I looked at the calendar today and noticed that it is only about a month until Spring Break arrives. I’m looking forward to using the time to get caught up on my writing– and you know… my sanity.
My paper work has just gotten crazy in the past two years. There are lesson plans, IEPs (Individual Education Plans), 504 plans (for students with medical issues), weekly writing prompts that must be turned in, writing samples that must be turned in, primary sources that must be turned in… and don’t forget that good old stand-by: Attendance, which despite the fact that it is taken on computer has to be replicated on paper to meet Nevada State law, which is stuck in the Dark Ages.
For those of you who haven’t been in school for a while and who may have never seen a lesson plan, here are a couple of mine.
Lesson One
U.S. History – 9.1 – Students will describe the annexation of Alaska and Hawaii by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills.
Introduction: Today we continue our unit on American Imperialism.
Warm Up: Examine the maps on page 651. According to the two maps, in which area did more fighting take place. What evidence did you find to support your answer?
Daily Review: Review Beveridge’s speech.
Daily Objectives: See Below.
Student Friendly Objective: Describe expansion of US power overseas at the turn of the twentieth century.
Essential Question: How did the closing of the American Frontier impact U.S. oversees policies?
School-wide vocabulary: consistent, deduce, event, exhibit, prove
Define each of the terms students will encounter (whole class): annexatiion, sphere’s of influence, Open Door Policy
Concept and Skill Development Application
The teacher will guide the students through a Think/Write/Discuss interactive lecture using the Smartboard.
A. Introductory/Motivational Question: Why do some countries try to rule and control other countries? Students will write a 2-minute response.
B. After slide three (of five): Clarifying Question: Was American expansion fair to Japan? Hawaii? China? Students will write a short response; sharing some questions aloud.
C. After slide 5: Reflective Question: How does American expansion at the beginning of the twentieth century compare with America’s role in the world today? Students will write a two minute response.
Guided / Independent Practice
See above.
Homework: None.
Closure: Compare and contrast Beveridge’s imperialism of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Ticket out the door: What was one important issue addressed by reformers of the Progressive Era? (From the review.)
Long Term Review: Students will review their notebooks, including their two foldable study guides.
Related Standards/Objectives:
- 9.1 – Students will describe the annexation of Alaska and Hawaii by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills. [H4]
- 9.2 – Students will analyze the political and social impact of the Panama Canal by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills. [H3.[6-8].14]
- 9.3 – Students will identify Latin American nations that play a significant role in United States foreign policy and examine how we interacted including the Spanish American War by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills. [C16.[6-8].3, C16.[6-8].4]
- 9.4 – Students will critique the influence of the media in forming public opinion through yellow journalism by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills. [C15.[6-8].4]
Lesson Two
U.S. History – 9.1 – Students will describe the annexation of Alaska and Hawaii by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills.
Introduction: Today we complete our unit on American Imperialism.
Warm Up: Read the profile of Jovita Idar on page 660. Write a summary of what you’ve read and answer the question “Who benefited most of Jovita Ivar’s efforts? What evidence did you find to support your answer?
Daily Review: Review notes from the interactive lecture.
Daily Objectives: See Below.
Student Friendly Objective: Describe expansion of US power overseas at the turn of the twentieth century.
Essential Question: How did the closing of the American Frontier impact U.S. oversees policies?
School-wide vocabulary: consistent, deduce, event, exhibit, prove
Define each of the terms students will encounter (whole class): isthmus, anarchy, dollar diplomacy
Concept and Skill Development Application
Students will view “Bring Me the Pictures and I’ll Bring You the War” video clip (10 mins). They will answer the following study questions from the video: What two newspaper owners were in competition? Why did Frederick Remington not want to stay in Cuba? Who were the Rough Riders?
Students will work in groups to find information from their textbooks on the following topics: The Maine, The Rough Riders, The Panama Canal, The Roosevelt Corollary, Dollar Diplomacy, Moral Diplomacy, Francisco Pancho Villa. Groups will orally present their finding to the class.
Guided / Independent Practice
See above.
Homework: None.
Closure: Summarize the Spanish American War.
Ticket out the door: What is Yellow Journalism.
Long Term Review: Students will review their notebooks, including their two foldable study guides.
Related Standards/Objectives:
- 9.1 – Students will describe the annexation of Alaska and Hawaii by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills. [H4]
- 9.2 – Students will analyze the political and social impact of the Panama Canal by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills. [H3.[6-8].14]
- 9.3 – Students will identify Latin American nations that play a significant role in United States foreign policy and examine how we interacted including the Spanish American War by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills. [C16.[6-8].3, C16.[6-8].4]
- 9.4 – Students will critique the influence of the media in forming public opinion through yellow journalism by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills. [C15.[6-8].4]
Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 1: The Voyage of the Minotaur is now available free as part of Smashwords’ Read an Ebook Week. This sale runs through March 9th. 
Speaking of casting movies from my books, I’ve always thought that if they made a Tesla’s Stepdaughters movie, they should cast some real rock stars as The Ladybugs.
