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George vs. Abe

Subject: ELA, Social Studies, Computer Science

Grade Level: 2

Materials: Computer with internet access, printer, paper and pencils, Kidworks Deluxe

About: This unit incorporates Social Studies, English Language Arts and Computer Science. The students learn about the lives and careers of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, The students must accurately recall facts learned in two online stories about Abe Lincoln and George Washington. They use analytical skills to compare and contrast information on the two presidents. They must also appropriately use an online Venn Diagram to illustrate their comparisons. Students construct well written paragraphs to tell a story about each of the presidents. Students create a book using Kidworks Deluxe and appropriately illustrate each page of the book.

Students must complete an original book using Kidworks Deluxe about the two presidents.

The students love being able to create something all their own. The use of analytical skills is an integral part of the learning process for this project and throughout the child's education. The students are practicing using the internet as a research instrument, putting information gathered into their own words and using that information in a constructive way.

When beginning the unit, use a KWL or a Carousel style of motivation. I've found that the students know more facts than they may read or be exposed to during this unit. However, check the facts that they write! Some facts are just folklore. Teachers would want to adapt this unit for their classrooms because it turns an old topic into something fun for the students. Each year in February classes are discussing Lincoln and Washington, but this unit brings together the facts, computer science and literacy in a way that students may have not done.

 Objectives
Students will be able to gather information from websites.
Students will be able to analyze information from websites to draw comparisons
Students will use critical thinking and decision making skills. This can become a "transferring success model" that will translate into success in other areas of the curricula.
Students will be able to correctly complete a Venn diagram with researched information on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Students will be able to use information to compose a well written paragraph.
Students will be able to use the tools in Kidworks Deluxe to author and illustrate a book about the two presidents.
Students will go through the steps of the writing process to complete their original works.

Websites
This website is a quiz created by students in another district. The students can take this quiz to gather information on President Lincoln in a fun way
http://siec.k12.in.us/~west/proj/lincoln/quiz7.htm
This page is an easy to read informational page on President Lincoln. It shows pictures to illustrate the information. It is good for slower readers.
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/special_events/presidentsdaymuseum/pages/lincoln.htm
This page is an easy to read informational page on George Washington. It show pictures to illustrate the information. It is good for slower readers.
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/special_events/presidentsdaymuseum/pages/wash.htm
This website was created by students in another district. It is very easy to read and gather information about Abraham Lincoln.
http://berwickacademy.org/lincoln/born.htm
This website also chronicles the life and career of George Washington. It is written and illustrated by children and is very easy to read.
http://pocanticohills.org/washington/timeline.htm
This website lists facts about the presidents. It tells some facts other than those we see in history books. For example, the president's favorite food or what pet he had
http://whitehouse.gov/kids/presidents/georgewashington.html
This website has an interactive Venn Diagram. Students enter keywords to tell different characteristics of, in this case, the presidents. Then, they enter a description of what the keyword means or stands for. The students must drag the keywords into the appropriate bubbles and then the website will coordinate the keywords with the facts. This website also has other graphic organizers and planning tools to help students organize and enhance their writing skills. I LOVE THIS SITE!
http://readwritethink.org/materials/venn/

Standards
Students read, write, listen and speak for information and understanding. Read unfamiliar texts to collect and interpret data, facts, and ideas, with assistance. Use a computer to create, research, and interpret literary text.
2
ELA
Students read, write, listen and speak for information and understanding. Relate data and facts from informational text to prior information and experience, with assistance. Compare and contrast information on one topic from two different sources, with assistance.
2
ELA
Students read, write listen and speak for information and understanding. Organize text information by using graphic or semantic organizers. Compare and contrast similarities and differences among characteristics and events across stories. Compare and contrast similarities and differences in information from more than one informational text. Use graphic organizers to record significant details from informational texts, with assistance. Students will read, write listen and speak for critical analysis and evaluation. Use prewriting tools, such as semantic webs and concept maps to organize ideas and information.
2
ELA
Students read, write, listen and speak for information and understanding. Write original text using the writing process. Write sentences in logical order and use paragraphs to organize topics. Use capitalization, punctuation, and spelling rules to produce final products. Produce clear, well organized short reports to demonstrate understanding of a topic.
2
ELA
Use developmentally appropriate mulitmedia resources (e.g. interactive books, educational software, elementary multimedia encyclopedias) to support learning
1-2
Technology (NETS)
Students will read, write, listen and speak for social interaction. Share the process of writing with peers and adults; for example, writing with a partner.
2
ELA
Students will study family, neighborhood, community, NY State and United States history, culture, values, beliefs and traditions and the important contributions of individuals and groups. Work cooperatively and collaboratively with peers, family members, and others when using technology in the classroom.
2
Social Studies

Day 1: Gathering Information on George Washington
Objectives
As a class we will read and discuss the life of George Washington.
Recall facts about George Washington's life.
Write 8 facts that you remember about George Washington.
Materials
Smartboard, computer with internet access
Pencil and paper
Procedures
Access the website on George Washington. Have students come to the smartboard and read the information to the class.
Students have a working knowledge of the internet as a resource. Build on that knowledge and discuss the information read on the website.
After the online book is completed, ask students to recall facts about George Washington.
Give out pencils and paper. Students will write 8 facts they can recall about George Washington's life.
Homework
Assessment
As a class, orally review some of the facts that the students remember.

Day 2: Gathering information on President Lincoln
Objectives
As a class we will read and discuss the life of Abraham Lincoln
Recall facts about Abraham Lincoln's life.
Write 8 facts that you remember about Abraham Lincoln.
Give out pencils and paper. Students will write 8 facts they can recall about Abraham Lincoln's life.
Materials
Smartboard, computer with internet access
Pencil and paper
Procedures
Access the website on Abraham Lincoln. Have students come to the smartboard and read the information to the class.
Discuss the information read on the website.
After the book is completed, ask students to recall facts about Abraham Lincoln.
Give out pencils and paper. Students will write 8 facts they can recall about Abraham Lincoln's life
Homework
Assessment
As a class, review some of the facts that the students remember.

Day 3: Compare and Contrast
Objectives
Students will orally compare and contrast the lives of the presidents.
Students will construct a Venn Diagram by correctly typing in the facts about each president, in outline form and placing them in the correct locations on the diagram.
Materials
papers with the previously written facts about the presidents
http://readwritethink.org/materials/venn
Procedures
Review the facts about each president by going around the room and asking each student to contribute a facts they learned.
Students use their fact papers to input information into the Venn Diagram Website. They will have to use a short phrase to place in the diagram and then explain that phrase in the notes section.
Print out completed diagrams.
Homework
On looseleaf, use your facts to construct a paragraph about Lincoln and a paragraph about Washington.
Assessment
Were the students able to accurately compare and contrast the two presidents? Did they accurately place the information in the Venn Diagram?

Day 4: Composing the Book
Objectives
Composing books using the facts obtained from the previous lessons.
Review how to use the Kidworks Deluxe Tools to create a book.
Properly using the tools in Kidworks Deluxe to author a book on the presidents.
Materials
Kidworks Deluxe Software
Procedures
At the Smartboard, review how to access and use the tools in Kidworks Deluxe.
Students decide how many sentences they want on each page.
Students begin typing their paragraphs into the Kidworks Deluxe software.
Students begin illustrating their stories, page by page.
Students can properly save their work on Kidworks Deluxe.
Homework
Assessment
Did the student properly use the tools? Orally gather information about using Kidworks Deluxe Tools.

Day 5: Finishing and Publishing
Objectives
Students will complete the typing and illustrating of the book about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Students will use each other as proofreaders to look for and correct writing errors in spelling and grammar.
Students can properly save their work on Kidworks Deluxe.
Materials
Procedures
Students open the program Kidworks Deluxe and access the book they have already started about the presidents.
Students complete both the writing and the illustrations for the book.
Students get their partner to read each other's books and look for spelling and grammea mistakes.
Students correct mistakes directly on the computer.
Students save their work. Guide students through this process step by step, as a class.
The teacher reviews the work and prints out the books.
Homework
Assessment
What did you learn about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln? Do you think they would make good presidents today? Why or why not? Do you think it is easier to make a book by hand or using Kidworks Deluxe? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each way of publishing a book?

Krista Albrecht

albrechtk@wantaghschools.org

Forest Lake Elementary
3100 Beltagh Avenue
Wantagh, NY 11793

Krista Albrecht is the computer teacher and mentor at Forest Lake Elementary School in Wantagh, NY. Her duties include mentoring teachers on integrating technology into the every day curriculum. Krista teaches students in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. Krista has her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and Masters in Elementary Education with a specialization in Mathematics from Queens College in Flushing, NY. In the year 2003 Krista took a child care leave for two years following five consecutive years of teaching grade 5.


Important documents for this lesson plan.

george vs abe.ppt
georgeabecommon.doc
breannascommon.doc
Breannasbook.ppt

 

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