your group podcast.

__Title of lesson__: Influential people in Early America.

__Description of lesson__: This lesson will be to find people who were influences in early America. You will research in groups and make a podcast to add to our series of Influential People in Early America. __Assignment__: In your group, you will choose a person from early America. As a group, you will do research either on the internet or find books. After all your research is complete, your group will make a podcast to add to the series.

__Resources/materials needed__: Using the internet is the quickest way to find information for your research. You will also be using Vocaroo to record your podcast. Below is the link: VOCAROO

__Technology reflection__:

In this lesson, I expect groups to find various websites to use for research and not just one. I also expect groups to use Vocaroo to record their podcast. __Evaluation__: Students will be assessed based on the quality and information they present in their podcast.

Lesson // # 6 //: media type="custom" key="9036556" Here is a list of videos I'd like you to watch in order to get some knowledge about what happened after the war. The 1st video is a review of a timeline and can be used as a quick reference for events that happened. The 2nd video is the Treaty of Paris that ended the War. The 3rd is about the Articles of Confederation. The 4th and 5th is about the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. The 6th is about the Preamble to the Constitution, the 7th is about the War of 1812. The final video is just a fun rap about the history of America. Enjoy!

__Title of lesson__: After the Revolution.

__Description of lesson__: This Lesson tells you what events happened after the end of the Revolutionary War. __Assignment__: Watch the YouTube videos to get an overview of the events that occured after the War. Do a search around YouTube to find any other relavent videos that you'd like to add to my list and share with the class.

__Resources/materials needed__: Internet access to watch the videos.

__Technology reflection__: In this lesson, I expect the students to watch the videos to get background knowledge about the events that happened after the War. __Evaluation__: Students will be assessed based on the information they retain from the videos and if they were able to navigate around YouTube to find more videos.

Lesson // # 7 //: media type="custom" key="9258038" This video is a presentation on Animoto to question what would have happened if the British had won the Revolutionary War and America did not gain its independence. This unit covered many areas of early America. Using the information you've learned, what do you think would have changed if America lost the war? Think about what would have changed in history and how it may have affected our country today. Organize your information by writing an outline and making a story board. Don't forget to use proper sentence structure and spelling since you will be turning in a final draft that you will use to make your Animoto presentation.

__Title of lesson__: Alternate Ending.

__Description of lesson__: In this lesson we will discuss what would have happened if American had lost the Revolutionary War. __Assignment__: Get into your groups of 4-5. Discuss what you think would have happened if America had lost the war.

__Resources/materials needed__: Using your notes, books, and/or websites come up with what would have happened after the Revolutionary War if America had lost.

__Technology reflection__: Using Animoto, your group will make a presentation of your ideas.

__Evaluation__: Students will be assessed based on the ideas from their alternative ending to the Revolutionary War.

Lesson // # 8 //:

__Title of lesson__: Original Play Characters.

__Description of lesson__: This Lesson will begin the process of writing your original plays. __Assignment__: Get into your groups of 5 or 6. Come up with the topic your will be writing for your play. Decide the characters who will be part of your play. Not every member needs to be a character but if you are not a character you need to do most of the writing.

__Resources/materials needed__: Using your notes, books, and/or websites decided what your play will be about and who your characters will be.

__Technology reflection__: Using the link below for a mind mapping website you will use the format to think up your characters and write descriptions of each person. Use this to organize your characters and who will play the part. Usually I would have a very descriptive example but I don't want to use any ideas that you may be wanting to write about for your play.

__Evaluation__: Students will be assessed based on the idea for their play and the organization of characters.

Mind Mapping

Lesson // # 9 //:

__Title of lesson__: Original Play

__Description of lesson__: This Lesson will begin the writing process for your original play. __Assignment__: Get into your groups of 5 or 6 and start writing your play. Not every member needs to be a character but if you are not a character you need to do most of the writing.

__Resources/materials needed__: Use your notes, books, and/or websites

__Technology reflection__: Use the link below for StoryBook. This website allows you organize all the parts of your play and then put it all together. You can write each scene separate and edit as needed. It allows you to color code your characters in order to help keep track of character lines. __Evaluation__: Students will be assessed based on the writing of their plays.

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Lesson // # 10 //:

__Title of lesson__: Original Play Poster

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; overflow: hidden;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; overflow: hidden;"> __Description of lesson__: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; overflow: hidden;">Design a poster to advertise your play

__Assignment__: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; overflow: hidden;">Your group will design a poster to announce your play. Remember to include date, time, stars of the play and writers.

__Resources/materials needed__: Poster Wizard will give you many options to design a poster. __Technology reflection__: Using the link below to Poster Wizard design a poster and make several copies to hang in the school.

__Evaluation__: Students will be assessed based on the creativity of their poster.

Poster

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