Authentic Instruction- Lesson Activity Example
Authentic instruction allows teachers to meet state standards while playing to the interest of the students, in a way that supports their creativity, motivation, and individual/group efforts. The lesson activity described below is an example of how teacher's can integrate authentic instruction into a simple classroom lesson plan. This activity facilitates role-playing to incorporate authentic experiences with technology through the use of a popular Web 2.0 tool. It grants students individual autonomy in choosing their focus, hands-on learning through the use of role-play tools, and is complex and challenging in asking students to create a character and imagine his/her take on today's society both cognitively and in outward dress. Students are given creative freedom to interpret their research and create a first-person narrative. This activity is intended for use in Grade 3 -Social Studies. This activity addresses the following Georgia Performance Standard:
Historical Understandings:
SS3H2 The student will discuss the lives of Americans who expanded people’s rights and freedoms in a democracy.
a. Paul Revere (independence), Frederick Douglass (civil rights), Susan B. Anthony (women’s rights), Mary McLeod Bethune (education), Franklin D. Roosevelt (New Deal and World War II), Eleanor Roosevelt (United Nations and human rights), Thurgood Marshall (civil rights), Lyndon B. Johnson (Great Society and voting rights), and César Chávez (workers’ rights).
b. Explain social barriers, restrictions, and obstacles that these historical figures had to overcome and describe how they overcame them.
SS3H2 The student will discuss the lives of Americans who expanded people’s rights and freedoms in a democracy.
a. Paul Revere (independence), Frederick Douglass (civil rights), Susan B. Anthony (women’s rights), Mary McLeod Bethune (education), Franklin D. Roosevelt (New Deal and World War II), Eleanor Roosevelt (United Nations and human rights), Thurgood Marshall (civil rights), Lyndon B. Johnson (Great Society and voting rights), and César Chávez (workers’ rights).
b. Explain social barriers, restrictions, and obstacles that these historical figures had to overcome and describe how they overcame them.
Historical Figure Avatars
Activity Overview:
In this lesson activity, students will research a historical American who expanded people’s rights and freedoms (GPS SS3H2). Students will construct a short narrative to be told from the historical figure’s point of view about their accomplishments towards freedom. Students will also be asked to consider how that individual might view things in today’s world. Students will present their project using Voki Classroom software to role-play as their historical figure through the use of an avatar.
Materials:
1. List of historical figures (GPS SS3H2)
2. Computer Lab/Library
3. Voki Classroom Web 2.0 Tool- https://voki.com/classroom/login_status.php
Description:
Day 1:
Students will be allowed to choose one individual to research from a list of appropriate historical figures. The classroom teacher will supervise as students research their chosen individual using resources from the computer lab or school library.
Day 2:
Students will create a short narrative, written from the historical figure’s point of view, telling of his/her accomplishments and struggles towards expanding people’s rights and freedoms in a democracy. Students will also be asked to include a couple of sentences of how they think that character would view our world today.
Day 3:
Using Voki Classroom (https://voki.com/classroom/login_status.php), students will create avatars of their historical figures and type their written narratives to activate the text-to-speech feature. Students will be asked to base the visual characteristics (hair, eyes, clothing) of the avatar on how they believe the historical figure looked when he/she was alive or how he/she would look today.
Day 4:
Students will review their final product before submission, using the text-to-speech feature to proofread their narrative by listening for grammar mistakes. Students will then present their avatars to the classroom for review and reinforcement of the unit.
In this lesson activity, students will research a historical American who expanded people’s rights and freedoms (GPS SS3H2). Students will construct a short narrative to be told from the historical figure’s point of view about their accomplishments towards freedom. Students will also be asked to consider how that individual might view things in today’s world. Students will present their project using Voki Classroom software to role-play as their historical figure through the use of an avatar.
Materials:
1. List of historical figures (GPS SS3H2)
2. Computer Lab/Library
3. Voki Classroom Web 2.0 Tool- https://voki.com/classroom/login_status.php
Description:
Day 1:
Students will be allowed to choose one individual to research from a list of appropriate historical figures. The classroom teacher will supervise as students research their chosen individual using resources from the computer lab or school library.
Day 2:
Students will create a short narrative, written from the historical figure’s point of view, telling of his/her accomplishments and struggles towards expanding people’s rights and freedoms in a democracy. Students will also be asked to include a couple of sentences of how they think that character would view our world today.
Day 3:
Using Voki Classroom (https://voki.com/classroom/login_status.php), students will create avatars of their historical figures and type their written narratives to activate the text-to-speech feature. Students will be asked to base the visual characteristics (hair, eyes, clothing) of the avatar on how they believe the historical figure looked when he/she was alive or how he/she would look today.
Day 4:
Students will review their final product before submission, using the text-to-speech feature to proofread their narrative by listening for grammar mistakes. Students will then present their avatars to the classroom for review and reinforcement of the unit.