Social Studies
While reading is one of my favorite hobbies, my favorite subject in school was always social studies because I loved learning about the ways people have affected both their environment and each other over the years. Because of this interest, I created several different historical activities, and finished with an entire economics unit from scratch. Because I know how important it is to expose children to as much literature as possible, many of my lessons used picture books to reinforce my objectives.
All Aboard the Mayflower!
During the end of November, we put together a Thanksgiving theme for the students to study. Together we all read and discussed books about the holiday and performed Thanksgiving-themed plays. I tied up the unit by inviting the school for a "Mayflower Cruise." The Mayflower Cruise incorporated many different skills and made it very meaningful to the children.
First, students used measuring tapes to measure the length and width of the ship inside the school's gym. Next, we used different measuring tools to make hardtack. Then, we invited several classes to the "Mayflower" to simulate just how crowded and boring the voyage would have been hundreds of years ago. After our simulation, students wrote absolutely stunning papers about things they learned about the holiday.
First, students used measuring tapes to measure the length and width of the ship inside the school's gym. Next, we used different measuring tools to make hardtack. Then, we invited several classes to the "Mayflower" to simulate just how crowded and boring the voyage would have been hundreds of years ago. After our simulation, students wrote absolutely stunning papers about things they learned about the holiday.
Long Ago Centers
One particular idea second graders are expected to understand is that life was different in the past compared to today. In order to reinforce this idea, I created centers that focused on school life over a hundred years ago.
Students listened to My Great Aunt Arizona (Gloria Houston) in the 'listening center'; played with marbles and jacks in the 'game center'; read a short article about school life and answered questions from the article in the 'word work center'; performed short poems about past schools in the 'songs and poetry center'; and used "feather pens" (feathers attached to black markers) to practice calligraphy at the 'art center'. Reinforcing school differences at each center helped solidify the idea of "the past".
Students listened to My Great Aunt Arizona (Gloria Houston) in the 'listening center'; played with marbles and jacks in the 'game center'; read a short article about school life and answered questions from the article in the 'word work center'; performed short poems about past schools in the 'songs and poetry center'; and used "feather pens" (feathers attached to black markers) to practice calligraphy at the 'art center'. Reinforcing school differences at each center helped solidify the idea of "the past".
Timelines: Grandfather's Journey
Understanding the concept of 'time' is tricky for young students. Whether it is actually telling time with an analogue clock or understanding that events occurred before they were born, 'time' is something that children must be exposed to over and over again. Another way I reinforced time occurring in the past was through a timeline.
First, I read the children Grandfather's Journey (Allen Say) and asked them to notice when certain important events took place. Next, I explained the purpose of timelines and had children come up to the board and sort important events that occurred in the story. Then, I modeled how to create a timeline with important events from my own life. Finally, I asked students to create timelines of important events in their own lives. The results were absolutely amazing, and our timeline bulletin board was frequently visited by students and visitors.
First, I read the children Grandfather's Journey (Allen Say) and asked them to notice when certain important events took place. Next, I explained the purpose of timelines and had children come up to the board and sort important events that occurred in the story. Then, I modeled how to create a timeline with important events from my own life. Finally, I asked students to create timelines of important events in their own lives. The results were absolutely amazing, and our timeline bulletin board was frequently visited by students and visitors.
Economics
My economics unit built upon lessons students learned in kindergarten and first grade. First, we learned about different professions from parents who came to our classroom for 'Read Together', and we also identified the reason they work: To obtain money to survive.
Next, we discussed that people use their money to secure "needs" and "wants", and we then discussed the important differences between these two different types of items.
Then, students created piggy banks and explained why they would "spend" or "save" their - imaginary! - money.
After that, we explored the many steps it takes for different items to make it to our homes by using chocolate cheese from the local MSU Dairy Store.
Finally, we discussed how companies use different methods to get consumers to purchase their products. Using this knowledge, students created great-looking advertisements of their own.
Next, we discussed that people use their money to secure "needs" and "wants", and we then discussed the important differences between these two different types of items.
Then, students created piggy banks and explained why they would "spend" or "save" their - imaginary! - money.
After that, we explored the many steps it takes for different items to make it to our homes by using chocolate cheese from the local MSU Dairy Store.
Finally, we discussed how companies use different methods to get consumers to purchase their products. Using this knowledge, students created great-looking advertisements of their own.
- Grandfather's Journey Lesson -
- Mayflower Cruise Lesson -
- Sample Thanksgiving Story -
- Sample Timeline 1 -
- Sample Timeline 2 -
- Sample Economics Lesson and Lesson Study Reflection -
- Mayflower Cruise Lesson -
- Sample Thanksgiving Story -
- Sample Timeline 1 -
- Sample Timeline 2 -
- Sample Economics Lesson and Lesson Study Reflection -