Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

New Jersey’s Proud Past

An interactive journey spotlighting historical landmarks in New Jersey.

Target Audience:

Designed for 4^th-5^th grade history students who will work independently.

This unit will take approximately 1 week.

Objectives:

Students will learn about historical sites in New Jersey and what happened at the location.

Students will learn about New Jersey’s geography and use map skills.

Students will use computer technology.

Procedures:

Students go to my Mappler Webpage of Historic Landmarks in New Jersey.

Students navigate the markers on the map and read about what happened at all these locations.

Students learn about New Jersey’s important historical events.

Students choose 3 historical sites from the webpage.

Students will pretend they are a Tour Guide for New Jersey’s Proud Past Travel Agency. For each of their 3 chosen landmarks, using information learned on the Mappler Website, they will write a persuasive paragraph appealing to citizens of New Jersey to take pride in their state history! The paragraph will aim to entice people to visit the landmark to learn more! The paragraph will be written using the 5Ws technique addressing; What, Who, Where, When, Who, and How.

Anticipatory Set:

Ask students to share orally places they have visited with their family which are important to our country’s history. Write on the board those in New Jersey versus those in other states. Now, add places which may not have been visited, yet are historical. Review lists and exclaim how proud we should be of New Jersey and the part it has played in history! Display and discuss the article Presidents’ Stopovers from The Record newspaper. Tell students that I am so proud of our state’s history that I have created a website for them to use!

Closure:

For the 1^st lesson, the closure activity will consist of the students independently taking brief notes on the 5 sites that most interest them. (This will be narrowed down to 3.)

For the unit, the closure activity will be the persuasive paragraphs on the 3 historical sites which have been chosen.

Evaluation:

A rubric will be used as an evaluation tool. Students will be graded on their ability to use the Mappler Website, their ability to locate geographically on a NJ map sites of historical importance, and their ability to show me what they have learned about 3 historical sites by writing persuasive paragraphs.

Extension Activities:

Students will choose one historic site and create a Travel Brochure. Directions will be given out in written form.

Another activity will be having each student, on a 12x18 map of New Jersey, glue on paper flags, captions, and a photo of each historic site on the Mappler Website. This will be shared with their family as an additional incentive for future visits into New Jersey’s proud past!

Created by Carolyn Ploger

http://mset.rst2.edu/portfolios/p/ploger_c/