CCSU Lesson Plan Template

Student Teacher: Allison Collins

Grade Level: Third
Lesson Date:
Name of Lesson: Columbus Journeys

Common Core State Standard(s)

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.7
Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.8
Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief
notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

Student Learning Objective(s)

What is the intended learning outcome of this lesson? Be sure it is observable and includes clear
criteria.
Consider if there are students who will require an accommodation or modification to meet this
lessons objective.
Students will re-live Christopher Columbus' voyage using Google maps and complete a map
outlining the route of his venture. Some students may need to work in pairs on the computer. If
students finish early they can type their letter as Columbus explaining how he reached the
Americas.
Rationale for Objective: How does this lesson support previous and subsequent learning?
This lesson relates to the holiday Columbus Day where students have learned that he discovered the
Americas. Previous to this activity students will have read about who Columbus was and what he
did. They will understand the terms: voyage, colonize, venture, resist, native, ambitious. Making a
map and looking on Google Earth will give them a visual representation of the long journey
Columbus took.

Assessment
State the specific strategy (ies) and tool(s) used to collect the data for each SLO (i.e., essays,
projects, quizzes, exit slip, worksheet, etc.). Are there students who will require an
accommodation or modification to this lessons assessment?
I will use the map outlining Columbus voyage as the assessment for this assignment as well as the
letter/picture. Some students may only highlight one part of Columbus journey.
Classroom Learning Environment Focus
(i.e., standards of behavior, routines, procedures, group work, transitions, instructional
arrangement, etc.). Explain specific needs.
Students will be working individually on a computer looking at Columbus voyage, unless told to
pair up. Students will raise their hands if they have a question, or when they are ready to start their
map. They will use a variety of colors to show the different trips Columbus made.
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Instructional Model/Strategy
(i.e., concept formation, concept development, direct instruction, cooperative learning, inquiry,
discussion model). Explain how you will best facilitate student learning through a specific model
of instruction. Be sure to include a rationale for the chosen model(s). You may use more than
one:
In this lesson I will use direct instruction in a screencast showing the students how to see Columbus
voyage on google maps. Then the children will be working independently to fill out a map showing
the route Columbus and his men took on their trip to the Americas. They will the work independently
on writing a letter from Columbus point of view about the lesson using previously used vocabulary.

Materials/Resources needed for this lesson

For this lesson each child will need access to a computer with internet so that they can go onto
Google maps and use it as a reference for their map. They will also need a map and colored pencils.

Daily Formative Assessment

How will you check for understanding and student achievement during the lesson?
I will be walking around during the lesson making sure each student gets onto Google maps and can
visualize the path that Columbus took. I will collect their maps at the end of the lesson to see if they
were on the right track, as well as their letters as Columbus or picture of Columbus journey.
Differentiating Instruction
How will you differentiate to meet the needs of your learners (i.e., what you teach, how you teach, or
how you will assess). Explain:
For the students who need more assistance than the screencast, I will personally show them how to
get onto Google maps. If they are a student who needs more time, I will ask them to focus on a
specific part of Columbus voyage rather than the whole journey. I students finish early, they can type
their letter as Columbus explaining how he reached the Americas.

Initiation
Cite how you will engage and motivate learners, activate prior learning and present the lessons
objective.
Explain: A) What they will be doing and learning in the lesson;
B) How they will demonstrate learning;
C) Why it is important to their everyday live.
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To get the students involved I will start by showing them the screencast of how to navigate
through Google maps. Then I will have children look up their address or the schools address if
they do not know their own. Then I will remind them of Christopher Columbus voyage to the
Americas and ask them how we might use Google maps to see the journey that he took. I will
walk them through how to do this, and assess their understanding by the way they fill in the paper
map. This is important to their everyday lives because without the discovery of the Americas we
wouldnt be here today.

Lesson Development
Cite how you will provide opportunities for the students to construct meaning. List the
steps/process you will follow. Be sure to identify how you will check for understanding and
collect formative data. Differentiate for students who will require an accommodation or
modification in order to be active participants in this lesson and state these strategies in the
differentiation section above.
1. Review important vocab: voyage, colonize, venture, resist, native, ambitious.
2. Relive Columbus' voyage using Google maps.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zuAuSYN4nqqM.k-tbEmOjBRas&hl=en
3. Have students fill in a paper map of Columbus journey. Some students may be working
with a partner.
4. Hand in for assessment.
5. Write a letter as Columbus about their voyage.

Closure
How will you question students in order to evaluate if the objective(s) was met? How will you
question students to connect this lesson to previous and subsequent lessons as well as connect to
their own lives? How will you question students to see the relevancy of the lesson by
understanding the purpose/importance of the learning?
I will close the lesson by having the students write a letter as Christopher Columbus about the
voyage he went on. This letter will include the vocabulary highlighted in the procedure. Some
student may draw a picture instead of writing a letter, while others may want to type their letter.

Reflection on Practice
Student Achievement Evaluate student learning based on collected data for each SLO for each
group of learners. Identify how each group met the stated criteria in the SLO, including specific
data for each SLO. Based on your analysis what would you continue or change about your
teaching for the next lesson?
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Common Core of Teaching Connection Choose an attribute from an indicator from Domains
1-4. Choose an attribute that was effective in your lesson. What specific evidence from the
lesson supports this?
Choose an attribute that you would like to focus on. What specific evidence from the lesson
supports the need to focus on the specific attribute? Suggest a strategy that you will try for the
next lesson to address this need.