Thanksgiving Unit
My Thanksgiving Unit is exceptional for showing content. I researched all about the first Thanksgiving and how different cultures celebrate Thanksgiving. I based my lesson by the Alabama Course of Study (ALCOS) standards. Before writing my lesson plan the class and I did a KWL chart to see how much the students knew about Thanksgiving and what the students wanted to know about Thanksgiving. I taught about the Native Americans and how they traveled to Plymouth on the Mayflower. We discussed the reason why the Pilgrims left England and all about their journey to the New World. We also discussed issues that arised when they reached Plymouth. The chanllanges they faced as well as the outcome of how Thankgiving came about. We talked about other celebrations and discussed how different cultures celebrate Thanksgiving. For example, we talked about the different foods each cultures bring to Thanksgivng. I also included how the past foods have changed to what we usually have on Thanksgivng in the United States. While doing the research i incorporated an activity into one of the workstations. The students absolutly loved doing an art project for Thanksgiving.
I learned how to present my lessons in an organized way. I learned that when you thoroughly research the material beforehand, it makes the lessons run smoothly. The students tend to be more focused and stay on task when the teacher is organized. Students are also more engaged when there are supplementary materials that go with the lesson such as books, PowerPoints, or some type of project. I feel I have grown confident in my content expertise because I incorporated many picture books, activities, and extra information into each lesson. Researching the material helped me become more knowledgeable about the content and adding computer activities for the students to enjoy improved the overall lesson.
Sound Unit
I also developed a week long unit on sound. I incorporated a HASP kit so the students could enjoy a variety of fun activities. The students I am working with are visual learners and enjoy hearing and seeing books that are read to them. They also enjoy projects where they can use their hands. I demonstrated several projects during my time in special education where they used fine motor skills. This unit had a variety of manipulatives from the research I gathered. I used a PowerPoint presentation, books, and creative projects so the students could become aware of different sounds.