Time Traveler Visits the First Thanksgiving

Annotation
The "Time Traveler Visits the First Thanksgiving" lesson could be used with children in kindergarten through third grade.  This lesson is designed for kindergarten level students.  The students will begin with a hands-on technology research activity.  The students will research the topic of the First Thanksgiving  through connecting Internet links on the topic page that I developed for my field class students.  This is a cross-curricular lesson integrating language arts, technology, and art.

Primary Learning Outcome:
With teacher guidance, students will be able to research the Internet and use the computer to explore to find information for writing and drawing  the scenario activity.  Did you find information on the Internet about the food served at the First Thanksgiving?  If so, what did you find out?
 

Assessed QCC:
Grade: K
Subject Area: Technology Integration
Strand: Research
# 10
Topic: Research
Standard: Uses basic research techniques with teacher guidance.

Grade: K
Subject Area: Language Arts
Strand: Written Communication
# 41
Topic: Reference/Study
Standard: Explores the uses of the media center, picture books, audiovisual recources, and available technology for reading and writing.
 

Total Duration:
45 minutes

Materials and Equipment:
1. paper
2. crayons
3. pencil
 

Technology Connection:
Topic page, "Fantastic Fall Fun" and scenario activity developed for field class students.
 "The First Thanksgiving," information web site, for scenario activity
1. computer with Internet connection

Lesson Materials to be Attached:
Attached is a copy of my topic web site with scenario activity used in lesson.

Web Links:
Topic Page at:  http://www.valdosta.edu/~crtaylor/topic.html
The First Thanksgiving at :  http://teacher.scholastic.com/thanksgiving/plimoth/index.htm

Procedures:

Step One
Introduce students to topic by asking them: "Have you ever studied or talked about the First Thanksgiving?" Can you tell me something about the First Thanksgiving?"  Today we are going to learn about the First Thanksgiving by visiting web sites on the Internet.  I have made a special page for your class about Fall, including the First Thanksgiving.

Estimated Time:
5 minutes
 

Step Two
Introduce topic page to students and visit several web sites.  Discuss the information in each web site with students.  (Will save "The First Thanksgiving" web site to use in Step Four.)

Estimated time:
15 minutes

Step Three
Read scenario to students.  Tell them they are going to be time travelers for their class. Discuss time traveling with students and how time travelers can go back in history. Tell the students that the information that they will need to draw their picture is listed and connected in the scenario.

Estimated Time:
5 minutes

Step Four
Visit web site for information for scenario activity, "The First Thanksgiving." Discuss the web pages with the students to emphasize interesting and important information for scenario activity.

Estimated Time:
5 minutes

Step Five
Students draw pictures for the scenario activity and give information about what foods were served at the First Thanksgiving.

Estimated Time:
10 minutes

Step Six
Closure: Discuss scenario activities and what they have learned about the foods served at the First Thanksgiving with students.  Tell students that you are going to publish their pictures on the Internet to share with everyone.

Estimated Time:
5 minutes
 

Assessment:
Student will be assessed through the use of the computer with teacher guidance to find information for the scenario activity.
Satisfactory: Student is able to use the computer with teacher guidance to find information for the scenario activity.
Unsatisfactory: Student is not able to use the computer with teacher guidance to find information for the scenario activity.

Student will be assessed for exploring the uses of technology for writing.
Satisfactory: Student is able to write or dictate information for scenario activity that was obtained while exploring the Internet.
Unsatisfactory: Student is not able to write or dictate information for scenario activity that was obtained while exploring the Internet.
 

Accommodation:
Significant Developmental Delay- Use ABC ordered keyboards or a primary keyboard to help students build early computer literacy skills.
 

Reflections:
1.  Describe and give examples of how the students were engaged in learning during your lesson.
Both students were able to answer questions concerning the first Thanksgiving. The students were attentive and could properly move the mouse to view the various web sites. They could relate the foods of the early pilgrims to the foods they eat today. The students were both aware of the difference between the food groups, such as meats and vegetables. They both understood that the first Thanksgiving as attended by both pilgrims and Indians.

2.  Describe and give the examples of how the students responded to your lesson.
The students responded to the lesson by following along on the web site and answering questions related to the various foods mentioned on the web site. They could recognize the foods and one student related the fact that a pickle came from a cucumber. The other student knew that when she drew the ear of corn, she needed to draw individual kernels. The students listened to songs on one web site and could remember which site they wanted to visit again. Both were willing to answer questions and seemed eager to learn.
 

3. Describe and give examples of how the students achieved the assessment of your lesson.
Satisfactory: Student is able to use the computer with teacher guidance to find information for the scenario activity. The students could use the mouse to scroll and to click on various web sites. They could use the mouse to maneuver throughout the program as well. Once the down arrow on the scroll bar had been pointed out, both students were able to view the pages and scroll successfully. The students realized that the back button would take you back to the previous page. One student was able to exit the program and knew how to double-click to return to the AR program.
Satisfactory: Student is able to write or dictate information for scenario activity that was obtained while exploring the Internet. The students could write the names for the food items from the first Thanksgiving with help from the instructor with spelling. Both students realized the importance of the Thanksgiving turkey to today's traditions. The students were able to relate the information about the first Thanksgiving and which foods they liked. The students could remember the types of houses the Pilgrims lived in and what they were made of.