Lesson

Whole-Class Components

Differentiated Components

 

Lesson 1

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 class periods

 

Discussion introducing the unit and the unit concept of Conflict.

(15 – 20 minutes)

 

 

Examination and discussion of maps showing the geographical differences of the United States in 1850.

(10 minutes)

 

 

Pre-assessment

(15 minutes)

 

 

Self-selected assignment based on multiple intelligences.

(2 class periods)

Sharing of products

(30 minutes)

 

Introduction and preliminary work on Independent Project assignment.

(15 minutes)

Students select a research topic during the Civil War based on interest.

 

 

Review of background information on the sectionalism of the United States prior to the Civil War.

(45 minutes)

 

 

 

                                    

 

Text assignment on regional differences with reading buddies at a similar reading level.

(15 minutes)

 

Think-Pair-Share

Discussion of regional differences discovered during readings.

(10 – 20 minutes)         

 

Independent Research Project work

(10 – 20 minutes)

 

 

Complex instruction activity based on learning profile and readiness.

(50 – 80 minutes)

 

 

Assessment based on readiness.

(10 – 15 minutes)

Reading homework

(15 minutes)

 


 

Lesson

Whole-Class

Component

Differentiated

Component

 

 

 

 

Lesson 3

 

 

 

“A Conflict of Rights”

 

 

 

4 class periods

Review of background information of the treatment of African Americans in the North and South prior to the Civil War.

(1 class period)

 

Oral reading selection.

(15 minutes)

 

 

“A Conflict of Rights” performance task with products based on multiple intelligences.

(45 – 80 minutes)

Sharing of products – museum style.

(15 – 30 minutes)

 

Independent Research Project work.

(1 class period)

 


 

Lesson

Whole-Class Component

Differentiated

Component

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 4

 

 

 

 

“Profiling an Important Individual”

 

 

 

 

 

7 – 8 class periods

Discussion of important individuals in the Civil War.

(1 class period)

 

 

Learning Station assignment based on reading ability.

(3 class periods)

 

“Profile of an Important Individual” Tiered performance task

And

Student self-assessment.

(1 class period)

2-minute Oral presentations

And

Class vote on Important Individual.

(1 – 2 class periods)

Video tape option

Independent Research Product work.

(15 – 30 minutes)

 

Homework assignment:

Complete rough draft of how Independent Research Project Power Point will look.

 


 

Lesson

Whole-Class

Component

Differentiated

Component

 

 

 

 

Lesson 5

 

 

 

“Significant Events”

 

 

 

 

6 class periods

Discussion of the major events of the Civil War.

(1 class period)

Note-taking timeline based on ability/readiness.

Reading of Primary Resource Documents

(15 minutes)

 

Think-Pair-Share

On event.

(30 minutes)

Pairs are of different reading abilities.

Review of major events.

(10 minutes)

 

 

“An Event of Historical Importance” Tiered performance task

And

Student self-assessment.

(3 class periods)

Presentation of products

And

Peer assessment.

(1 class period)

 


 

Lesson

Whole-Class Component

Differentiated

Component

 

 

 

Lesson 6

 

 

 

 

“Sharing what we Learned”

 

 

3 class periods

Independent Research Product:

Input Power Point

(1 class period)

 

Independent Research Product:

Polish Power Point

And

Student self-assessment.

(1 class period)

 

Presentation of Independent Research Products – Museum style

And 

Peer assessment.

(1 class period)

 


 

Lesson

Whole-class

Component

Differentiated

Component

 

Lesson 7

 

“Put it Together”

 

2 class periods

Review of the Civil War

(1 class period)

Note-taking review sheet based in ability.

Final Assessment

(1 class period)

Assessment based on ability.


 

Unit Description and Teacher Commentary

Lesson 1                Introduction               4 class periods

Lesson Sequence and Description

Teacher Commentary


 

-       Discussion introducing the unit and the unit concept of Conflict.

                Begin with a group discussion about

                conflict using the following types of

                questions:

                     Who has ever had a conflict

                     before?  Why?  Why do people

                     have conflicts?  What are some

                     reasons for conflicts?  Were you

                     able to resolve your conflict? 

                     How?  If someone started to have

                     a conflict – what advice would you

                     give them to help resolve their

                     conflict?

                Introduce the study of the Civil War

                into the discussion of conflict by

                asking the following types of

                questions:

                      Why might parts of a country

                       have conflicts with another part?

                 Allow students to discuss what they

                  already know about the Civil War,

                  encourage them to ask questions.

 

In the beginning of the unit, I like to introduce the students to the unit concept of Conflict by having them discuss how and why conflicts occur.  I want the students to see the relationship between the concept and their lives.

 

As the discussion continues, I listen for student prior knowledge and gaps in knowledge.

* Before the discussion, have students make a shutter fold foldable to take notes on the geographical differences and similarities of the Northern and Southern regions of the United States.                 

Foldables help the student organize their information as they are taking notes.

 


 

 -   Examination and discussion of maps.

            Distribute maps of the United States

          prior to the Civil War that shows the

          geographical differences of the country.

          Ask students:

               What differences do you see in

               regions of the United States?  Since

              the regions are different – how do you

              think the people used the land?  What

              are the advantages of the regions?

              What are the disadvantages?

 

 -    Pre-assessment.

             Students will respond in writing to the

             following question:

                  “Why do you think the Civil War

                   happened?”

              Students may also illustrate their

              ideas.

 

 -     Student selected assignment based on
        multiple intelligences.

                Students will select one of the

               following Options:

                Option 1 – Spatial Intelligence :

                    Think of all of the conflicts in your

                    life, make a list.  Which conflict

                    was the hardest to resolve?  Why?

                    Develop an original way to share

                    this with the class.

                       

Student selected assignments are a great benefit for the student.  They allow the student to pick the assignment that they are comfortable with completing.

                 Option 2 – Verbal/Linguistic

                     Intelligence and Interpersonal

                     Intelligence :

                     Create an interview protocol about

                     conflicts and resolutions.  What

                     are some important questions to

                     ask people about their conflicts?

                     Be ready to explain why you choose

                     to ask these questions.

                     Use Microsoft Word to document.

                  Option 3 – Logical/Mathematical

                     Intelligence :

                     Create and conduct a survey on

                     conflicts.  You may want to ask how

                     many conflicts they have had

                     today, etc . . .  Survey your

                     classmates and graph your results.

                     Use Microsoft Excel for making

                     your survey.

                   Option 4 – Visual/Spatial

                      Intelligence and Verbal/Linguistic

                      Intelligence :

                      How do you resolve conflicts?  Use

                      Inspiration software to visually

                      show the conflict/resolution

                      process.  Be prepared to explain.

                   Students must complete a self-

                   assessment of their product.

I believe that it is very important for students to self-assess their work when they have finished their product.  Not only does this give them closure to their product, but it also allows them to explain things they would have changed in their products if they had more time, more resources, etc . . .

 -   Sharing of products.

          At this time, the students share their

          products with other students, museum

          style.   Students will fill out peer

          assessment forms on their way through

          the “museum”.

 

           

Peer assessment of products is important because it allows the student to look at other works and gain another perspective.


 

-    Introduction and preliminary work on

     Independent Research Products.

           Students select any topic from the

           time of the Civil War to research.

           Teacher must approve research topic.

           Students will work on the project mainly

           during class time throughout the unit.

           After the topic has been approved, the

           student must sign an Independent

           Research Project contract, which has all

           requirements of the project, the

           timeline of when particular aspects of

           the project are due.  The student should

           also be given the rubric and the student

           self-assessment sheet at this time.

           (For more information on the I.R.P.

           folder, please see the material list).

The Independent Research Project allows the student to delve into an area that interests them.  It also serves as an anchor activity for students to work on when they have completed individual and group work throughout the unit.   In order to make sure students keep to the timeline, I make a checklist that includes a column for name, topic, and questions.

 

Lesson 2               “The Division of a Nation”    4 class periods

Lesson Sequence and Description

Teacher Commentary

* Before the review, have students make a flap layered-look Book foldable to take notes on the causes of the Civil War.

 

 -   Review of background information on the

     sectionalism of the United States prior to

     the Civil War. 

          At this time, review with students the

          differences between the northern and

          southern states at this time.  Include

          agricultural/manufacturing differences,

          the slavery issue, and economy.

 

 -  Text assignments on regional differences

     with reading buddies at a similar reading

     level.  Use Primary Resource

     documents and reading level appropriate

     books for the readings.

 

 -   Think-Pair-Share.

         After the text assignments have been

         read with reading buddies, have the

         students combine with another pair of

         students who read about the same issue

         (not necessarily at the same reading

          level).  Next, the groups will compare

          what they discovered.  Finally, the

          groups will discuss with the class on

          their discoveries.

Think-Pair-Share is an excellent way for a class to gain knowledge on various topics in a short amount of time.

 -   Work on Independent Research Projects.

          At this time, students should already

          have their topics approved and should be

         formulating their questions that they will

         research.  Students must have their

         questions approved within two days.

When students have their topic approved, I check it off on my checklist, I do the same thing when they get approval for their questions.

 -   Complex Instruction activity based on

     learning profile and readiness.

         Students may select which task card

         they wish to complete.

             Task card # 1:

                 Write a newspaper article on John

                 Brown after reading “John Brown at

                 the Gallows”.

              Task card # 2:

                 Make an argument on behalf of Dred

                 Scott before the United States

                 Supreme Court after reading “Dred

                 Scott v. Sanford”.

              Task card # 3:

                  Make a graphic organizer that

                 depicts the Compromise of 1850 and

                 how it affected the United States

                 after reading how Thomas

                 Jefferson felt about the Missouri

                 Compromise of 1820 in “On the