Artifact #5: Social Studies Lesson Plan

My fifth artifact is my Social Studies Lesson Plan. The topic of this Lesson Plan was Traditions from
Around the World. I completed it in the course Education Methods: Language Arts, Fine Arts and Social
Studies at Medaille College. This focus of this lesson plan was on traditions, and how different cultures, and
families practice these traditions. A tradition to one family can vary to that of another family. Traditions are
also passed down through generations, and could be celebrated at different times around the world. If this
lesson plan was designed as a unit it would be focusing on Heritage and Identity - Changing Family and
Community Traditions for a Grade 2 class.
Why did you include this artifact?
The reason I included this artifact is because traditions within my family have always been something that
is important to me. I wanted to design and implement a lesson plan to my colleagues enforcing this idea.
This artifact demonstrates the knowledge I have to recognize different cultures within the classroom, and
when planning a lesson on a topic like traditions, keeping in mind culturally responsive teaching. Including
this artifact in the portfolio project shows that I want to learn more about my students and their families. It is
also demonstrating to the students that we need to respect one another in the learning environment, and
recognize that we are all different, and that that is okay. This lesson plan provides the students with that
information.
How does this artifact show evidence that you are prepared for a career in education?
This artifact shows evidence that I am prepared for a career in education because I am able to demonstrate
culturally responsive teaching. Often times it can be a struggle for a beginning teacher to plan a lesson that
involves all students from the beginning to the end of the lesson. I feel that this lesson would bring the
classroom together as a strong community. However, I do feel that there could be misconceptions to the
lesson. Students may feel that how their family celebrates a specific tradition is the only way and right way.
It is important that as a beginning teacher, I am able to show respect to the students, and what their values are
within their families. This way there can be a mutual respect shown to everyone in the classroom. That is
why this artifact has prepared me for a career in education because you always need to be respectful to those
around you. Being a good role model to students is vital to their own wellbeing, and self-esteem.

What curriculum and professional standards were used?

Ontario College of Teachers
The Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession
Leadership in Learning Communities

Members promote and participate in the creation of collaborative, safe and supportive learning communities.
They recognize their shared responsibilities and leadership roles in facilitating student success. Members
maintain and uphold the principles of the ethical standards in these learning communities.
ISTE Standards for Teachers (International Society for Technology in Education)
2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating
contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge,
skills, and attitudes identified in the Standards.
a. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students diverse learning styles, working
strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
b. Providestudentswithmultipleandvariedformativeandsummativeassessmentsalignedwithcontent
andtechnologystandards,anduseresultingdatatoinformlearningandteaching

Social Studies Lesson Plan: Traditions from Around the World

Dr. Jeffrey Faunce
Miranda Laufman
10117888
Medaille College
EDU 503 Education Methods: Language Arts, Fine Arts and Social Studies
November 14, 2015

I. LESSON DATA:
A. Teacher Candidates First & Last Name: Miranda Laufman
B. Subject/Content Area: Social Studies
C. Grade Level(s): 2

D. Unit Topic: Heritage & Identity Changing Family & Community Traditions
E. Lesson Topic: Traditions from Around the World
F. Duration of Lesson: 40 minutes
G. Materials, including technology integration: Pencils, Erasers, Pens, Paper, Crayons, Pencil Crayons,
Markers, White Board, White Board Markers, Props, Head Sets, iPads
II. Instructional Process:
A. Standards:
New York State:
Standard Strand: 3
Grade: 2
Topic: History of the United States and New York
Item number and statement: 4. Interactions between European settlers and Native Americans changed the
cultures and ways of life for all groups.
Ontario Curriculum Expectations
A 1.2 Compare their familys structure and some of their traditions and celebrations with those of their peers
families (e.g. traditions/celebrations related to rites of passage, holidays, foods)
B. Central Focus:
The central focus of this unit is for students to discover various traditions, and how these traditions are
celebrated amongst families. All families have their own unique way of celebrating holidays and important
traditions. This lesson will assist students to think about what traditions are important within their family.
They will be able to apply what is important to them, and share it amongst their peers in the classroom. This
introductory lesson on traditions will assist students in looking at how families have changed over the years,
and what has impacted this change.
C. Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
Apply what they know about other families traditions and make connections to their own
Analyze various traditions and holidays celebrated in different parts of the world today
Evaluate their traditions and celebrations, and recognize something that they might want to change
D. Assessment Plan:

I will formatively assess the students by observing their contributions and engagement throughout the
lesson. The students will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate knowledge on various holidays around
the world. They will also be assessed on their ability to list connections of other families traditions to that of
their own family. Lastly, the students will also need the ability to interpret why they feel that we celebrate
holidays and traditions with our families.
E. Opening/Anticipatory Set:
To get the students engaged and interested in this lesson, I will introduce the topic by starting with a
brainstorming activity. As a class, we will brainstorm holidays, celebrations and traditions on the white board.
Once we have come up with various holidays celebrations and traditions, I will have the students discuss with
a partner what it is they like about one particular holiday, celebration, or tradition, and why this specific event
is important to them. For those students who do not celebrate certain holidays, or celebrate a holiday that
might not be as recognized, I want them to share this with the class. If they feel comfortable in sharing, I
want to highlight the importance of this celebration or tradition with the class, and discuss it more in depth by
writing ideas on the white board. During this opening of the lesson, I will have on display various items that
represent holidays, celebrations and traditions from around the world. Before proceeding with the lesson, I
will give an example of a tradition I do with my family.
F. Main Body/Procedure:
This lesson will go into further detail about traditions from around the world. I will explain to the
students, you will take your piece of paper, and do a drawing of a tradition you do with your family as well
as write a brief description of what is happening in the picture. The students will then be able to create or
design their picture, and write their description of a holiday or tradition that they celebrate with their family.
After five minutes I will say to the students, you will now have an opportunity if you would like to share
with your peers what you drew, wrote and give an explanation on why you chose this particular tradition. A
question I would like you to think about is what makes it significant? By giving the students this experience,
it will get them to think about the importance of fostering traditions within families, and they will learn about
their peers families, and what they might have in common.
G. Closure/Ending:

To conclude this lesson I would have a reflection with the students on something that they learned during
the lesson, and what is something they would have liked to learn during the lesson. I will then send home a
follow-up activity that the students will be able to do with their parents. This will give parents a chance to be
involved in the lesson too, and they may have different perspectives to include for this topic. I will then have
the students discuss this activity with a peer.

III. Reflection:
1. Culturally Responsive Teaching:
For this lesson I have chosen to implement an activity for the students to take part in that focuses on
holidays, celebrations and traditions. All families have meaningful celebrations and traditions. It could be

something as simple as having dinner together on a specific night of the week. Families today are very busy
with their lives, and do not always have this opportunity to sit down together. This lesson will include all
students from other cultures. The students who are from different cultural backgrounds will be able to share
their experiences with those students who may not know some of their important traditions. The lesson
respects that not all individuals celebrate all holidays. Therefore, the focus for these students could be on a
specific celebration or tradition.

2. Accommodations:
For this lesson I would provide ample opportunities for those students who have physical disabilities, are
English New Learners, as well as those who have Individual Education Plans. For those students who would
need extra time I would allow them to complete their work during one of the breaks over the course of the
school day, or if they wanted to take it home to finish up I would allow that too. During the lesson, I would
make sure the environment was se-up to meet the needs of those students who may be in a wheel chair, and
would need the extra space in the classroom. Another accommodation I would provide for students who may
have a physical disability is to allow for a peer or myself to scribe for them during the written part of the
lesson if they are unable to. Lastly, I would want to make sure that headsets and technological devices such as
iPads are accessible for those students who are English New Learners. These students may need to read a
word, but also may need to hear it for further clarification. If any student wanted to use these materials for
clarification I would also allow this. I understand the importance of involving all students in the lesson, and I
would not want students who need accommodations to feel that they are not able to participate. By
brainstorming ideas together, allowing the students to complete work, and finishing the lesson by coming
back together as a class will allow students to be attentive, engaged and motivated during the lesson.

3. Prerequisite skills:
Two or three pre-requisite skills that the students would need to master to be successful in this lesson is to
be able to form a basic paragraph. There is writing involved in the lesson, and the students would need to
have the knowledge to form basic sentences into a paragraph. Another pre-requisite skill the students would

need to master to be successful in this lesson is to understand that a tradition does not have to weekly,
monthly or yearly. Traditions that are significant to a student can always be changing. It would be important
for the students to have some background information on their tradition, and be able to discuss its importance.
Lastly, the students must always display respect during the lesson. The students will need to keep in mind that
all families do things differently, and there is no right or wrong way. We need to respect how other cultures
do things, and also be open to change within our own families.

4. Misconceptions:
The misconceptions that may arise are that the students might feel that the way their family celebrates a
specific holiday or celebration is always the correct way. Again, by demonstrating respect to the students of
having an open-mind as to how they look at traditions within their own family, will demonstrate to them the
importance of keeping this in mind with their peers. One example of a misconception is that Christmas is
only celebrated on 25 December. There is another Christmas that is celebrated by the Orthodox Christians on
7 January. I would explain to the students that it does not matter when Christmas is celebrated. What is
important about this holiday are the individuals you share the day with, and the reason for the celebration.

5. Academic Language:
The academic language that will be used during this lesson is related to specific content. The lesson is
designed to focus on specific holidays, celebrations and traditions from around the world. Students will have
a hands-on learning experience with vocabulary and words that they may not be familiar with. This is due to
the fact that there are students in the classroom from other cultural backgrounds. Students may also be
exposed to these holidays, celebrations and traditions being pronounced with an accent. However, an accent
to one student may not be an accent to another student. The students may also have an opportunity during this
lesson to learn new words in different languages, as there would be students from other backgrounds in the
classroom. I feel that this would be an important integration to the lesson, and would bring up further
discussion amongst the students and classroom in general.