Current Events Lesson

I. Rationale

I believe that it is important for students to start to become aware of the world they are living in at an early age.  I think that introducing current events to 3rd graders is a perfect way to give them the freedom and enjoyment of keeping up with what is happening in our community, country, and world.

II. Overview

Grade Level: Third

Subject(s): Social Studies

Topic of Study: Current Events

Time Allotment: 30 minutes

Standards:

PO 1. Describe current events using information from class discussions and various resources (e.g., newspapers, magazines, television, Internet, books, maps).
PO 2. Discuss the connections between current events and historical events and issues from content
studied in Strand 1 using information from class discussions and various resources (e.g., newspapers,
magazines, television, Internet, books, maps).

Objectives: SWBAT compare and contrast a current event to a previous event in history using a Venn Diagram.

Reflection

• Students will need to be aware of some of the events that have taken place in history in either our community, city, country, or world.
• We will have a discussion about some of the historical events we have talked about throughout the year (lesson would take place towards the end of the year.)  We will make a list of the events and then reflect verbally on some of the details about those events.
• I will need to recall what my students and I have talked about throughout the year to know what to remind them of if they forget any of the topics.
• When students are in 3rd grade they have begun to notice more of the world around them and this would be a good time to begin to introduce that there is more happening than just in our school or there homes.  I think it is also a good time for me, as their teacher, to still censor some of the information they get, but to keep them aware.
• My standard involves them doing research about current events and then comparing this to a past historical event.  Therefore, in my objective I ask them to use a Venn Diagram as a method to record their comparisons.
• This lesson will be taught towards the end of the school year because we will spend the majority of the year discussing past events that have taken place in history.  This will lead us into discussing that we are still creating history and that it is never-ending.  Additionally we can relate this to why we learn about history and about keeping bad events from repeating themselves.

III. Implementation

Procedures:

1. Students and I will gather on the carpet to discuss some of the past events they have learned about that year or in their years past.  Together we will compile a list of these events.

2. We will have a brief discussion about these events and remind each other of some details we know about these events.

3. I will then introduce the idea of "Current Events" and see what the students already know about it.

4. We will discuss a few examples of "Current Events" that are happening in our school community.

5. I will introduce our activity.

6. Students will be told that we will be going on our computers or iPads to look at some current events that are happening in the world right now.  They will then be comparing it to an event that has happened in history.  I will ask the students to volunteer an idea about how we could organize our thoughts.

7.  We will come to a general consensus that a Venn Diagram would be the best way to organize our comparisons.

8. Students will create a Venn Diagram using Kidsperation  and before we are dismissed to our computer or iPad's, the students will label their diagram with my assistance.  Once side will say "Historical Event", the other side will say "Current Event" and the middle will say "Both."  

9.  When the students have been dismissed to their computers or iPads, they will use one of 3 possible websites I will give them the option to use, to begin finding a current event they would like to write about.

• WEBSITES
• www.timeforkids.com > NEWS 
• magazines.scholastic.com
• www.dogonews.com > Current Events

10. Students will be given around 10 minutes to do research and decide on a current event and historical event.

11. Once they have decided on their events, they will begin to fill out their Venn Diagram with as much information as they can.
12. Students will be expected to save their Venn Diagram using the title "NameVenn."

13.  Students will then work in a small collaboration group to teach their peers about what they learned is similar and different between a current event and a historical event.

14.  We will then all come together to discuss if events is very different or very similar to some of the events that have happened in history and why?  This will provide our closure to the topic.

Technology Integration: Students will use websites to research current events and/or historical events.  In addition, students will create a Venn Diagram to record their information using Kidsperation.

Differentiated Instruction: 
Cognitive delay - While students are working on their individual research, I will help any students with cognitive delays to do their research and work on recording what they find on a piece of paper first before we transition to the Kidsperation chart.  I will also help guide them to finding a topic to research if they are struggling with this.  Additional time can be added if necessary.
Gifted - These students would most likely gather their information rather quickly, and I would then ask them to transition their notes from being in their Venn Diagram to being in a paragraph/essay format depending on where they stand in writing skills.  They would also be able to gather more information than some of my lower level students.
ELL - While any of my ELL students are doing their research, I would deem it appropriate for them to translate their websites to their native language to help them grasp the information they are learning, but I would still expect them to write their notes in their Venn Diagram in English to practice those skills.  I think it might be easier for them to translate it into their own words in English, if they understand what is being talked about in the article that is written in their native language.
Additional Differentiation - Under the accessories folder there is an "Ease of Access" folder where there are are functions such as a magnifier or a narrator which is available to those who need it. 

Reflection

• My instructional methods allow for my students to gather information as they understand it and is very friendly to students who are at different levels to gather what makes sense to them and take notes based on what they are comprehending from their research.
• My method brings in multiple subjects to practice our use of social studies, reading and writing.  The students have the ability to comprehend articles at different age levels so those who are at lower levels or higher levels can go to a different part of the website and get easier or harder websites.
• The comparing and contrasting of the events makes students have to think about what is similar and what is different to come up with unique parts of it.  Students must recall on the past events we have learned about as well and draw on their critical thinking about what we learned and find similarities, even if they aren't that obvious.  Additionally, they have to be able to explain it if they had to verbally present to a friend of a group.

IV. Assessment

Procedure:

Diagnostic Assessment - Students and I will compile a list of historical events we have discussed throughout the year and this will inform me about how much they have learned from the year and where we stand on their familiarity with historical events.

Formative Assessment - I will be walking around as students are doing their research and creating their Venn Diagram.  I will be able to see if the majority of them understand what they are reading or whether they are confused about what a current event is.  Throughout, I will have the ability to stop the students and make points that they need to know to continue to progress through the lesson.

Summative Assessment - At the end, I will be collecting their Venn Diagrams (and in some cases essays) to see their understanding of the difference between historical events and current events.  Additionally I will be able to see if they are grasping the difference between comparing and contrasting topics.  If I see that the majority of them understand, then we will be sharing them with each other at a later date.

Instruments: Students will be taking their notes on the computer and creating their Venn Diagram on the computer as well.

Reflection

• My standards are about learning about a current event and it's purpose and then comparing an event to another event that happened in history.  They will also practice knowing their difference between comparing and contrasting.  Their final Venn Diagram and/or essay will show me if they understood or if we need to touch on this subject again from a different angle.
• The students will demonstrate their understanding through their diagram as well as possibly sharing what they've learned with a small group following our research.
• Students must draw on prior memory and discuss differences and similarities on a subject they are just beginning research on.
• The assessment will show me which children struggled and where they succeeded.  This will help me to move onto reteaching if necessary.

V. Materials and Resources

• WEBSITES
• www.timeforkids.com > NEWS 
• magazines.scholastic.com
• www.dogonews.com > Current Events
• Kidsperation

Reflection

• Students are given the freedom to write about whatever current event or historical event they feel like they personally connect with so they are interested in the research they are doing.  They can be different or similar to each other, but whatever peaks their interest, is open to their research.
• Students are exposed to how to find information on the internet through reading or videos on the given websites, as well as recording their information in a computer program to practice their typing skills and their creativity on the computer.
• Students will be aware of the etiquette for using the computers and what is expected of them.  We will have prior knowledge of what a responsible computer user does and how they get the computers taken away from them if they are not following directions.  Additionally, I've provided websites for them to visit so that no one is visiting any funny websites whose content is questionable.