Title of Unit: Holidays and Symbols from Around the World Title of Lesson: Diwali Submitted By: Gina

Bogden

A. Summary of the Lesson Plan: B. This social studies lesson is designed for 2nd grade students to learn about the Hindu celebration Diwali. This lesson uses the book Diwali by Trudy Strain Trueit. C. Target Population: Grade Level: 2nd grade Skill Level: students at all learning levels Grouping: whole group reading and discussion, partners for closure, independent for assessment D. Materials: Pull-down map Diwali by Trudy Strain Trueit Elmo Butcher paper Markers Pencil Paper E. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards o C13.2.5 Describe traditional patriotic activities, holidays, or symbols from around the world.

Student-Friendly Standards I can write facts about traditional patriotic activities, holidays, or symbols from different countries.

F. Procedure: 1. Call students attention to the pull-down map and point out the location of India. 2. Discuss that people in different countries have different celebrations than we have in the U.S. 3. Using the Elmo, Teacher reads aloud Diwali by Trudy Strain Trueit and discusses it. 4. Ask the following questions as an ongoing check for understanding.
Nevada State College

In what country do they celebrate Diwali? Why is Diwali also called a festival of lights? When is Diwali and how long does it last?
EDEL 453 - Spring 2013 Karen Powell- Instructor page 1

Title of Unit: Holidays and Symbols from Around the World Title of Lesson: Diwali Submitted By: Gina Bogden

What is the name of the religious group that celebrates Diwali? What are some things Hindus do to celebrate Diwali? How is the way Hindus celebrate Diwali similar/different to the way most people in the U.S. celebrate Christmas?

5. Complete a Venn diagram on butcher paper comparing Christmas and Diwali with input from the students. 6. CLOSURE: Students will be instructed to discuss what they learned about Diwali with their shoulder partner. Ask a few students to tell the whole class what they discussed with their shoulder partner. G. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding? Students will be asked to imagine that they are visiting a friend in India during the time of Diwali. They are to write a letter to a friend in the United States describing the holiday. They must include at least three facts about Diwali. Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. Students must describe traditional patriotic activities, holidays, or symbols from around the world. Writing at least three facts about Diwali in their letters will show if students understand what this holiday is about. H. Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? I think reading and discussing the book will be the easiest part of the lesson to teach. The book is well-written, and it should be easy for the students to understand. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? The most challenging part might be doing the venn diagram comparing Diwali to Christmas because people celebrate Christmas in different ways. 3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? To extend the lesson I would read some pages from the book Diwali by Kate Torpi. This book goes into a little more detail than the book I used in the lesson. It also has great pictures. It would also be fun to use the recipe on page 19 in this book to make a traditional Diwali dessert like chocolate barfi.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2013 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2

Title of Unit: Holidays and Symbols from Around the World Title of Lesson: Diwali Submitted By: Gina Bogden

4. What will you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? Fro students who dont grasp this lesson, I will do a graphic organizer with them using the headings When and Where is Diwali Celebrated? and How is Diwali Celebrated? We will go back through the book to complete the organizer. 5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? I dont think I would change anything about this lesson. 6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? The most difficult part was deciding on which book to use because there are many well-written books about Diwali.

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 3

Title of Unit: Holidays and Symbols from Around the World Title of Lesson: Diwali Submitted By: Gina Bogden

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 4