Title of Unit: A Little History Now and Then Title of Lesson: Americas Melting Pot Submitted By: Michael

Feher & Amy Branstetter

A. Summary of the Lesson Plan: This lesson is for 5th grade students to learn about how diversity is shared by various immigrant and ethnic groups to North America. This lesson uses the childrens illustrated book Coming to America: The story of Immigration by Betsy Maestro. B. Target Population: Grade Level: 5th grade Skill Level: student at all learning levels Grouping: whole group for discussion, small groups & partners for activity, independent for homework and assessment C. Materials: Childrens Book: Coming to America: The story of Immigration by Betsy Maestro and illustrated by Susannah Ryan. Artifacts: Text set- Ellis Island; small Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island book set, a passport, pictures of Ellis Island, cultural artifacts, etc Video and lyrics: Coming to America by Neil Diamond http://youtu.be/cRTHdC7k4uY One per Student Student Concept Map Student Venn Diagram Piece of paper Ticket Out Homework: Parent/Guardian Interview questionnaire pencil D. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards H3.5.2 Recognize that communities include people who have diverse ethnic origins, customs, and traditions, and who make contributions to the United States.

Student-Friendly Standards I will be able to show and describe the different types of diverse cultures in our community.

E. Procedure: 1. Review the objective on the board and have students read aloud. 2. Discuss key terms of the book and review vocabulary words (native, settlers, persecution, refugees, immigrants, translators). 3. Play the video http://youtu.be/cRTHdC7k4uY Coming to America by Neil Diamond and have students in small groups come to the artifact table to view items that

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 1

Title of Unit: A Little History Now and Then Title of Lesson: Americas Melting Pot Submitted By: Michael Feher & Amy Branstetter

include: a small Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island book set, a passport, pictures of Ellis Island, cultural artifacts, etc. 4. Read the childrens book Coming to America: The story of Immigration by Betsy Maestro aloud. 5. Stop and review prompt questions: Why did people want to come to the United States? (p.18 - The quest for political and religious freedom) What were some of the different cultures that were identified in the story? (p.18) I want you to think about for a minute How is diversity shared? (p.19)

6. Pass out Concept Map and Venn Diagram. 7. Students divide up into small groups of 6 with papers and pencil. 8. Use a blank Concept Map on overhead or whiteboard to sample for students. 9. Students will fill out concepts on the map: ethnicity groups, types off cultural contributions, and influences. 10. Discuss the books ending: The spirit of America strength and independence is the spirit of its peoplethe spirit of its immigrants and thy children. Then ask students what they came up with, How is diversity shared? (p.19) 11. Review that Culture encompasses similarities and differences among people including their beliefs, knowledge, changes, values, and traditions. 12. Discuss concept maps with students and have them share responses. 13. Students break up into partnered pairs for the Venn Diagram activity. They will find the similarities and difference between their cultures and show it on their Venn Diagram. Each student has their own filled out. 14. CLOSURE: Review student Venn Diagrams and have students share with class. Pass out the lyrics Neil Diamonds Coming to America and play video once again. Read aloud with class (shared reading). Review student homework assignment, the Parent Interview questionnaire. Lastly, explain to students that they will need a ticket out the door today and it will be to list 2 things they learned today (e.g., about their partners, the lesson, or whatever)

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 2

Title of Unit: A Little History Now and Then Title of Lesson: Americas Melting Pot Submitted By: Michael Feher & Amy Branstetter

F. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding? I will informally check students comprehension during discussion, responses, and by their concept maps. Formal assessment will be based on student Ticket Out (Venn Diagram) and homework assignment.

Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. Student Concept Maps and Venn Diagram will serve as an informal assessment. The independent ticket out students will show upon leaving for the day and their parent interview will serve as a more formal assessment. G. Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? Reading the story book will be simple, quick, and fun for both teacher and students. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? It was tougher finding connections and materials for the 5th grade level than it is for the younger grades. 3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? For an extension I will have the class share their parent interview responses and create a personal Whats in a Name? portfolio page for our classroom bulletin board and later the class yearbook. 4. What will you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? For students who are struggling or not quite getting it I will assist them by further identifying key concepts. We will work in a small group building schema and scaffolding vocabulary. Students would benefit by apply a small web mapping technique to connect key supportive terms and ideas. 5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? I appreciate this lesson the way it is. If I could add something it would be a timeline activity created by students during the reading of the book. This would definitely add additional time to this lesson and take 2 days. 6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? I found making sure this lesson fit with the flow of the others, without seeing them, was the toughest part. Choosing exactly how I wanted to address the objective

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 3

Title of Unit: A Little History Now and Then Title of Lesson: Americas Melting Pot Submitted By: Michael Feher & Amy Branstetter

took some research time and decision making. I wanted to make it age and grade level appropriate.

Coming to America: The Story of Immigration by Betsy Maestro, illustrated by Susannah Ryan

Venn Diagram

Concept Map

Video: Youtube: Coming to America by Neil Diamond http://youtu.be/cRTHdC7k4uY

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 4

Title of Unit: A Little History Now and Then Title of Lesson: Americas Melting Pot Submitted By: Michael Feher & Amy Branstetter

Coming to America (Lyrics by Neil Diamond)

Parent/Guardian Interview

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 5