My lesson was on famous places located in the United States and then we discussed different symbols and facts that go along with the famous places. I started my lesson off by asking the students if they know of any famous places in the United States and or if they have ever visited any famous places. I did this so I could get them engaged and then we went over what a symbol and fact was. When we created a definition or webbing together as a class I had no idea they were going to know what a fact and symbol was. I totally underestimated what they actually knew about this from prior experiences. Then I introduced the four places we would be talking about. My activity to go along with my lesson was a brochure of the four famous places we covered; Mount Rushmore, The Grand Canyon, The Statue of Liberty, and The Everglades. I created the brochure because I didn't want my students to take too much time gluing and what not. However, the students worked with a partner and used their Social Studies textbook as a resource while filling out the rest of the brochure. They were to write the name of the picture shown, what state is was located in in the United States, and one fact they found that was in the book. Since our lesson was short because I was getting observed I only required the students to fill out 2/4 pictures on the brochure, but if they had time to do more, they were to keep working.
The students worked so well in partners and had so much fun with my lesson! I was so pleased to see them working so well and actually engaged; made me feel proud! There were definitely things I did well and some I totally would have changed. First of all, I would have made my lesson longer than 30 minutes. I mean, 30 minutes worked out just fine, but the students would have been able to finish the brochure completely and I would have been able conclude the lesson better. To build off of that my wrap up to my lesson was not so good. I was focused so much on my time management that I wanted to get the lesson completed before my time was up so that Lumi could observe the next student that I kind of just sprinted through my conclusion. Another aspect I would have changed was how I gave out the directions. I am so used to teaching younger students that I didn't think I had to go through the instructions step by step with 3rd grade, but you still kind of have to. I wish I would have had them tell me what they were doing first, next, and last so that the instructions were clear. The students didn't have trouble with the activity, but they were just a little confused in the beginning which could have been solved if I explained it better!
Overall, I enjoyed teaching so much! I wish we would get more practice than just one day a week in clinical because I have so much fun in the classroom and love working with my kids. Every Wednesday I am also in charge of one of the stations for their math centers and I love having a role in the classroom rather than just observing it makes me feel like I am needed. Lastly, I also go to grade papers, which doesn't seem all that fun, but it actually was not bad at all. All this experiencing I am getting is going to help in the long run!
Here is a picture of the brochure I did and one of the students' brochures!
Colleen,
ReplyDeleteI love the lesson you did at your clinical placement! From the sounds of it, it sounds like it went really well. I am in a 3rd grade classroom this semester as well and it is so different then the other grades I've been in. When I taught my lesson last week I was very nervous and didn't know what to expect either. I like how your lesson was hands on and engaging for the students. In my clinical classroom the teacher teaches straight out of the textbook and its frustrating to watch at times. I was scared that she was going to have me make a lesson that went with the textbook chapter. I was able to make the lesson however I wanted and I ended up making it very interactive. I think its important to keep 3rd graders interacting with their peers. I know that at that age some teachers think that things should be more independent but it should eliminate peer interaction completely. I think your lesson did a very good job of having the students work together to make the brochure.
Colleen,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your idea for the lesson. I would have never thought to create a brochure for different monuments or historical sites. I think it was smart of you to have the children work together and create this because 3rd grade is definitely a talkative grade and allowing them to work with others forces that chatty energy into something productive. I'm still waiting to do my lesson, so I can only imagine how nervous you got before hand, I am the exact same way. My CT has been having me create extra activities and lessons to teach the children aside from what we already have to, so I am nervous for Wednesday when I have to do calendar, math and social studies. I'm glad to hear your lesson went well and that you're enjoying your time in third grade :)