EDU 383 Methods of Teaching Social Science

Lesson Title/ Subject:

Grade Level: First

Comparing other Cultures family life

Standards:
SS5.B.1 Locate a place by pointing it out on a map and by describing
its relative location (description of a location by explaining where the
place is in relation to one or more other places)
SS6.A.1 Explain how people have common physical, social and
emotional needs.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.8
With guidance and support from adults, recall information from
experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a
question
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.2
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or
information presented orally or through other media.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.4
Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details,
expressing ideas and feelings clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.9
Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in
stories
Understand

Families have different traditions, which makes them unique and

special
We need to value and appreciate other families cultures
The world is bigger than our little class

Know
Vocabulary: Compare, Contrast,
Culture, Traditions
How-to describe relative
location of one place to another
How-to connect our
experiences with others
experiences

Be able to do
Create a Venn Diagram
Identify two different places on
a map
Write a short letter

Materials:
o A Duck For Turkey Day by Jaqueline Jules

o Anchor Chart with lyrics to A Holiday for All by Jaqueline Jules (found
on http://www.jacquelinejules.com/thanksgivingsongs.htm )
o Anchor Chart with blank Venn Diagram
o Envelopes (enough for every student to have one)
o Globe or World Map (could even pull up on a smart board)
Procedures:
Schema activation:
Bring students to the carpet. Tell them a story about one
Thanksgiving you shared with your family. Explain what you ate,
who was there, what you were celebrating, your favorite part, etc.
Next Steps:
Whole Group: Explain to the students that every family has
different traditions, or special things they do together every year.
Sometimes, families use traditions from their culture. A culture is a
lifestyle based on where someone is from.
Today, we are going to read a story about a girl from a different
place. *Show students a giant map of the world or a globe. Point to
where we are and explain we live in the United States.* The girl
from the story moved from Vietnam with her family when she was
very young. *Point to Vietnam on the map. Have the students try to
describe the relative location of the US to Vietnam.
On a piece of Anchor chart, draw a Venn diagram. Explain that we
are going to be comparing and contrasting a normal American
Thanksgiving with a Vietnamese version of Thanksgiving.
Read A Duck for Turkey Day by Jacqueline Jules.
o As the students notice similarities and differences between how
the two different cultures celebrate Thanksgiving, allow them to
raise their hand and write it on the anchor chart.
Finish the Anchor chart together. Explain that even though we may
celebrate holidays differently, family ties all holidays together!
Bring out the pre-made anchor chart you made with the lyrics to the
song A Holiday for all by Jaqueline Jules. Sing it for the kids, then
have them sing along with you
http://www.jacquelinejules.com/thanksgivingsongs.htm << You can
hear the song on this website.
Hand every student an envelope with To: Tuyet written on the
front.
Collaboration: As they are walking back to their seats, ask
students what they would write to Tuyet, the little girl in the story.

What would they say to her? Allow them to think-pair-share with

their pods when they return to their desks.
Independent: Give the students time to write a short letter to
Tuyet, asking her questions or telling her what they enjoyed about
the way her family celebrates Thanksgiving. Students may also tell
her a little bit about some of their own family traditions.
Sponge: Check out several different books from the library about
multicultural families along with the books from the content reading
list. As a sponge activity, allow students to look through any of the
books they choose.

Closure:
o Bring students back to the carpet with their envelopes and letters.
o Have 2-3 students share their letters aloud.
o Have the kids fold up their letters and put them in their envelopes
o Explain that if Tuyet still lived in Vietnam, we would mail our letters
across the world to Vietnam. Show the students again where WE are on
the globe, and where Vietnam is.
o Remind them that even though there is great distance between us, our
families all need each other to make the holidays happy!
Evaluation:
o The objectives are met in the procedures section through the reading
and interpretation of the mentor text, looking at the map, writing
letters, and discussing how every culture celebrates holidays
differently but that we all use family to celebrate.
o I will use the students letters to evaluate how well the objectives were
met.
o I think it will be important to go over vocabulary words such as culture,
tradition, and compare/contrast. These are important words that I want
them to know. I would even probably write culture/tradition up on the
board, that way they could include them in their letter if they want. I
will know if they understand how to compare and contrast by the ideas
they give me to write on the venn diagram.
Self-Evaluation:
o I think the greatest challenge is going to be asking them to give a
relative location of the U.S. in comparison with Vietnam. However, I
would help them out quite a bit. I also think it will be a little difficult for
some students to write a short letter to the girl in the story. They will
still be developing their writing, so they probably will be limited in what
they write.