2nd+Grade+Classroom+Communities+Unit

=2nd Grade Unit 1: September Classroom Communities=

Overview of the unit. This would have the “big ideas” for the unit. What you want the kids to “get out of the unit”. What are the big questions your class is working with / studying.


 * * Suggested Materials
 * Key Vocabulary
 * Essential Question(s)
 * Enduring Understandings
 * Unit Objectives
 * Beginning the Unit
 * As the Unit Continues
 * Toward the End of the Unit
 * Teacher Suggestions
 * Work Samples ||

=Suggested Materials= Chrysanthemum Rainbow Fish Recess Queen Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon STAR book “welcome to second grade books” Sharing a little about teacher All about me poster –educators warehouse in Norwalk We The Kids – by David Catrow Classroom community member scavenger hunt Class wide word search Brainpopjr.com (Social Studies-Communities- School) [] Citizenship in the Community DVD

=Key Vocabulary=

Community Names of classmates Names of gr 2 teachers in building Principal Assistant principal Support staff (aides, paras etc) Specialists = = __ Essential Questions: __ ·  How do citiznes use rules and laws to make decisions, solve problems and resolve conflicts? ·  How does a community depend on its citizens to keep order and safety? __Enduring Understandings:__ ·  Students will understand that every type of community (rural, urban, suburban) has established rules that allow its citizens to make decisions, solve problems and resolve conflicts. ·  Students will understand that the order and safety of a community depends upon the cooperation of its citizens to follow the rules and laws. __ Unit Objectives: __ ·  Students will be able to identify similarities and differences in rules and laws of urban, suburban and rural communities. ·  Students will describe and give examples of how each type of community uses their rules and laws to make decisions, solve problems and resolve conflicts. ·  Students will be able to describe the impact on the organization and safety of a community when citizens fail to follow the rules/laws.

= = = = =Beginning the Unit=

Mini-lessons ideas = = =As the Unit Continues=
 * How do you have a discussion / experience at the beginning of a unit to: excite, prompt imagination, enthusiasm, interest.
 * First day of school enthusiasm, creating classroom rules as a group. Welcoming into a new classroom, tour of classroom, initial read-aloud, snack time to visit with new friends, extra recess at end of day to visit other “second grade” friends in other communities.**
 * How do you find out what students already know about the essential questions?
 * Classroom discussion, establish class rules, appropriate behavior, “the why” we do things, procedure, how we treat other community members, routines, jobs in the community. Why are routines helpful, how are they helpful. Responsibilities of a community member. (pack mailbox up, homework home and back to school)**
 * Creating a plan to study a unit
 * Creating class rules together**
 * Reading STAR book, and discussion**
 * Labeling student materials to welcome them to community.**
 * Getting to know each others names**
 * Learning likes and dislikes of community members**

As the unit continues Creating a plan to study a unit Specific mini-lessons / activities that support the unit A timeline to help students / teachers think about how to plan their unit

Read Important book – each student make a page about what’s important in their classroom community. Publish class book. Possible breakdown of lesson: Day 1 read the book/discuss create a list of ideas Day 2 student rough draft of their important page Day 3 final copy and illustrate their page

Possible ways to learn about likes and dislikes of community members All about poster Bag or box of favorite things. Share time, show and tell Star of the week

= =

=Toward the End of the Unit=

Toward the end of the unit How do you assess students? Could consist of: Rubrics to evaluate final student work Checklists for observing students during social studies time Performance assessment Any communication documents to help parents know about a unit of study What types of “celebrations” might happen at the end? What mini-lessons might you need for wrapping the unit up?

Completion of projects (Important book, all about me poster, signing of classroom rules by student and family) Ways to celebrate: Share favorite part of classroom, part of routine, time of day Share how a community member helped you find or do something What we know now about our community now that we didn’t at the beginning of the year.