Using visual curriculum materials to “bear witness”

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa H. Matherson ◽  
Sydney Armour Haag
Keyword(s):  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Visual Learning ◽  
Affective Learning ◽  
Trade Book ◽  
Middle School Education ◽  
Curriculum Materials ◽  
National Council ◽  
Bearing Witness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bear Witness

PurposeThe purpose of this notable trade book lesson plan is to utilize the novel, Ghost Boys, in an upper elementary/middle school education application. This lesson plan utilizes visual curriculum materials to engage students in a powerful exploration of “bearing witness.” Through the exploration of text, photographs, music and dance, students will be given opportunities to engage with the visual materials, think critically about relevant societal issues and participate in affective learning. The students will interpret visual historical evidence to develop “a sense of otherness” or empathy, and engage with the inquiry process (Barton and Levstik, 2004, pp. 210–211). Historical empathy proves an important aspect to students' historical thinking because affective learning allows students to connect with historical figures and gain new perspectives understanding difficult situations (Endacott, 2010, p. 6).Design/methodology/approachThe approach of this notable trade book lesson plan is a multimodal analysis of art forms (photography, music and dance choreography) which culminates in the students taking informed action to create a personal mural to “bear witness” to an issue of their selection.FindingsThis is a National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) notable trade book lesson plan. After engaging with this lesson, students will gain skills in visual decoding, empathy, critical thinking and collaboration. The students will use higher-order thinking to take informed action by creating a mural to “bear witness” to injustice.Originality/valueThe value of this lesson plan is the ability to integrate written themes from the text, visual learning and hands-on learning in a meaningful and authentic way to students. Allowing the students to take informed action using the knowledge gained about “bearing witness” proves crucial for young students learning how to actively participate in America's multi-cultural democracy.

NCSS notable trade book lesson plan Before She Was Harriet

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-360
Author(s):  
Daneell D. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Social Studies ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Trade Book ◽  
National Council ◽  
Teacher Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Historical Figure

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to allow students to explore the accomplishments of Harriet Tubman at various stages of her life through a guided research investigation. Students will be able to identify Harriet Tubman as a human hero by creating biographical story boards to display first in the classroom and later moved to a local cultural museum. The lesson plan is based on the trade book Before She Was Harriet. This short biography of Harriet Tubman is written in a free verse style to introduce young readers to the several roles she held throughout her impressive life span. Design/methodology/approach Social constructivist principles are integrated throughout the lesson; that is, meaningful interactions with peers and the teacher influence student learning. Students participate in a scaffolded research project with the support of teacher modeling and graphic organizers. They expand their knowledge by creating an original interdisciplinary project, a story board biography. Throughout all phases of the learning experience, students engage in critical thinking and challenging activities that include drawing connections among ideas, evaluating group work, arguing positions and applying research skills. Additionally, a variety of resources, including technology, are incorporated to promote active student engagement. Findings This is a National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Notable Tradebook Lesson Plan. Originality/value Young learners need the opportunity to engage in scaffolded research activities in a social studies classroom. This innovative instructional plan provides PreK-3 teachers a guide to introducing students to Harriet Tubman by reading aloud Before She Was Harriet, a 2018 Notable Trade book, and allowing students to gather a deep understanding of this historical figure through guided research over the course of two to three sessions.

iCurator

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-324
Author(s):  
Andrea Watson-Canning
Keyword(s):  
Social Studies ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Visual Literacy ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Constructivist Learning ◽  
The Internet ◽  
National Council ◽  
Historical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide secondary social studies practitioners with a research-based adaptable lesson plan aligned with the National Council for the Social Studies Thematic Strands and its C3 Framework incorporating the digitized collection of the National Gallery of Art and Visual Thinking Strategies to foster historical understanding through a student-driven process of online gallery curation. Design/methodology/approach The author describes the connections between constructivist learning and technology integration in the classroom, linking technological, visual, and social studies literacy. The internet mediates student experience. It is both text-based and image-saturated; therefore, it is important for students to develop fluency with the written word and visual literacy. To remain technologically relevant, teachers must harness the potential of the internet to aid students with the development of their analytic and evaluative skills. The paper outlines an adaptable method for incorporating technology and art into social studies classroom practice in order to build visual literacy, historical understanding, and skills in evidence-based research. Findings The National Council for the Social Studies has outlined various analytic, communicative, and evaluative skills that students should acquire for social studies literacy. This paper provides insight as to how utilizing digitized collections of artwork has the potential to engage students in active, constructivist learning in order to acquire social studies literacy. Originality/value The paper is of value to secondary practitioners who wish to incorporate visual art, technology, and constructivist learning techniques in their classrooms.

Celebrating trailblazing women: Soar, Elinor lesson plan

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-305
Author(s):  
Carolyn Ann Weber
Keyword(s):  
Social Studies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Lesson Plans ◽  
Trade Book ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Male Dominated

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to use Soar, Elinor, a 2011 NCSS notable trade book, to teach a short unit on remarkable women in traditionally male dominated fields. Students will research trailblazing women, create a project to teach others about their chosen trailblazer and represent their choice at a trailblazing women banquet. Design/methodology/approach Students will be supported in their research into trailblazing women through reading books about women who struggled to realize their dreams of succeeding in difficult professions. Findings This lesson plan gives students an opportunity to investigate the struggles of women throughout history to enter male dominated professions. Originality/value The value of this lesson plans is to provide students an opportunity to study women who have made a difference through breaking down barriers. Students will be able to learn about a variety of different women, who are not often studied in social studies classes.

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Lesson

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-401
Author(s):  
KayLaura Miller ◽  
Janie Hubbard
Keyword(s):  
Civil Rights ◽  
Civil Rights Movement ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Martin Luther ◽  
National Council ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relevant Evidence ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Martin Luther King

Purpose Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr is a timeless book well-known among K-6 teachers, students, librarians and book-lovers throughout the USA. This multi-award winning picture book provides readers with insight into Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s life and the oppression and progress of African Americans before and during an era known as the modern US Civil Rights Movement (CRM). The biography outlines the period’s equity issues, and serves as a springboard for this upper elementary lesson. While Dr King played an iconic role, there were many other individuals involved in the CRM, most of whom students do not know. The purpose of this paper is to offer varying perspectives related to lesser known CRM leaders, protesters, advocates, perpetrators and bystanders. Design/methodology/approach Technology is incorporated through online research, videos and productions; thus, students actively engage in making connections to various individuals’ points of view, those both supportive and oppositional. Students conduct research while responding to higher-order, critical-thinking questions regarding groups and forces of the CRM. Then, they expand knowledge through jigsaw research activities by collecting information, responding to inquiry questions and presenting relevant evidence-based information about CRM contributors, perpetrators and bystanders. Findings This is a National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Notable Tradebook Lesson Plan. Originality/value This is a NCSS Notable Tradebook Lesson Plan.

Beatrix Potter and Her Paint Box lesson plan

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-242
Author(s):  
Margaret Angel Bestwick
Keyword(s):  
Social Studies ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Role Play ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Individual Development ◽  
Second Grade ◽  
National Council ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Her Family ◽  
The Social

Purpose Beatrix Potter and Her Paint Box (McPhail, 2015) is a tranquil biography primarily focusing on the childhood of Beatrix Potter. This lesson plan, based in the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) C3 Framework, allows second-grade learners to explore the life of Beatrix Potter through this biography and to make connections to his or her own life. Learners move through four stages of inquiry in the C3 Framework. They examine the dust jacket and dual-image book cover for clues about the life of Beatrix Potter. Next, they engage in a read-aloud of the biography during which learners construct knowledge about the life of Beatrix Potter. Learners then create puppets and role play the life of Ms Potter. The lesson concludes with learners making comparisons between their own and Ms Potter’s life. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This is a lesson plan that is intended for second grade students. The duration of the lesson is approximately 90 minutes in length. The lesson utilizes the Whole Book Approach (WBA). The WBA is “an intentional, inquiry-based approach to reading aloud that puts art and design [and children’s responses to them] at the center of the storytime experience” (Lambert et al., 2015, p. 81). During the lesson, the teacher utilizes the WBA through asking open-ended questions as she/he reads aloud. The students and the teacher co-construct meaning through a dialogue about the text and images within the text. The lesson also includes the Role-Playing Characters to Understand Them Better (adapted) approach. This fiction reading strategy is adapted for informational text, a biography, for this lesson. Rather than role-playing a character, students role-play real people: Beatrix Potter & her family, and themselves. Serravallo (2015) writes about this strategy, “Sometimes the best way to get to know our characters is to stand in their shoes-to do what they do, say what they say, and act how they act. With a partner[…] Using puppets or props, act out the scene. Try to talk in the voice of the character, and move the puppet just like the character would. When you finish creating the scene, stop and talk about what you think about the characters” (p. 172). Students will create paper puppets and role-play events from Beatrix Potter’s life as depicted in the biography. Students use a puppet of themselves to talk with Beatrix about how the student's life is similar to and different from Beatrix’s life. McPhail, D. (2015), Beatrix Potter and Her Paint Box, New York, Henry Holt and Co.; National Council for the Social Studies Notable Trade Book for Young People (2016); JLG Category – Genre: Nonfiction, Lexile Level: AD790L, Elementary Grades K-2, ISBN: 9780805091700 (Junior Library Guild, 2016); the duration of the lesson is approximately 90 minutes: second grade. Findings Little Beatrix Potter loved art. At an early age, she received her mother’s paint box. Beatrix Potter spent hours painting things she loved, like the animals she kept as pets. Her family traveled from their home in London to spend Summers in the country. She loved it there. She spent her time painting her surroundings. When she was older she learned of a young boy who was ill, and confined to bed. So, she wrote him a story and drew illustrations for the story. This story was later published as her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Beatrix Potter went on to publish many other animal tales that became popular across the world and beloved for generations. Originality/value This lesson plan is aligned with the NCSS theme number 10, individual development and identity.

Red: NCSS notable trade book lesson plan

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Cynthia Sunal ◽  
Oluseyi Matthew Odebiyi
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
School Experiences ◽  
Day School ◽  
Trade Book ◽  
Peer Play ◽  
Story Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Safe Place ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This early grades lesson for ages 4-7 explores the concept of bullying, focusing on its occurrence among students in day-to-day school experiences. The purpose of this paper is to depict typical bullying occurring in school, for example, during peer play using the book Red as a resource. Design/methodology/approach The story line describes bullying and how one’s actions can contribute to promoting and to preventing bullying. Findings The story line describes bullying and how one’s actions can contribute to promoting and to preventing bullying. Practical implications The lesson sequence builds awareness of the consequences of bullying and how to deal with bullying when it occurs. The focus is on non-aggressive, non-provoking, active approaches to responding to bullying. Originality/value The aim is to help students develop anti-bullying behaviors and to make school a safe place for every student.

So tall within: sojourner truth’s long walk to freedom

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-55
Author(s):  
Sari Brodey ◽  
La Wanda Tidd ◽  
Stephanie Serriere
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
English Language ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
National Council ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sojourner Truth ◽  
The Social ◽  
In The Beginning

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to support teachers in utilizing the 2019 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Notable Tradebook, “Sojourner Truth’s Long Walk to Freedom” (Schmidt, 2018). The authors found this book to be useful, beautiful and well-written but with several complex and dense literary aspects. Thus, this lesson offers supports for students in decoding similes and metaphors within “juicy sentences” (Fenner and Snyder, 2017, p. 131). These tools are especially important for English language learners’ (ELLs) unlocking the meaning of a book. Through this lesson, learners are supported in understanding Schmidt’s “So Tall Within” retelling the life of an extraordinary citizen, Sojourner Truth, who worked for the enforcement of emancipation promised in the 13th amendment. Design/methodology/approach In this lesson, students learn to recognize similes and metaphors in texts as a tool to decode a text’s meaning. In the beginning of the lesson, students listen to a rap about Sojourner Truth’s life to initially recognize in-text similes and metaphors. Then, students apply this new skill to unlock the meaning of metaphors and similes in the “So Tall Within” book to better understand the author’s message about Sojourner’s life. Last, students each make an illustrated and written postcard to Sojourner Truth called “Walking Tall Postcards” with their given metaphor or simile and add reflections on how they do or can “walk tall.” Finally, students chronologically re-construct the postcard statements and create a class book called, “Postcards of Walking Tall.” Findings Students, especially ELLs, must be given supports to unlock the meaning of dense texts (Fenner and Snyder, 2017). To promote equity in the classroom, the lesson was created to make this text more understandable for all learners. Originality/value Like many NCSS Tradebooks that are beautiful in illustrations and lyrical prose, this book requires supports for young learners to decode and understand. This lesson plan scaffolds students’ understanding, especially ELLs’ understanding, of simile and metaphor as a tool to unlock a text’s meaning toward increased historical understanding of Sojourner’s life. Understanding the legacy of Sojourner Truth is evermore important to teach today – she was a woman empowered with knowledge of the law to recognize human rights violations and act on behalf of others.

NCSS notable trade book lesson plan: Windows written by Julia Denos

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-300
Author(s):  
Dana Michelle Evans ◽  
William Boden Robertson ◽  
Holly Hilboldt Swain
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Trade Book ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Prekindergarten Students

Purpose The purpose of this paper, notable trade lesson plan, is to utilize a notable picture book in an early childhood application. Design/methodology/approach The approach of this notable trade book lesson plan is that of a hands-on interactive reading leading to a cultural exploration. Findings Young learners communicated connections with global communities, as they expressed similarities found between their evening routines and those of Germany. Opportunities arose for prekindergarten students to converse in a foreign language through a familiar song, as they discovered similarities and differences found in evening routines such as meals, games, family conversations and preparing for bedtime. Originality/value The value of this notable trade plan submission is in its ability to integrate geographical and cultural lessons into literacy contexts.

Mountain Chef: How One Man Lost His Groceries, Changed His Plans…

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-95
Author(s):  
Margaret Angel Bestwick
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
National Park Service ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Annual Conference ◽  
National Council ◽  
Think Aloud ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Park Service ◽  
Dimension 2

Purpose The purpose of this paper (i.e. Mountain Chef: How One Man Lost His Groceries, Changed His Plans, and Helped Cook Up the National Park Service; Pimentel, 2016) is to detail a camping trip during which Tie Sing, a Chef, worked with Stephen Mather, a millionaire concerned about conserving national resources, to convince a group of influential Americans to create a National Park Service. Design/methodology/approach This lesson plan, based in the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) C3 Framework, encourages third grade students to investigate the geography of the camping area in what is now Sequoia National Park. Students also analyze and determine whether or not the National Park Service is a good idea. Students move through four stages of inquiry in the C3 Framework as guided by their teacher. Findings During Dimension 1, students determine the types of sources that will help them answer the inquiry questions. Next in Dimension 2, students are engaged in a read-aloud of Mountain Chef while learning how to gather information from the text and record evidence in an I-Chart through teacher modeling (Hoffman, 1992). Students use a text set in Dimension 3 to gather evidence in response to inquiry questions. The lesson concludes in Dimension 4 with students using research evidence to create a WPA-like poster of the camping area and students communicating ideas via social media. Practical implications Think-aloud – “Students who are exposed to think-aloud outperform their peers who do not receive the same instruction on measures of reading comprehension” (Ness, 2018). The teacher implements the think-aloud strategy within Dimension 2 of the lesson plan. Think-aloud is a metacognitive strategy that requires a teacher to verbalize thinking processes to scaffold students to perform a learning task on his or her own later. The portions of text that were selected for think-aloud were identified as “juicy stopping points,” points that may pose a challenge for students, or points where there were comprehension opportunities related to inquiry questions. Teachers may adjust this lesson to increase or decrease scaffolding through think-aloud at their professional discretion. Originality/value Mountain Chef was selected as the 2017 winner of the Carter Woodson Book Award in the Elementary category. This lesson plan was presented at the NCSS 2017 annual conference at the Carter Woodson and Notable Tradebooks: Engaging Early Grade Lesson Plans session.

NCSS notable trade book lesson plan: the girl who buried her dreams in a can

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-126
Author(s):  
Takisha Durm
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
The United States ◽  
Elementary Grades ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Future Date

PurposeThe Girl Who Buried Her Dreams in a Can, written by Dr Tererai, profiles a cultural, yet global experience of the power of believing in one's dream. Through this study of the similarities and differences of how children in the United States and abroad live and dream of a better life, this lesson seeks to enhance students' understandings of the power and authority they possess to effect change not only within their own lives but also in the lives of countless others in world. After reading the text, students will work to create vision boards illustrating their plans to effect change within their homes, schools, communities, states or countries. They will present their plans to their peers. To culminate the lesson, the students will bury their dreams in can and collectively decide on a future date to revisit the can to determine how far they have progressed in accomplishing their goals.Design/methodology/approachThis is an elementary grades 3–6 lesson plan. There was no research design/methodology/approach included.FindingsAs this is a lesson plan and no actual research was represented, there are no findings.Originality/valueThis is an original lesson plan completed by the first author Takisha Durm.

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