Native+American+Project

This lesson will be geared towards my fifth grade students at Shepherd of the Hills Christian School. Ages of these students are between ten and eleven years old. All but one child come from a two parent home, with the exception of one whose father passed away a month ago. Two students are coming from the public school system and are far behind in writing and spelling skills. Two of the new boys have acclimated very well. The other is having more difficultly blending into the group. It is an energetic class and is somewhat immature. Most of them are the youngest in their family. Social development at t his age may be a relatively calm period for students. Pre-adolescents are fairly easy to get along with, and are affectionate with both Mom and Dad. As the year goes on, I will most likely begin to notice a change in mood. Most of them are about to enter adolescence. The 10-year-old enjoys being together. They play board games and cards or watch TV. Most of the students have joined some kind of club or team. The following is a list of typical social characteristics;  Cognitively, pre-adolescents show evidence of organized, logical thought. This child still learns through their senses, but no longer relies on only them to teach him. He now thinks as well. There is the ability to perform multiple classification tasks, order objects in a logical sequence, and comprehend the principle of conservation. The child is capable of concrete problem-solving. A good teacher would start each lesson at a concrete level and then move toward generalized level. These children will have a difficult time with symbols and figurative language. They will take everything that you say, do, and teach at face value.  My class of fifth graders is part of a K-8 Christian school run by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. They are in a self contained classroom most of the day, and travel to special classes. It is a small class of ten students and they have an experienced teacher with 18 years experience. The class is comprised of five boys and five girls ranging in age from 10 to 11.  Authentic assessments ask students to demonstrate understanding by performing a more difficult task with a more meaningful application then a traditional test. It is not very often in life outside of school that we are asked to select from four multiple choice answers to show our proficiency at something. More often, as in authentic assessments, we are asked to demonstrate proficiency by doing something. Authentic Assessments integrate teaching, learning and assessment.   1. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Step One: What should my students know and be able to do? This list of knowledge and skills becomes my standards. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Students will…… <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Knowledge: <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">list the five themes of geography <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">memorize the five themes using the mnemonic devise Mr. Help <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Work with a partner to compile facts about Native Americans from a specific region. <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Cite the various websites used to find information on their particular region <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Comprehension: <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Down load or draw pictures showing the various aspects of NA life. <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">compare similarities and difference of the five regional NA of the United States <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">give an example of each of the five themes of geography on a poster <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Application: <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">group together NA facts categorizing them according to the five themes of geography <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">make a chart showing the different aspects of NA life with illustrations and writing <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">design questions to research under the five themes <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Analysis: <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">categorize NA facts into 5 themes <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Synthesis: <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">plan a class presentation and <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">report back to the class what they have learned <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Evaluation: <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">develop a rubric for their groups presentation <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Choose which tribe they would have liked to belong to and state their reasons in a journal entry. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">. Step Two: Design an authentic task (project) that allows students the ability to apply standard-driven knowledge and skills to real-world challenges. Select the **TASK** //__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Day One: __// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">A. Play Native American music and ask students to identify the type of music and note what makes it that way. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">B. Students will be assigned into groups and given the task of writing statements they currently know about Native Americans (Provide large sheets of paper and one marker per student!) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">C. Next the groups will write questions they would like to learn about Native Americans. Write these on separate sheets of paper. //__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Day Two: __// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">A. Finish the two lists on day two. Students may make more connections and do a better job the second day when given the extra day to make connections. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">B. Collect the “want to know” sheets and store. Have students cut apart the facts they have written about Native Americans. After they are cut out, have them sort them into different categories. Give them new large sheets of paper and have them write the categories across the top. Students will then glue the facts under the categories they have chosen. //__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Day Three __// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">A. Tape students’ posters on a large wall. Have each group tell the class what categories they chose and what facts they listed under each. After each group has presented their facts, review the categories we studied under the 5 themes of Geography. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">B. Show the class the power point “Learning about Native Americans through the 5 Themes of Geography”. Students will see slides that suggest questions they can research about Native Americans under each theme. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">C. The class will take the quiz together at the end of the power point. Explain that tomorrow they will each review the 5 themes on the lab computers by filling out the corresponding worksheet and then begin researching one region of NA using the 5 themes as categories. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">D. Groups will learn which region they will study at the end of the class. //__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Day Four/Five __// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">A. Students will go to the class website and use websites I have downloaded to begin research on their region. Students will write notes with partner about NA. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">B. At the end of the research time, students will once again put their individual facts into categories using the 5 themes. (The teacher will give feedback and help to students as they use the computers.) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">C. The school website will be available to all students to work outside of the classroom. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> //__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Day Six/Seven __// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">A. The class will meet as a class to discuss how we will evaluate the poster and presentation. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">B. A rubric will be established that is student driven. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">C. Students will then make a large poster showing their facts under each category. They may use a cluster chart, bar graph, or other graphic organizer. Graphics, drawings, and statements should be used. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">D. Students will also plan a presentation teaching their information on Native Americans to the class. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> //__Day Eight/Nine__// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">A. Students will give a 5 to 10 minute presentation on the Native Americans of their region. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">B. The class will take notes and ask questions to learn more about Native Americans in the different regions of the United States. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">C. Each student will assess their own work on the project: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What do you like about your work on ________? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What did you find difficult/easy? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What still needs improvement? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What do you need more help with? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What do you still need to learn more about for this task? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What did you discover about yourself as you worked on this task? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">If you had 24 more hours to work on this task, what changes would you make? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">D. Students will be given several online quizzes to practice their knowledge of the different Native American groups. <span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Games: <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> Quiz: <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/teaching/test.htm <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> //__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Day 10 __// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">A. The class will play a game of Classroom Jeopardy based on the information given by the class presentations. B. Students will be given a multiple choice/essay test on day eleven. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">C. Student assessment will be based on the class rubric and the final test. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt;">3 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">. Step Three: Identify the Criteria for the task. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt;">4 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">. Step four: Write the rubric <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">A specific rubric will be given to the students at the beginning of the unit showing what is expected for them to learn. Rubric attached. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">During this two week unit, I will be giving all students various forms of feedback. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">1.) We will have class discussion on the themes of geography and how we can study Native Americans using the same techniques as real life geographers. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">2.) Students will take a power point quiz with the class. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">3.) Students will present first round posters to the class and discuss how they came to the categories they chose. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">4.) Students will receive feedback from the teacher as they work on the computer gathering information. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">5.) Students will discuss how to evaluate each other’s presentation using a rubric. We will establish a simple class rubric for them to complete after each presentation. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">6.) Class will fill out rubric after presentation and groups will have the chance to read evaluations and complete the rubric on their own group’s presentation. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">7.) Students will be able to receive immediate feedback when they take online quizzes about the Native Americans of the United States. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">8.) Students will play classroom jeopardy to review materials presented in the group discussions. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">1.) Each step along the way in this unit, the students will write about the lessons. They will comment on working in groups and what they liked and disliked about the lesson. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">2.) The teacher will write comments at the end of the lesson including what worked and what could be improved. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">
 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">THE LEARNERS __**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Able to tell time. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Can read for pleasure. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Has a sense of humor ("do you know any good jokes? What's your favorite joke?"). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Is concerned about rules - good (fair) vs. bad (unfair). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Cares for himself/herself, his/her room and his/her belongings; can take responsibility for home chores. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Has more control over small muscles, and therefore writes and draws with more skill. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">THE CONTEXT __**
 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">DEEP AND AUTHENTIC EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS WHAT STUDENTS KNOW OR CAN DO __**
 * //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">Lesson Plan Mini Unit: Learning and Teaching about Native Americans using the Five Themes of Geography //**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">HAVE I ENSURED THAT STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING FEEDBACK ALONG THE WAY? **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">HOW WILL I EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt;">?