What is the Strategy? I would have my students use quizlet to match the definitions and other concepts using quizlet. Turning the main ideas I want my students to learn into a game of matching will get a wide range of my students engaged in the task. This way my students feel like it's just a fun game, but they are also learning and reviewing the previous taught lesson.
How Does it Work? The teacher would create a new category based on the lesson their students were previously taught. Quizlet will automatically take the questions you created and turn them into a matching game. From there, students will match all of the terms with the correct definitions. The students are also timed during the matching game, making it a race to beat their previous time. Scaffolding For students that may require an additional challenge, I would have them create their own questions to put on the match game. I would also have my students try to beat their highscores as well as their classmates. For students that may be struggling a little more than the average students, I would get rid of the timing portion of the game if I can. I believe this will cause less stress for students who are already struggling with the concept.
2. Land Forms
What is the Strategy? Students would be defining different types of landforms by illustrating and labeling. This activity will help students recall different types of landforms around the world. This is a good lesson to create a base for your students to help them understand geography.
How Does it Work? First I would have prepared or have my students create an anchor chart with eight total sections (4X4). They then would label each of the eight different landforms we are talking about in class (mountain, plain, valley, island, peninsula, ocean, river and lake). Students would then define each of the different landforms by drawing a picture.
Scaffolding For students that may require an additional challenge, on the back of their landform poster, I would have them label places where they would find each of those landforms. For students that may require a little extra support, I would have examples and give direct examples for what each landform looks like using real photos or drawing. If students are still struggling, I would allow them to find pictures online and create a digital version or print out the picture and glue them on the poster.
3. The 3 Branches of Government
What is the Strategy? Students would be labeling, identifying, defining and drawing the three branches of government. This is a creative way for students to begin learning about and identifying the three branches of government in our country.
How Does it Work? Students will either draw a tree with three branches on it, or be given a tree by the teacher. From there, students will label the three branches of government in our country (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial). Then, students will continue to draw a picture that describes each brand and define what each branch stands for. Scaffolding For students that may require an additional challenge, I would have those students create examples as to what each branch would do. For example, I would have them create a law and then have them explain what each branch would do and how they would do it. For students that may require a little extra help, I would have them start with just labeling the three branches and explain who is in each branch. From there I would take it step by step to teach them what each branch does.
4. Pledge of Allegiance
What is the Strategy? For this activity, students will simply recall the pledge of allegiance by reciting and matching the words using a fun matching worksheet. This is a fun way for students to learn the correct words in the pledge of allegiance, rather then just saying words every morning that sounds close to the actual words.
How Does it Work? Students will read the pledge of allegiance and fill in the missing words using the word bank. Students can cut out the word bank and glue them in the pledge of allegiance or they can just write the words in themselves. Once they have finished the worksheet, I would have each student read the pledge of allegiance out loud to other classmates and myself.
Scaffolding For students that may require an additional challenge, I would show my students a video of how to say the pledge of allegiance in sign language. My students would then get to practice it in sign language everyday and it would be a great way for my students to expand their knowledge culturally. For students that may require a little extra support, I would have them cut out each word in the word bank and try placing each one of the words in the blank spot. I would then have them read it aloud and see if it makes sense. I would have them repeat this process until they have finished the worksheet.