SSE 3312 Artifact “Bag”, Internet Search, Literature List Assignment Assessment Sheet
2012
*Please add all three parts of this assignment to this document. Adding pictures of your tangible artifacts on this page is
recommended. After answering the questions related to your artifacts, add your internet sites and books.
Self-Assess
Assignments
Spalding
Assess
___/3
___/3
Artifacts: You have three artifacts/artifakes, images, video clips,
photographs, etc. (2 of the 3 are tangible artifacts) with descriptions
written on the back. Your artifacts are in a “bag” or container.
___/3
Three internet sites: Websites on one typed page include the name of
site, website address and a brief summary of what the site provided.
___/3
___/4
Four books (and/or multiple media materials): Typed list includes the
title, the author, and a brief summary of the book.
___/4
(variety of genres- historical fiction, nonfiction, and biography)
List your artifacts/artifakes: (Label tangible artifacts with a T and provide a photo.)
1. Compass – Lewis and Clark expedition – T
2. Indian headdress – to represent the Indians they met and their conflict and struggles – T
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqCO1fMWeOM - Westward Expansion Rap video
A. Briefly describe how these artifacts could be used to introduce or teach necessary concepts to students?
The artifacts and artifakes would be great resources to incorporate into the unit plan to help introduce or
teach concepts to the students. The westward expansion rap video would be a great way to introduce the
entire unit and I think I might play the video to get the students thinking and then have them create a
KWL chart about westward expansion. The video would provide a bit of background knowledge that
will be useful in helping them think about what the unit might be about and it would also create interest
Spalding, 2011
SSE 3312 Artifact “Bag”, Internet Search, Literature List Assignment Assessment Sheet
2012
*Please add all three parts of this assignment to this document. Adding pictures of your tangible artifacts on this page is
recommended. After answering the questions related to your artifacts, add your internet sites and books.
in the topic. The compass could be used when introducing and teaching about Lew and Clark’s
expedition out west. I think it is important to note that these two explorers had no maps or instructions
on how to get where they were going but relied on universal tools such as a compass and other
directional tips. They had no guide to follow and actually created maps as they went along their journey
to guide those who would follow them out west. The Indian headdress would be great to use in a
readers theatre or even just place on the front desk during the unit to remind the students the impact
westward expansion had on the Native Americans. All of the artifacts and artifakes make the unit more
interesting and personal to the students and also gives them something to interact with which always
makes learning more fun and helps students remember and apply what they have learned.
B. How could the resources compiled here be used in your unit plan to entice, motivate, and educate your
students? Note one example using a book or website.
I was surprised how easily I could find great resources and how much fun it was to look at them all and
dissect each part to educate me as the teacher but then also to think about how they could be
incorporated into the lesson plan. I mentioned above how the artifacts and artifakes could be used so
now I am going to list how I would incorporate the internet sources and the books. Some of the internet
sources I found would just be used to increase my knowledge, as a teacher but the others would be great
to educate the students for a culminating project over the unit. The internet sources could also be used
to motivate the students especially when they are able to play the different games that are related to our
unit topic. One of my favorite finds on the internet was the interactive story found on the PBS website.
This would educate the students about Lewis and Clark’s journey and also motivate them to learn and
experience the unit because it is interactive. They read part of the history and background knowledge
and then complete the story of Lewis and Clark. Along the way, they stop reading the story and are then
asked to make decision that will affect the future of their journey. This is a great learning activity that
would motivate a multitude of the students. As for the books I would use the Sacagawea story to
motivate the students to learn about the different Native Americans tribes that are affected by Westward
Expansion. Since this book already has dialogue blurbs, this would be a fun book to do a reader’s theatre
to and we could even have the readers where a hat to help them dress the part. The train book could be
used when talking about how expansion was furthered using trains. The pictures and captions in the
book make research more appealing to students while still providing great information on the topic. The
American Indians book would be useful more for my knowledge in order to better educate and entice
my students for the upcoming unit. The last book, Westward Expansion, American Moves West, was
by far by favorite find. The resources and activities included in the book are all so wonderful and are
great ways to differentiate the learning styles throughout the unit. Each lesson has a different oral activity
that directly involves the students. The songs make the information catchy and cause it to “stick” with
the students. I love that the activities also include relatable questions that the students can answer and
discuss. This book provides the information students are expected to know in a fun and motivating way
and I am sure they would love the incorporation of these activities into the lesson.
Spalding, 2011