Literacy Lesson Plan
By Mary Eggebraaten
Grades:
4th through 8th grade
Timeline:
One 90-minute class session
Objective:
Students will learn new vocabulary words relating to labor unions.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of new vocabulary words: Union, Laborer, Strike, and Negotiate by authoring a book about the concepts.
Resources:
The book 'Click, Clack Moo' by Doreen Cronin or the book video on YouTube: Click Clack Moo Video.
The book 'Big Annie of Calumet' by Jerry Stanley
MN Social Studies Standards Grades 4-8:
Strand I. US History
Substrand G- Reshaping the Nation and the Emergence of Modern America, 1877-1916
Standard- The student will analyze the transformation of the American Economy and the changing social and political conditions
in response to the Industrial Revolution.
Benchmarks-Students will identify and understand the reasons for the increase in immigration, growth of cities, new inventions,
and political challenges to American government arising from the industrial revolution, and analyze their impact.
Students will analyze how the rise of big business, the growth of industry, and the change in life on American farms and
small towns with increased mechanization changed life in America.
Students will analyze the impact of the Progressive Movement on child labor and working conditions; the rise of organized labor;
woman’s suffrage and the temperance movement, and identify the contributions of individuals in these movements.
Introduction:
Have you ever wondered what incredible stories happened in the past that developed our modern world? The birth of Industry, the making of modern machines and use of resources resulting in changing the entire way America was run. We are about to start an exciting unit about the Industrial Revolution, a time in history that was filled with immigration, the birth of machines, and worker's rights. To help us learn about this time period we will be reading a book called Big Annie of Calumet by Jerry Stanley. There are several new concepts and words that we will be introduced to, so to help with these terms we will be learning vocabulary words throughout the week. The first lesson begins today when I turn you all into authors. The next couple of days we will practice using the other vocabulary words and review them at the end of the week. To see the vocabulary word ideas: Big Annie Vocabulary Activities
Procedures:
The students will be introduced to a book called "Click Clack Moo" to help them understand the first vocabulary words in our unit and the main concepts of a larger unit based around the book Big Annie of Calumet. After learning the vocabulary, the students will create their own version of the book to demonstrate knowledge of the words.
Clarify Goals and Establish Set
| Concept |
Definition |
Example |
Non-example |
Critical Attributes |
Non-critical Attributes |
| Union |
An organization of workers who protect their working rights. |
Western Federation of Miners, Teachers Unions |
McDonalds Employees, after-school jobs |
Must contain several people with same jobs and goals |
Men or women, old or young |
| Strike |
When workers stop working to gain better working conditions. |
Wisconsin Strikes, Nurses strike |
To get tired of work and quit |
Must strike together, must quit working to make a statement |
length of strike, number of people on strike, results of strike |
| Negotiate |
To bargain and reach a common understanding |
To compromise staying up later than your bedtime |
Mom tells you to do it and you have to do it |
Must compromise between 2 parties |
who has to compromise more |
| Laborer |
Someone engaged in physical work. |
Construction Workers, Farmers |
Doctors, Lawyers, Authors |
Must be engaged in physical work |
man or woman, pay, time |
Demonstration:
Concept Attainment Approach
1. Read the book "Click, Clack Moo" or watch the book Click Clack Moo Video by Doreen Cronin. After the book discuss the vocabulary terms.
Union-
Strike-
Laborer-
Negotiate-
2. Read the book again. If the students see an example of the vocabulary word used, they should put their finger on their nose.
Call on a student to give a clarification of the word.
Union- the cows all banded together to demand a better working condition from Farmer Brown
Strike- to make a point the cows decided not to give milk, they stopped working
Laborer- the cows have to do hard work all day
Negotiate- Farmer Brown was willing to hand out the electric blankets
3. After the book was read a second time, discuss the attributes and non-attributes of each word and give examples.
4. Ask questions to help the students think critically about the vocabulary words as in why they are important, do we still have these today, and how
do you use these words or see them?
Guided Practice
Students will create their own version of the 'Click Clack Moo' book and must use the vocabulary words. They will share their book with small groups. Students in the small groups will listen to one another's story and will make a checklist to make sure all words were used and all words are used appropriately. The books and the checklists will be turned in. This is the first lesson in the vocabulary terms introduction so the next four days should focus on learning the vocabulary terms for the Unit on Big Annie of Calumet. Share with the students that we will be reading a book that focuses on the strength of Labor Unions in the United States during the Industrial Revolution. The theme of the book is based on a character named Big Annie who fights for better working conditions for Copper Miners in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This activity with Click Clack Moo gave us some background into what a labor union is to help us understand the context for our book.
Assessment – I will look to see the book contains all 4 concepts or vocabulary words. They will also turn in a checklist of each member of their small group. After we finish the activity we will discuss the book we will beginning.
Differentiation - Options are to work in partners. To have the template printed out and the students fill in words to create a story. The definitions are written down so the words are easily incorporated into their story. The students can use a voice thread to tell the story. The students can create the story on the computer by either typing it up or using software to animate.
To Return to the Lesson Plans:
To Return to the Main Page of Big Annie of Calumet:
To Return to the Class WIki: