Lesson Plan
 

Candidate’s name: Greg Hager                                                                                  Course #:319

MA Licensure Sought: Elementary Education                                                        Grade Level: 4

Duration of the lesson: 80 minutes

Lesson Plan Title: Famous African Americans

Links to MA curriculum frameworks:

Standard 1: (History) Describe the diverse nature of the American people by identifying the distinctive contributions to American culture

Standard 2: Standard 3: (English) Students will organize ideas in writing in a way that makes sense for their purpose.

Standard 3: (English) Students will identify the basic facts and main ideas in a text and use them as the basis for interpretation.

Specific Objectives:

a)      The student will be able to identify and write about one of the Famous African Americans on the list.

b)      The student will be able to research the person whom they choose.

c)      The student will be able to act out what the person did and give a presentation to the class on that person. 

Materials and Technology needed:

List of famous African Americans, computer, books on the people

Connections across the Curriculum:

This lesson can correspond with English as the students could write a full length report on the person they choose. It could also work well for a theatre class as students could act like the people and demonstrate to the class how the person acted and what they endured during their life. It may work better to put them in groups for this and have the groups act like different people who were in the African American’s life. It would also be good for a multicultural class as they could branch out and try to find people from other nationalities that have influenced the culture in America.

Instructional Sequence:

Introduction: 1. I will put pictures up around the room of some famous African Americans and will also put an object that they would have used to become famous under their picture. (ex. For Jackie Robinson I would put a bat under the picture or Rosa Parks I would put a toy bus under the picture.) When the students come into the room I will ask them to walk around the room and look at the pictures trying to decide what each person was famous for by talking with other students. Then we will quickly go over what they were famous for. (5-10 minutes)

Development: 2. The students will be given a list with names of many famous African Americans on it. On the list it briefly describes that person.

3. The students will choose one of these people and will need to do research on them finding out at least 10 facts about their person and what their famous for. (15-20 minutes)

4. After writing down what they are famous for and 10 facts the students will all get in a circle at the rug. One at a time each student will get up and move as to how their person would have for what made them famous. (ex. If Jackie Robinson act like you’re hitting a ball)  The other students will then take three guesses trying to figure out what the person is famous for.

5. While still standing the student will tell the rest of the class what their person is famous for and 5 interesting facts about that person. (25-30 minutes)

Closure: 7. I will then lead a discussion on to how these famous African Americans have changed the way things work today. (ex. If it was not for Jackie Robinson African Americans may not be playing baseball today) Using the information that students have learned to facilitate the discussion. The students will get in small groups with the people next to them to talk with each other about how the world may be different if their people hadn’t done what they did.  

Assessment: 1. Students will be formally assessed on the fact that they find out what the person is famous for and 10 facts upon that person.

2. They will be informally assessed on how they relate the information they find to the class. They will also be assessed on how they work in the groups with coming up with ideas.

Instructional Modifications or Accommodations:

Students who are physically impaired can read a book at their desk or have a laptop at their desk. Students who are blind can receive a book in Braille or use headphones to listen to text on the web. Both of these disabilities will be given the chance to act out their people but will not have to just explain their person

Application of Course Content:

 This relates to course content as I will first ask the students to find a person to write upon from a list. It leaves it open for the kids to choose anyone who they want to learn about. This way they will choose who they want and want to learn about that person. Then the students will be able to explain their character and when they act out the motion the other students can guess as to what they are. This allows their minds to stay open and wonder what the person could be. After everyone has explained their person then the teacher will facilitate a group discussion on how the world may be different if that person hadn’t done what they did. This leaves the discussion wide open as the students can have all types of ideas on how the world may be different. Students will also be able to discuss and create new questions by talking with other students as to how the world may be different. The teacher can walk around and listen to the kids inputting information to make the kids think further upon a certain subject.

African Americans List

George Washington Carver
Born in 1864, George Washington Carver paved the way for agriculturists to come. This is one of the greatest examples of dedication in Human History. A single urge of learning has overcome the sufferings and hardships of slave life. He was the second African American to make it into the hall of fame. George Washington Carver, in the end, achieved his goal as the greatest agriculturists and so much more. Everything that he invented, he invented for the benefit of mankind

Michael Jackson
Does anyone need the introduction? Singer, song-writer, born August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, as the seventh of nine children, his contribution to modern pop has been enormous and unforgettable.

Muhammad Ali
A boxer, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. As an amateur boxer (1954–60), winning 100 of 108 matches, he became the 1960 Olympic light-heavyweight champion. He was an almost universal choice as the 20th-century's most important sportsman, and at the end of 1999 was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Century.

Tiger Woods
A golfer, born Eldrick Woods on December 30, 1975 in Cypress, California. He shot to fame after winning the US Masters at Augusta in 1997 - with a record score of 270 - at the age of 21. Woods was the first African-American to do so, as well as the youngest.

Mike Tyson
A boxer, born in New York City, USA. The National Golden Gloves heavyweight champion in 1984, he turned professional the following year. A lethal puncher, he beat 15 of his first 25 opponents by knockouts in the first round. He is a renowned living legend.

Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr
Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. won his wings and commission as a Tuskegee airman in 1943, but didn't see combat in World War II. He did, however, see combat in the Korean War, flying over 100 missions and earning a reputation as an outstanding fighter pilot.

Joe Louis
Joe Louis, 1914-1981, held the world heavyweight boxing title longer than anyone in history, twelve years. He would successfully defend the title 25 times, scoring 20 knockouts. He was known as the 'Brown Bomber' because of his quick devastating punches. Joe Louis has arguably been called the greatest fighter in the history of the sport.

Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey, 1887-1940, is recognized as leader of the first mass movement among America's Blacks. His theme was "Black Pride" when he started his "Back-to-Africa" movement in the U.S. He began his struggle in his native Jamaica in 1916, calling it the University Negro Improvement Association.

Maya Angelou
A world famous poet, author, historian singer and civil rights activist. This Grammy and Horatio Alger award winner was raised in segregated rural Arkansas.

Marian Anderson
An African American operatic and concert singer that was renowned throughout the world for her extraordinary contralto voice. The first African American to sing at the Metropolitan Opera.

James Booker
Perhaps the greatest piano player in the history of New Orleans. The self proclaimed Piano Prince of New Orleans.

Willie Lewis Brown, Jr.
The mayor of the city and county of San Francisco, California. Before his term as mayor, he was the longest serving Speaker of the Assembly in California history; furthermore, he is the only African American to ever hold that post.

Anthony Davis
An internationally known African American composer of operatic, symphonic, choral, and chamber works. He is best known for his opera X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X.

William Edward Dubois
An African American educator, author, historian, sociologist, philosopher, poet, and leader. Besides being one of the founders of the NAACP, he was the very first African American to receive a doctoral degree from Harvard University.

Billie Holiday
One of the most famous Jazz singers of all time.

Quincy Jones
African American music impresario, who won over twenty Grammy awards, an Emmy award and several Oscar nominations.

B.B King
The guitarist B.B. King has been called the undisputed King of the Blues.

Les McCann
The legendary godfather of contemporary soul-jazz is known for his smooth and funky spontaneity.

Toni Morrison
Famous author of such works as "Beloved", "The Bluest Eye", "Song of Solomon", "Tar baby", and many other great works. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993.

Sidney Poiter
The first Afro-American actor to win the Oscar (Lilies of the Fields, 1963). One of the very best actors of all time.

General Colin Powell
Powell is the first African American to hold the office of United States Secretary of State; furthermore, he is the only African American to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense.

Henry Tanner
Henry Ossawa Tanner was one of the first great African American artists to achieve recognition in both America and Europe.

Derek Walcott
A Nobel Prize winning poet and playwright.

Grace Bumbry
Famous African American opera singer who sang in concerts around the world.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey
Black Nationalist and Pan-African theorist who encouraged Black migration back to Africa.

Langston Hughes
A Poet, Essayist, Novelist, Playwright, Journalist, & Lyricist born in Joplin, Missouri. Sometimes called The Poet Laureate of Harlem. One of America's greatest writers.