Teaching American History Grant

American Tapestry

Lesson Plan Template

Teacher: Virginia Catania Grade: First

Nancy DeLucia Second

Unit Topic: U.S. Symbols

History Essential Questions: How do the symbols representing America

contribute to the feeling of patriotism?

Standards of Learning:

History SOL: The student will develop knowledge of patriotic symbols, develop an

understanding of the thought, feelings, and emotions they represent; and

develop a sense of national identity and patriotism.

Reading SOL:

The student will read about specific symbols for inquiry and apply

evaluative criteria to discover how they represent patriotism.

(1) The Students will increase their vocabulary by reading a variety of books

about the American symbols.

(2) Students will read, conduct research, write, and organize information on

the American symbols.

(3) Students will describe the American symbols using grade-level

vocabulary.

Lesson Objectives:

Content: The student will recognize national symbols and icons such as the Flag, the

bald eagle, Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty, and the Pledge of Allegiance and

learn how they relate to patriotism.

Students will develop an appreciation for certain symbols, landmarks, songs

and poems to the democratic ideals they represent, such as the Statue of

Liberty representing fairness and justice, the American flag representing

liberty, and the Star Spangled Banner representing freedom.

Process: The student will read several genres on the topic of U.S. symbols.

Students will compare meanings of symbols by viewing a Power Point and

discussing “everyday” symbols with a partner.

Students will recognize common meanings of symbols by creating a class list

of symbols and their meanings.

The student will discuss the importance of having symbols and their

relationships to promoting/establishing patriotism.

Materials:

Tradebooks:

Books: Harcourt Social Studies textbook / QuickReads level B

Transparency: PowerPoint activities: Attached

Liberty Bell.ppt Our Flag.ppt Symbols.ppt

http://americanhistory.pppst.com/symbols

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/symbols

www.texasire.org/asymbols/symbolsgame.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210627/

Handout: Comprehension Questions and Vocabulary Match worksheets

Primary Source Document: pictures of the: U.S. flag, the Constitution, the

Declaration of Independence, and the Bald Eagle, Statue of Liberty, Liberty

Bell and the Flag. Replicas of the: Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, and

the Flag.

www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/symbols-us/

Assessment/Evaluation: The student will complete the comprehension worksheets with at least 80%

accuracy.

The student will complete an information flipbook about the national

patriotic symbols using the US Symbols Scoring Guide.

Lesson Procedure

Background Knowledge and Purpose Setting: Introduce this set of lessons to students by explaining that a symbol is an

object that stands for something else. Inform them they are going to be

examining some famous American symbols. Explain that before we begin

exploring some of the common symbols that Americans cherish, we will look

at some common everyday symbols. After viewing a variety of pictures, have

students write down what they think each picture/ symbol stands for.

The class will recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The teacher will explain to

students that the United States of America is a place that where people live.

Point out that the United States of America is sometimes called America or

the U.S. Locate the United States on a map or globe.

*Each U.S. symbol (the flag, bald eagle, Statue of Liberty, and the Liberty

Bell) will be presented in the format described below in separate lessons

Before Reading: The teacher will do a picture walk of the book with the

students reviewing key words that will be needed for the students to

comprehend the main ideas being presented. Students will make predictions

on what the symbols may stand for.

During Reading: The student will keep a list of words that are important in

the study of American Symbols and Patriotism.

After Reading: The student will review unknown vocabulary and

summarize the main points of interest. They will recognize and be familiar

with the significance of the Liberty Bell, the American flag, the Bald Eagle,

and the Statue of Liberty. They will share and discuss what was read and

what they interpreted it to mean.

Closure: The student will demonstrate their understanding of the U.S.

symbols by creating a flipbook of printed words and pictures.

Students will be able to complete an assessment of key vocabulary terms that

are relative to the understanding and knowledge of patriotic symbols,

national identity, and patriotism.

Extension/Differentiation:

The student could study and compare and contrast the Great Seal of the

United States and the Florida State Seal.

Students could create a class flag. They will decide what symbols and

colors will be used

Students could write a poem or musical rap about an American symbol.

Vocabulary Match Match the definition with the correct vocabulary word

___ Liberty

___ Immigrant

___ Pedestal

___ Crown

___ Rays

___ Monument

___ Pride

___ Strength

___ Announce

___ Clapper

___ Colony

___ Copper

___ Freedom

___ Independence

___ Liberty

___ Allegiance

___ Citizen

___ Old Glory

___ Colonies

___ Revolution

___ Colonist

___ Symbol

A- an object that stands for something else

B- the state of being free

C- the base or support of a statue

D- to tell people something in public

E- freedom from the control of other people and things

F- a nickname for the American flag

G- freedom

H- a country or area under full or partial control of another country

I- a forcible overthrow of a government

J- a reddish brown metal

K- a person leaving one country to live in another.

L- circular head piece worn by royalty

M- a swinging piece of metal that makes a bell ring

N- points on the crown

O- the right to live the way you want

P- a building, structure, or sight that is of historical or symbolic importance

Q- a person or thing that is an object of or source of a feeling or satisfaction

R- loyalty or commitment of an individual person to a group

S- an inhabitant of a particular place

T- a person who lives in a colony

U- an area that has been settled by people from another country and is ruled by

another country

V- the influence or power possessed by a person, organization, or country

Comprehension Questions U.S.

Flag

What three colors do you find on the American flag and

what do they represent?

Why are there 50 stars on the U.S. flag?

How do we show respect for the flag?

What do you feel when you see the flag? Why?

What year was the first American flag flown?

How was it different from today’s flag?

Comprehension Questions Liberty

Bell

Where is the Liberty Bell located?

What does the Liberty Bell symbolize?

Why were so many Americans excited to be able to see the

Liberty Bell as it made its journey across the country?

What caused the first crack in the Liberty Bell?

Comprehension Questions

The Bald Eagle

Write T if the statement is true

F if the statement is false

___ The bald eagle is the national bird of the

United States.

___ The arrows that are held by the eagle

represent peace.

___ The Great Seal of the United States shows the bald

eagle holding 13 arrows in its mouth.

___ The 13 olive branches in the eagle’s talon

stand for the power of peace.

___ There are 13 arrows stand for the power

to make war.

Comprehension Questions

The Statue of Liberty

Another name for the Statue of Liberty is

___________________.

The Statue of Liberty is located in

___________________.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from

______________________.

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of

__________________.

She holds a ___________ in one hand and a

_____________ in the other hand.

American Symbols Rubric

Primary Source Documents

http:// memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?ammem/bdsbi

b:@field(NUMBER+@od

1(bdsdcc+02101))

Declaration of Independence

Constitution of the United States