Title of Unit: Nevada Civics

Submitted By: Meghan McQuain

Title of Lesson: Keeping the People and Property of Nevada Safe.

A. Summary of the Lesson Plan: This lesson is designed to activate students prior knowledge so they can process their new information from this unit with a little more ease. I want students to build on what they already know. B. Target Population: Grade Level:4th grade Skill Level: All learners Grouping: Whole class discussion, small group recording.

C. Materials: Access to white board/Smart board Student Social Studies notebooks. Copy of School rules and classroom rules accessible Chickens May Not Cross the Road and Other Crazy (but True) Laws by Kathi Linz. Houghton, 2002. D. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards o C13.4.1: Identify and discuss examples of rules, laws, and authorities that keep people safe and property secure in the state of Nevada.

Student-Friendly Standards I will research and discuss with my class, how Nevada is kept safe and secure.

E. Procedure: 1. Begin a class discussion about how we try to keep our school safe. As youre discussing the topic, create a graphic organizer on the board. Put School at the center then add the things that students come up with that will keep our school safe and secure. 2. Make sure students have access to classroom rules, and school rules. 3. When the discussion comes to an end, sum it up: So schools are made safe and secure because they have rules/laws, authorities (like the principal, and teachers), and other protections like alarms. 4. Have students answer the following questions in their notebooks: Do you think the school would stay safe and secure if there werent any teachers or a principal to enforce it? Why or why not? Do you think the school would stay safe and secure without rules or laws? Why or why not? 5. Give students a short break by reading aloud Chickens My Not Cross the Road and Other Crazy (but True) Laws by Kathi Linz. Houghton, 2002.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2013 Karen Powell- Instructor page 1

Title of Unit: Nevada Civics

Submitted By: Meghan McQuain

Title of Lesson: Keeping the People and Property of Nevada Safe.

6. Discuss some of the laws and if they should be changed or not. 7. Now, tell the students, Youre going to do some research with a group to find examples of rules, laws and authorities in the state of Nevada safe and secure. 8. Break the class up into two groups. Group one will research rules and laws found in the state of Nevada. Group two will research the authorities that enforce and come up with the laws and rules to keep us safe. Go to the computer lab for 20 minutes of research. 9. Go over the findings as a class. What did each group come up with? 10. CLOSURE: Have students write a paragraph or two using the one of the following prompts. I dont think Nevada needs __this law___because Or If I could add a law for Nevada, I would make it this_______because F. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding? I will measure student understanding through class discussion, and the social studies entries. Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. If the students understand the concept, their answers in the notebook will show understanding of the importance of having rules and enforcing them. Without rules, and authorities to enforce them, there is more chance of destruction with out. G. Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? Classroom discussions are easy to lead, and encourage students to inquire about the topic. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? Making sure students stay on task in the computer lab. 3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? The lesson could be extended by having students create their own set of town laws they would want included. 4. What will you do for students who dont grasp the concepts?

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

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Title of Unit: Nevada Civics

Submitted By: Meghan McQuain

Title of Lesson: Keeping the People and Property of Nevada Safe.

I would meet and discuss with the students how if we have rules, its less likely that they will be broken by everyone. Some laws with still be broken by people, but by a lot less! 5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? I felt this covered the standard pretty well. 6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? I didnt find this lesson to be very difficult.

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

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