Lesson Plan Three: Civil War Letter Web

Michigan Social Studies Standards and Benchmarks:

    1.Inquiry Perspective

        Standard 1: All students will acquire information from books, maps, newspapers, data sets and other sources, organize and present the information in maps, graphs, charts and timelines, interpret the meaning and significance of information, and use a variety of electronic technologies to assist in accessing and managing information.

            Later Elementary Benchmark 2: Organize social science information to make maps, graphs and tables.        

National Educational Technology Standards:

    1. Basic operations and concepts

            1. Use keyboards and other common input and output devices (including adaptive devices when necessary) efficiently and effectively.

    5. Technology research tools

    6. Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

            8. Use technology resources for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.

Objectives:

    -Students will create a web of their researched information using a software program called Kidspiration.

Materials:

    -"Task" from Civil War Webquest on printed paper

    -Research worksheet

    -Computer Lab (30 computers)

    -IKidspiration software (installed on all computers)

    -LCD projector

Purpose:

    -Students will learn to organize their researched information into a web that will be easier for them to read and use when constructing their letter.  This web should help the students lay out the main ideas of their letter.

Anticipatory Set:

   -Teacher asks, "Can anyone tell me one good way to organize all of the information that you have just researched about your Civil War battle?"  (I expect students to say that they could use a web since they have used them several times in the past).

Check for Understanding:  [Will occur after Guided Practice]

   -After Guided Practice, the teacher will ask the class what will go under each specific bubble.  For example, the teacher might say, "What kind of information would go under the bubble called 'Living Conditions'?"

Modeling:

   -Teacher will show students where to go in Kidspiration.  Teacher will pick a battle and a side and show an example of how she would start her web.  Teacher will show students how she would begin organizing her information.

Guided Practice

   -Students will begin their web by making a template of the way they want their information arranged.  Teacher will leave her example on the screen so students can refer back to it.

    -Teacher will ask students to stop after they finish their template.

Independent Practice:

   -Students begin filling in their web with all appropriate information from their research.

    -If students feel they need more information, they are allowed to research on the Internet at this time.

*This will last approximately two computer lab times *

Closure:

   -Students must show the teacher their web before they will be allowed to print it.  Teacher will check each student's web to make sure all questions are answered and the student has a sufficient amount of information.