#4440. Families

Social Studies, level: 1-2
Posted Thu Aug 26 07:34:52 PDT 2010 by J. Davis (J. Davis).
Graland, Denver, USA
Materials Required: puppets - writing supplies - books
Activity Time: 45 min - 1 hour
Concepts Taught: differences

Writing Lesson
Family
Jacqueline Davis

Title: Families are Different
Content Area: Social Studies Grade: 1 Duration: 45 -60 minutes
Standards and Benchmarks:

Standard 1.2
Family and cultural traditions

Objectives:

Students will identify the cultural differences in families.

Resources and Materials:

Card stock
Writing materials
2 Pig puppets
Variety of books about families
Read aloud - The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco

Differentiation:

Students choose what to write, choose partner?, choose extensions, present information the way the feel comfortable.
Preparing Students for the Lesson:
• Transitions
• Expected Behaviors
Tell students purpose of lesson -- Learn about how families are different

What are some things about your family that makes it unique and special? Open discussion with small groups or partners.

Let's hear about what happens in this story. I want you to pay attention to how the families are different.

The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco
Discuss how their families were different but came together in crisis.

Model:
Use a contrast and comparison model or a Venn Diagram to demonstrate differences and similarities. Have students provide information and show how to fill in the chart.

Teaching the Lesson (Lesson Sequence/
Activities):

• Motivation/
Anticipatory Set

• Pre-Assessment/
Activating
Background
Knowledge

• Teacher Input, Modeling, & Checking for Understanding

• Guided Practice

• Independent Practice

• Closure
Lesson
Background knowledge
Remember the books we have read about families and how each story had a different family dynamic?
Refer to the chart kept about stories we have read.

All these families were different and today we are going to find out how your family is different from another family.

You will write about what makes unique and special on My Family paper. You will meet with a partner and share your writing.
Ask each other questions
You might discover after your discussion that you forgot some important things about your family - this is the time to include those details.
Tell how your partner's family is different than yours.
Record how their families are different.

Write these steps on the board so that students remember what to do.

Motivation and Modeling:

2 Pig puppets and begin telling each other about their families.
Be sure to include:
Each puppet telling about his family
Puppets ask each other questions
One puppet decides to add more information about his family ("Oh! I forgot that I have a pet spider!")
Discuss the main differences about each other, pretend to write down their ideas (say thinking aloud) and present it to the children.

Go over the steps of working with a partner again.
1. Write about your family.
2. Meet with your partner.
3. Take turns and share about your family. (What does good listening look like?)
4. Ask each other questions and provide positive feedback to your partner. (What does this look like?)
5. Add important details you forgot.
6. Write down on the back of your paper how your families are different.
7. Practice telling about how your partner's family is different than yours because you will present this information to the class.

Extensions:
*Illustrate your families on the card stock paper.
*Read books about different families

Lastly, Teacher asks how students will get a partner. Class decides between:
Self selection
Peer selection
Teach selection

Guided practice:
Teacher monitors and guides students to make sure they follow format and understand process.

*Closure -- students share with the class how their families were different.

Assessment:

Were students able to identify more than one way that their families are unique and special?
Were students able to listen to partner, ask at least one question and provide some feed back?
Were students able to share compare and contrast differences between their family and their partner's family?
Did we read enough books about families before this lesson?

Notes & Reflections:

Before this lesson:
Be sure that students know how to listen, provide appropriate feedback and ask questions.
Read many books about families and talk about similarities and differences.
Discuss what acceptance and ignorance -- not knowing