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VITAL INFORMATION

Subject Matter:

Elementary, Reading, Social Studies, Technology

Grades:

Software Application:

StarOffice or any word processing program

LESSON DESCRIPTION

Summary:

Students learn about George Washington through reading books and performing a short play. Then students imagine that they can somehow send letters back through time to give to George Washington.

State & National Standards:

CO- Colorado Academic Standards

• Subject : History

• Standard 5

• Key Idea 5.1: Students understand how democratic ideas and institutions in the United States have developed, changed, and/or been maintained

• Grade/Level : Grades K-4

Performance Indicator : identifying historical figures from diverse backgrounds in the United States who have advanced the rights of individuals and promoted the common good

Performance Indicator : explaining the importance of national celebrations, symbols, and ideas in their historical context

• Subject : Reading and Writing

• Standard 1

• Grade/Level : CO- Colorado Academic Standards

• Grade/Level : Grades K-4

Performance Indicator : using a full range of strategies to comprehend materials such as directions, nonfiction material, rhymes and poems, and stories

• Standard 2

• Grade/Level : CO- Colorado Academic Standards

• Grade/Level : Grades K-4

Performance Indicator : generating topics and developing ideas for a variety of writing and speaking purposes (for example, telling a story, publishing a class newsletter, writing a letter to an adult, writing or orally presenting a book report, creating and producing a play, introducing a speaker or an event, narrating a presentation);

• Standard 3

• Grade/Level : CO- Colorado Academic Standards

• Grade/Level : Grades K-4

Performance Indicator : knowing and using correct capitalization, punctuation, and abbreviations

Performance Indicator : spelling frequently used words correctly using phonics rules and exceptions

Local Standards:

Standard #2 Productivity Applications- Students use productivity software as a basis for learning and skill building, and demonstrate an understanding of the universal tools of word processing.

Lesson Outcomes:

The children are expected to learn key concepts about the Revolutionary War and the part George Washington played in creating our nation. Students are also expected to learn about and use correct letter wrtiting format and use technology to format their letter.

Assessment:

See: Letters to George Washington Rubric

Assessment/Rubrics:

Rubrics
Letters to George Washington

CLASSROOM & TIME MANAGEMENT

Student Prerequisites:

Students need to know how to log into a computer and access StarOffice.

Lesson Preparation:

Gather reading materials about George Washington. A couple of suggested titles are:
George Washington A Picture Book Biography by James Cross Giblin,(ISBN # 0-590-42551-X)
A Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler.(ISBN # 0-440-84802-4)

After reading some books, assign parts, make simple props, and have students act out "A Quick Play about the American Revolutionary War." (attached)

Time Frame:

4 class periods. 35 Min. per class.

Implementation Steps:

1. Read books about George Washington.
2. Access several web sites with information about George Washington. This can be done in small groups or as a whole-class activity with the appropriate projection system.
3. Have class perform short play about the Revolutionary War.
4. Give the students their assignment. They are to imagine that they can write a letter that could be sent back in time to George Washington. What would they say to him? Would they thank him for anything? What questions do they have for him?
5. Using the computer, students log in and open up StarOffice.
6. Show students how to use the formatting tools to right justify the heading of letter, then move it back to left justify for the greeting. Show how to use the tab key to indent the body of the letter. Show how to center the closing.
7. Students write letters to George Washington, including facts they have learned about him.
8. Students save and print their work.

RESOURCES

Lesson Resources:

Attachments

A Quick Play about the American Revolutionary War

Links

STUDENT PRODUCT(S)

Product(s) Description:

Samples of student letters are attached.

Attachments

REFLECTION

Comments:

These lessons are very successful in teaching second graders about George Washington. Performing the play helps children really begin to understand how our country was formed. Higher students may want to go on to write their own plays or historical fiction pieces.