Hensel

Dustin Jon Hensel EDU 5490 University of Utah Unit Plan

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Unit Plan Unit Title: Citizenship in America Topics: Civics, Citizenship, Ethics, Immigration, Current Events/News. Goal: I would like for students to be able to understand the important role civics and ethics play in their role as citizens by exploring controversial issues and using multiple news media resources, as well important pending immigration legislation to inform their thoughts and ideas. Unit Rationale: A lesson plan of this nature not only informs students of the important pending role they will be playing in modern American society, but it will also hopefully help students to be able to analyze, internalize, and critique current news media of all sorts through various assignments involving reading, writing, and speaking. TimeFrame: This unit was planned on a A/B 90 minute block schedule. It will be a total of 5 class periods for both A/B class, so approximately 2 full weeks of class. ContentSubtopics: - Myths & Facts PowerPoint, shed light on the information surrounding immigration - Local issue regarding immigration. (05 SLC Airport Raid & 06 Swift Meat Packing Raid) - Overview of current State and Federal immigration legislation. Take a look at the views of state senators and representatives. - Multiple news article breakdowns. Inform students of how, where, and who is giving us a lot of the information we are taking in. Materials:

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SmartBoard, LCD projector, computer with functioning audio components, multiple PowerPoints (provided to me, but will be edited to fit the nuances of each of my lessons), Multiple news media articles, transcript of President Obamas immigration reform speech of 2012 as well as the Youtube video, and ABC News (dvd) segment on the SLC Airport Raid. Skills & Activities: SWBAT analyze and articulate in writing as well discussing the impact of local elections and legislation as well as the implications of on going federal legislation proposals ( U.S. Govt. & Citizenship, Standard 3, obj, 2) Students will discuss as a class and in small the group the importance of partaking in civic responsibilities like voting, jury duty, or community services and why these are important (U.S. Govt. & Citizenship, Standard 4, obj. 2) Students will do a close reading of President Obamas immigration reform speech, followed by a quick write of their thoughts and then discuss as a class the impact on certain states in the Union (U.S. Govt. Citizenship, Standard 3, Obj. 1) Assessments: Various starter activities ranging from small 3 to 5 question quizzes about previously covered information, to a 5 minute free-write regarding current event topic, or 3 things they recall from the last class-meeting and 2 questions they still have. Essay prompt will be given the 2nd to last day of the lesson regarding immigration. Student will have argue for or against the current immigration legislation that is being discussed. Also, using at least 3 news media sources to support their argument. Lastly, but a very important part, participation within class and small group discussions. This allows for exposure to multiple different ideas and opinions and let s student evaluate their own thoughts with those of their peers. Differentiation: I would write directions to anything on the board or have a PowerPoint slide to accompany any spoken directions, and of course checking for understanding of directions as very often and even checking in personally with those as needed. Another way I can help all learners access the material is by breaking down any vocabulary that is unfamiliar or that there may be questions about. Many students just

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gloss over not knowing a term or event and that will most likely come back further along in the lesson and this will help everyone out. To aid the learning of a gifted student and not piling on them I may ask them to help me research some of the content that goes into making the PowerPoint slides or discussion topics to give them a since of ownership in the class and not just tune out. Depending on the level of the ELL learner I would examine the length requirement on the essay assignment, not sacrificing the content, but still allowing the student to access the question and aid them as much as I could. For a gifted student I may ask them to research the immigration policy of a local Utah politician and add that into their essay to give it a local spin. For student with special-needs, depending on their skill level I may ask them to write down at least 5 main parts of the immigration reform legislation.