Welcome to my first grade classroom here at Johnson’s Elementary School. My classroom is set up nicely with many things that I have purchased to make it what I and the students need it to be.
Everything is centered around the students desk. The desks are arranged in pairs in order to makes things like think-pair-share and cooperative groups easier (groups of 4 can easily be arranged with paired students). Unfortunately because of low funding I only have two computers in my classroom, my computer and one student computer, however, we, as teachers do have the option of a small mobile lab unit if necessary. I keep a library well stocked for my students, constantly filling it with any and every book I can find, you never know what will come in handy for any potential unit or what a child may want to try to read. This public, inner-city school doesn’t always get the funding it needs to get all classroom sets that may be needed or desired, so I definitely try to do my part to get what I can, because that is what the students need.
The school services mostly minority and lower income families. To say the least the building is in need of some real improvements. Most of the classrooms are too small for the classes to fit comfortably in, and for some teachers there aren’t enough desks to go around. That is not the case for me however, yes my classroom is a bit small, but each of my 22 students has their own desk to work at.
This is important because everyone needs their own space to do what they need to do and be who they are. I teach a range of children in my first grade class. The students are all between the ages of six and eight years old and are in different places in their learning. I have four students who are below grade level, one who is above grade level, fourteen that are on grade level and three with learning disabilities—two with ADHD, and one with Dyslexia. Most of my students are African-American and
Hispanic, with some mixed ethnicities, and two white children, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

In my class each discipline is taught in a 45 minute block schedule. We are starting our next big unit in social studies this fine month of February because of President’s Day. The concept of the unit is
Leaders. The students will learn about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, FDR and Eleanor
Roosevelt, and Barack and Michelle Obama and their contributions to America that made them leaders
(SOL 1.2). We will also touch on the Lincoln Memorial, the Penny, the Washington Monument, the
Dollar Bill, and the FDR Memorial to show how we remember and honor these leaders’ contributions today (SOL 1.11). The students will also be working on computers a little bit for this unit, learning how to use a computer respectfully and responsibly (SOL C/T K-2.4), as well as continuing on working on how to use quiet voices while working collaboratively. The last day of the unit will fall on President’s day, where the students will give a short presentation about leaders and/or leadership.
This concept of leaders is important because without these past leaders and their contributions we would not have our current leaders today. It is also important to teach these students about leaders and what makes a good leader because you never know if or when a future leader is sitting in the classroom. Students need to understand the qualities one must possess in order to be a good leader, and the best way for a young student to understand and see these qualities is through examples, like
Obama or Washington.

Children’s Literature:
A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt, by David A. Adler
Young Abe Lincoln: The Frontier Days, 1809-1837, by Cheryl Harness
A Picture Book of George Washington, by David A. Adler
When Abraham Talked to the Tree, by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk
Abe’s Honest Words: the Life of Abraham Lincoln, by Doreen Rappaport
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, by Patty Lovell
Being a Leader, by Robin Nelson
George Washington: Young Leader, by Augusta Stevenson
Tales of Famous Americans, by Connie and Peter Roop
Teacher’s Literature (some can be used for teacher’s background information and some for handout copies of articles):
World War II Biographies: Roosevelt and the Americans at War, by Robin Cross
Voices from America’s Past
Journal of a Revolutionary War Woman, by Judith E. Greenberg and Helen Carey McKeever

Our President—Barack Obama: The Illustrated Story of Obama’s Inspiring Journey to the Presidency, by
Jude K. Odu
Music:
Barack Obama’s Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd9xU8cw1JE
Survivor, Eye of the Tiger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4&feature=bf_next&list=PL78B33595A2CFC340&lf=resul ts_main
Neil Young, Looking for a Leader
Fine Arts:
One of the best things would be to be able to take the students to Washington D.C. to see the monuments of the leaders there, however, if that could not be done, replicas of the monuments could be helpful and useful.
Have portraits of George and Martha Washington, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, Franklin and
Eleanor Roosevelt, and Barack and Michelle Obama.
Video/Movie with Abe Lincoln giving Gettysburg Address
Websites: http://thewhitehouse.gov http://www.alplm.org

http://www.nps.gov/linc http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/presidentsday/

The student will understand…

Leaders can be men or women

Leaders make contributions

Leaders can be honored for their contributions

The values of leaders can help them (honesty and respect)
The student will know…

SOL 1.2: The student will describe the stories of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, FDR and
Eleanor Roosevelt, and Michelle and Barack Obama’s contributions to our country.

SOL 1.11: The student will recognize the symbols that honor and foster patriotism in the United
States by identifying the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, FDR Memorial, the Dollar
Bill and the Penny

SOL C/T K-2.4: The student will demonstrate respect for the rights of others while using computers
The student will be able to…

Use information from print and nonprint sources

Use resource materials

Gather information

Classify information

Use technology responsibly

STANDARD 1.11
The student will recognize the symbols and traditional practices that honor and foster patriotism in the United States by a) identifying the American flag, bald eagle, Washington Monument, and Statue of Liberty; b) demonstrating respect for the American flag by learning about the Pledge of Allegiance.
Essential Questions Essential Knowledge Essential Skills Essential
Understandings
Patriotic symbols and traditions honor the people and the history of the United States.
What are some patriotic symbols and traditions of the United States?
How do citizens demonstrate respect for the American flag and the
United States?
Terms to know
 symbol: A picture or thing that stands for something else
 patriotic: Showing respect for and love of country
Patriotic symbols of the
United States

Washington
Monument
.
Gather, classify, information.

STANDARD 1.2
The student will describe the stories of American leaders and their contributions to our country, with emphasis on George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington
Carver, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Essential Questions Essential Knowledge Essential Skills Essential
Understandings
Important deeds were accomplished by people who became American leaders.
What contributions do we remember that were made by George Washington,
Benjamin Franklin,
Abraham Lincoln, George
Washington Carver, and
Eleanor Roosevelt?
Terms to know
 contribution: The act of giving or doing something
People to know

George Washington:
He was born in
Virginia. He was a farmer. He became a brave leader of soldiers. He was the first president of the
United States. He is known as the “Father of Our Country.”.

Abraham Lincoln: He was born in a log cabin. He taught himself how to read.
He became a president of the United States.
He was known as
“Honest Abe.”

Eleanor Roosevelt:
She was a leader for equal rights for all people. She volunteered for many organizations.
Use information from print and nonprint sources.
Use resource materials.
Gather and classify information.

“First Lady Michelle Obama” The White House. 19 April 2012. http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama
“The Founding Farmers” The Paris Review. 2012. 19 April 2012. http://www.thepariesreiview.org/blog/2012/02/23/the-founding-farmers/
“George Washington.” Enchanted Learning. 2010. 14 April 2012 http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/pres/washington/
“Historical Documents: Emancipation Proclamation.” Judgment Day. 18 April 2012. http://www.pbs.org/wgbn/aia/part4/4h1549.html
“Mary Todd Lincoln.” Women in History. 2012. 19 April 2012. http://www.ikwdpl.org/wihohio/linc-mar.htm
“New Deal Personages” 19 April 2012. http://www.bobmccaughey.com/post18651/?page_id=3508
“Primary Source Documents.” Ohio Historical Society. 19 April 2012. http://ww.ohiohistoryteachers.org/06/ep.pdf