Grade Level: Grades 4-5
Subjects: Social Studies
Learner
Outcomes:
Students
will:
1.
Compose a list of the characteristics of a leader.
2.
Study the lives of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry.
3.
List specific traits of each man that contributed to his success.
4.
Research each man’s major achievements and contributions to the founding
of
our country.
5.
Create a brief PowerPoint presentation showing a picture of the three men
and either three of their personal traits as a leader or three of their
contributions.
6.
Choose three present-day leaders and discuss their rise to leadership status.
Time Frame: ten 45-minute class periods
Materials:
A copy of Thomas Jefferson, A Picture Book Biography
Biographies of Jefferson, Washington, and Henry
Current newspapers and magazines, i.e.. Time,
Newsweek,
Scholastic News,
Weekly Reader
Technology Tools/Courseware: World Book CD-ROM, Encarta CD-ROM, digital camera, scanner, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Internet access
Teacher
Notes:
This
lesson will require basic keyboarding skills, some basic research guidance,
and an example of what the end product could look like.
Students
will need to work in groups.
Procedures:
1.
As an introduction, explain that in any time period, leaders are a significant
part of every society. Spend time in a whole class discussion having
students
name people they perceive as leaders. On the board or at a computer
connected to a projection device, begin a list of characteristics that
set these
people apart as leaders. Students may work in groups or individually
to
complete the list. To proceed into the historical character study,
introduce
three famous Virginians -- Thomas
Jefferson, Patrick
Henry, and
George
Washington.
2.
Explain that students will be researching these men to learn how they became
leaders in the formative years of America. They will need to be able
to explain
each one's major achievements and why their contributions were significant.
3.
Students need to find a picture of Jefferson,
Henry, and Washington. This
picture can be from a book or from the Internet. With teacher assistance,
they
will save it to a floppy disk. Using the picture and a list of contributions,
show
students how to make a three frame PowerPoint presentation about these
famous Virginians.
4.
Ask students to bring in newspapers, bring up USA
Today on the Internet,
look at
hard copies of current events magazines and at Internet sites like
Time
Warner's Pathfinder Network to find present leaders.
5.
Tell students to make a list of three present-day American leaders.
They will
include a brief biographical statement and what contribution each one is
making to validate their leader status.
Modifications:
This
activity in all of its steps will probably require time allowances for
ability levels and availability of Internet access and equipment.
Enrichment
Activities:
Students
choose a relative, acquaintance, or classmate whom they perceive as a leader
or has leadership qualities. They will write a description of that
person's qualities and why they consider him/her a leader or a future leader.
A requirement of this assignment is to bring in a picture to scan or take
one with a digital camera. They will insert the picture into the document
about their chosen "Respected Rebel."
Evaluation/Assessment:
Use
rubric.
IGO's
and Other Standards:
Language
Arts
Study Skills 5.162, 5.164
Computer Technology 5.186
Social
Studies
History 4.40
West Virginia Instructional and Objectives
References:
Created
By:
Deborah
Lamp
Deborah
Thomas
Blennerhassett Elementary
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