Return to Social Studies Module Overview

Title:  Planning Social Studies Lessons, Units, and Courses

Context:  This module can be completed in two 75-minute class periods. It is assumed that the group-based unit planning activity will be done in the latter part of one 75-minute period and the first part of the subsequent 75-minute period. This activity requires use of a web-capable computer lab/classroom.  Addresses ISTE Basic Technology Standards 1.2.4, 1.3.3, 2.4.9.  Addresses INTASC Core Standards, Principles 4.K.3, 6.P.5.  Addresses NCSS Pedagogical Standard 6.

Description:  This module reinforces, through student application, NCREL's lesson planning framework.  It uses a NCREL Captured Wisdom Scenario, a video/CD-based depiction of a social studies unit called "The Jane Goodall Story," and involves students working in small groups to adapt the model unit to outline a history unit based in part on web-based information.

Learning Goals and Objectives:

• Apply knowledge of engaged learning, web information resources, social studies curriculum standards, and a curriculum planning framework to adapt ideas from an existing anthropology unit video in planning a new unit.

 View “The Jane Goodall Story” CD
 Review FAQ’s for “The Jane Goodall Story”
 Study "Lesson Planning Framework" (Participant's Manual, pp. 15-21)
 Study "Learning Actions--Engaged Learning" (Participant's Manual, pp. 85-86)
 Study "Engaged Learning Tasks"  (Participant's Manual, p 87)
 Skim "Examples of Technology Use" (Participant's Manual, pp. 88-107)

Major Learning Activities:

View NCREL's Captured Wisdom " The Jane Goodall Story " video/CD (whole class), preparing the class with the following focus questions:

• What were the teacher’s main goals for the unit?
• What were the major learning activities?
• How did the goals and activities relate to social studies curriculum standards?
• What materials and resources were used? (link to “Examples of Technology Use” pp 89-107, Participant's Manual)

•  How did the teacher assess student learning and other outcomes?
• In what ways was engaged learning accomplished? (link to “Learning Actions—Engaged Learning” pp. 85-87 of Participant’s Manual)

Create adaptations in other subject areas of the “The Jane Goodall Story” unit ideas, using the “Planning Framework” and engaged learning concept.  Form the class into teams of three students, to accomplish the following:

Create a unit plan in a specific social studies content area using the “Planning Framework” with these items completed (handout for groups).  The unit should be based on the engaged learning goal, and should incorporate some web resources that students will use in completing the unit:
 

• Title
• Level
• Brief Description
• Goals
• Major Learning Activities
• Materials and Resources (3 subcategories)
• Assessment

Share small group reports of their adaptation approaches and ideas in a whole class setting.  Discuss the similarities and differences across the groups.

Assessment:

The short term performance assessment for this lesson will be based on the reports from small group work, and success will be judged based on the extent to which the groups were able to create coherent and creative unit activities with the following components clearly evident:

• Use of all parts of the planning framework
• Use of one or more specific features or information sources from one or more web sites
• Principle of engaged learning

Resources:

• NCREL's Captured Wisdom Scenario, " The Jane Goodall Story " video/CD
• NCREL's Learning With Technology:  Participant's Manual, pp. 15-21; 85-107