Skip to Main Content
Hostos Community College Library

EDU 105 - Social Studies for Young Children - Textbook

Module 3 - Part 2

Writing an Effective Lesson Plan

Work by Jacqueline M. DiSanto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Learning Outcomes

 

Students will be able to write a complete lesson plan that can be adapted to meet the individual needs and abilities of each student in the class. This lesson plan must:

  • Address the topic

  • Have at least one objective

  • Have a connection to a NYS Standard

  • Include an activity

  • List necessary resources

  • Include an assessment means

Lesson Plans: Overview

 

You will do five (5) lesson plans. All must include:

  • NCSS Thematic Strand: Identify the strand for each lesson plan.

  • Learning Standard: Which learning standard are you addressing in this activity?

    • Review the "New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards" PDF.

    • Choose one learning standard from pages 21, 23-24, 25, or 26.  

  • Objective: What will the child be able to do (or be able to do better) after this activity.

    • The statement must begin with:  The child will be able to . . . 

    • Do not use words like know, understand, imagine, think, consider, feel, see, hear, pretend, etc. as these words are invisible and cannot be assessed.  

  • Activity with Resources: What is happening during the activity?  

    • Are you reading a story?  Is the child practicing a skill such as writing a letter of the alphabet or practicing tying their shoe?  What specific things to you have to have to do this activity?

    • How will you make sure that students who are at different levels or have different learning styles are able to participate in this activity?  Give one example. You can use a physical example such as what could be done to so that a child with a broken arm can participate in an art project.  This may require research. Cite your source in your explanation.

  • Assessment: How will you know whether the objective was accomplished?  

    • Describe what the child should have been able to do or create after the lesson. 

The plans must be written completely by you.  You may get ideas from websites and/or use resources such as books, web-based activities, and videos, but the objective and activities must be done by you.  Please be aware that consequences will be applied based on the amount of your plans that come from other sources, ranging from lost points, failing the assignment, and, if it happens on more than two assignments or lesson plans, possibly failing the course.

NCSS Thematic Strands Lesson Plans

 

You will write one lesson plan for five of these NCSS thematic strands.  Read the narrative first for the strand.  They can be found under Course Documents. 


Culture

For this lesson plan, you will address the thematic strand, Culture.  Before writing your plan, please read the narrative. You will be asked to reflect on it under Discussions.

The special instructions for Culture are:  

  • The lesson plan must focus on where children live.  You can address their street, home, the Bronx, being in the city versus being in the country, or anything else related to where they live.  Remember keep it on a kindergarten level. 
  • The activity must be an art project that connects to the English Language Arts standard you choose.
     

Time, Continuity, and Change

For this lesson plan, you will address thematic strand 2, Time, Continuity, and Change.  Before writing your plan, please read the narrative.  You will be asked to reflect on it under Discussions.

The special instructions for Time, Continuity, and Change are: 

  • This lesson will focus on transportation and must include a book that you read aloud read to them.  
  • The activity they do after you read the book to them is up to you but it must connect to one of the English Language Arts Standards.


Individual Development and Identity

For this lesson plan, you will address thematic strand 3, Individual Development and Identity.  Before writing your plan, please read the narrative.  You will be asked to reflect on it under Discussions.

The special instruction for Individual Development and Identity is:  

  • This lesson will focus on being treated with respect and must include role play, which you will connect to one of the English-Language Arts standards.
     
Power, Authority, and Governance

For this lesson plan, you will address thematic strand 6, Power, Authority, and Governance.  Before writing your plan, please read the narrative.  You will be asked to reflect on it under Discussions.

The special instructions for Power, Authority, and Governance are:  

  • This will address voting and how people often have a say in a decision.  You can do an activity where the children get to vote for important in the classroom routines.  

  • It must be connected to an English-Language Arts standard.
     
Production, Distribution, and Consumption

For this lesson plan, you will address thematic strand 7, Production, Distribution, and Consumption. Before writing your plan, please read the narrative.  You will be asked to reflect on it under Discussions.

The special instructions for Production, Distribution, and Consumption are:  

  • This lesson can focus on shopping, needs versus wants, money, or anything you choose related to supply and demand.  It must connect to an English-Language Arts standard.  

  • It should involve physical movement.

 

Additional Thematic Strands

From the remaining five narratives, choose one.  You will use it for your Field-Trip Plan. Directions for this plan will be provided in Module 3/Part 3.