Unit Plan: Lewis & Clark: The Oregon Trail

Lesson Plan for TuesdayGrade: 3rd

Social Studies Strand: Economics

Submitted By: Kellie Thompson

EDEL 453: Teaching Elementary School Social ScienceNevada State College – Spring 2014Instructor: Karen Powell

Lesson Plan for Tuesday Strand – Economics submitted by: Kellie Thompson

B. Summary of the Lesson Plan :This role play social studies activity will teach the students through reflection the difference between needs and wants. The lesson uses the book, Integrating Language Arts and Social Studies, Strategy 14, “Authentic Role Play”, (p. 98-103).

C. Basic Information: Grade Level: 3rd Time to Complete this Lesson: 50 minutes Groupings: whole group discussion & activity, independent activity & assessment

D. Materials: Integrating Language Arts and Social Studies book, Strategy 14, “Authentic Role

Play”, (p. 98-103)shoeboxloose leaf paper and pencilsglue and construction papermarkers, crayons, and colored pencilsnote to parents regarding assignment

E. Objectives o NV State Social Studies Standards

E9.3.1 Identify needs as high priority wants, and wants as goods, services, or leisure activities

o Student-Friendly Standards E9.3.1 I can explain the difference between needs and wants.

F. Vocabulary need – something that a person must have to survive want – a desire or wish for something material – having a real importance priority – a thing that someone cares about or thinks is important leisure – enjoyable activity or free time services - action of helping or doing work for someone

Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2

Lesson Plan for Tuesday Strand – Economics submitted by: Kellie Thompson

G. Procedure: 1. Send home a note to parents a couple days before the lesson explaining that

students are to bring in a shoebox, 4 items from home that are considered needs, and 2 things that are wants for an imaginary trip, and that these items will be returned.

2. Introduce vocabulary (need, want, material, priority, leisure, services)3. Explain the idea of collecting 6 items from home in a shoebox that students

imagine are things they can bring on a journey of the Oregon Trail. The 6 items should be 4 needs and 2 wants.

4. Brainstorm things that one would need for the trip, as well as things that one would want to take as a whole group on the board.

5. Instruct students to rank in order what they consider to be the most important needs and wants, and consider how many of these items will fit in their shoebox.

6. Decorate their shoebox similar to an old-fashioned trunk using materials provided. 7. Allow students to present their items to the class the following day. Students

should write why they chose these items.

H. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding?

I will measure student understanding through the 6 items each student brought, and their written reasons for why they chose these items.

Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. I will know students understand the concepts because they explained clearly and logically why they chose these items as either needs or wants.

I. Closure: Review the concept of needs and wants, and how needs are necessary, while wants

are for leisure activities. Discuss and determine whether their choices were appropriate.

Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach?

I believe the vocabulary will be the easiest portion to teach. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach?

The most difficult portion to teach will be the difference between a need and a want and goods and services.

3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson?

Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 3

Lesson Plan for Tuesday Strand – Economics submitted by: Kellie Thompson

I would expand this lesson by having the students write down a list of items they would take if they were traveling during the time period of the Oregon Trail.

4. What can you do for students who don’t grasp the concepts?Review the vocabulary terms and discuss differences between needs and wants.

5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? I don’t think any part of the lesson needs to be changed.

6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part?The most difficult part was determining what strand and standard go together.

7. Explain the strategy from “Integrating Language Arts & Social Studies” that you included in this lesson plan.

This strategy involves using authentic role play that teaches the differences between needs and wants using a real historical scenario.

Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 4

A decorated shoebox