This+is+America+Reinforcing+Activity



** NCSS Notable Trade Book Lesson Plan Template ** Lesson Plan Author: Dr. Allison Nazzal || // This is America: The American Spirit in Places and People // || || It is about the people who have dedicated themselves to making our country better combined with the ideals and beliefs we all share as Americans. || || X. // Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic. // || || Warm-up questions written on the board The book //This is America: The American Spirit in Places and People// The song //God Bless the USA// by Lee Greenwood Copy of the lyrics to the song //God Bless the USA// Computer/printer for the clipart and images Red, white, and blue construction paper and markers Glue sticks Pen/pencil, paper || || The students will be able to identify the voice of the author in a book and in song. The student will be able to convey their own attitudes and thoughts about America. ||  ||  As a warm-up I will have the students answer questions about America: When and who discovered America? How many original colonies were there? Who was the first President? What is Plymouth Rock? Where does the President live? I will read the picture book //What is America// to the class. I will ask the students how they think the author feels about America. I will call on the students randomly and ask them how the book made them feel and write their responses on the board. Next, I will play Lee Greenwood's //God Bless the USA.// After the song is over I am going to place the transparency of the song lyrics on the overhead. I am then going to ask the students how they think the musician feels about America. I will ask them to cite specific lines that led them to believe this. I will underline the lines they specify on the overhead. I will then call on the students randomly and ask them how the song made them feel and write their responses on the board. The students will be placed into predetermined groups. Their task is to construct a group poem that conveys their feelings, attitudes, or views towards America. The poem needs to be at least 8 lines long, but can be written in any style. They will have about 10-15 minutes to complete the task. The poems will be collected and graded for participation points. I will walk around and monitor the groups' progress. After the time for the activity has expired each group will read aloud the poem they have constructed. || || The students will search for images and headlines in magazines, newspaper or internet that demonstrates what they think makes the United States a great place to live. They will draw a five-point star, cut up the images and headlines and use them, along with the five-point stars, to create a large American flag. || || The students can use their five-point star as inspiration for a 5 paragraph essay entitled What America Means to Me. || || ||
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