Lesson Plans Assignment
The lesson plan assignment requires completion of two lesson plans in US history, world history, or
geography. For each plan, you should assume the following basic parameters: a 45-minute class period; a
heterogeneous student population; internet and computer access. Each plan also should adhere to the
following format:
1) Articulate an Aim in the form of a question
2) Identify the Grade Level
3) Include a Do Now to focus students’ attention on the main topics or themes
4) Explain in the Motivation how students’ knowledge, experiences or beliefs represented by the
Do Now connects to the Aim and main theme of the lesson
5) List Activities with particular attention to what the students will be doing and describe the
activities so that another teacher could understand and implement it. Include all handouts with
the lesson plan
6) Include Evaluation to determine student understanding of the aim
7) Label lessons plan with NCSS standards to show which standards are being met and align the NCSS
standards with the relevant NYS Learning Standards.
Part A: Lesson Plan # 1
The content in the lesson plan must address the theme of Culture and Cultural Diversity (NCSS standard
1.1) and the theme of Time, Continuity, and Change (NCSS standard 1.2).
Culture and Cultural Diversity (NCSS standard 1.1). The aim (in the form of a question) includes: What
are the common characteristics of different cultures? How do belief systems, such as religion or political
ideals, influence other parts of the culture? How does the culture change to accommodate different ideas
and beliefs?
Time, Continuity and Change (NCSS standard 1.2). The aim (in the form of a question) includes: What
happened in the past? How am I connected to those in the past? How has the world changed? How can the
perspective we have about our own life experiences be viewed as part of the larger human story across
time? How do our personal stories reflect varying points of view and inform contemporary ideas and
actions?
Part B: Lesson Plan #2
The content in the lesson plan must address the theme of Power, Authority, and Governance(NCSS
standard 1.6) and the theme of Civic Ideal and Practices (NCSS standard 1.10).
Power, Authority, and Governance. The aim (in the form of a question) includes: What is power and what
forms does it take? Who holds it? How is it gained, used, and justified? What is legitimate authority? How
are governments created, structured, maintained, and changed? How can we keep government responsive
to its citizens? How can individual rights be protected given majority rule?
Civic Ideals and Practices. The aim (in the form of a question) includes: What is civic participation and
how can I be involved? How has the meaning of citizenship evolved? What is the balance between rights
and responsibilities? What is the role of the citizen in the community and the nation, and as a member of
the world community? How can I make a positive difference?
(b) the scoring guide for the assessment
Part A: Lesson Plan #1 on Culture & Time/Continuity/Change (“Time”) Rubric (NCSS Standards 1.1 & 1.2)
Exemplary (4 points)
Aim: Articulate a
question about culture
/time which students
will answer by the end
of the class
The aim is related to culture/time
and today. It is a significant and
challenging question, related to
students’ lives
Proficient (3 points)
The aim is related to
culture/time. It is
significant or challenging
question.
Developing (2 points)
The aim is related to
culture or time but not
both. It is not
significant or
challenging.
Not Acceptable
(1 point)
The aim is not
related to culture or
time, is insignificant,
or not challenging.
Do Now challenges students’
Do Now is somewhat
Do Now is engaging
Do Now: Activity
thinking
and
engages
them
in
the
challenging
and
engaging.
but not intellectually
which connects
activity.
challenging.
students’ experiences to
the aim
Do Now doesn’t
engage students in
the aim or challenge
them.
Excellent explanation of the
Motivation:
Explanation of how the relationship of the aim to
aim and activities relate students’ lives.
to students’ lives
Adequate explanation
of aim but not well
connected to students
No or poor
explanation of aim
and its relationship
to students.
Content is
inadequate or
insignificant and
poorly organized.
Very good explanation of
aim to students’ lives
Activities: Describe the
content and activities of
the lesson and how they
are related to culture
and time.
Content is challenging and
Content is challenging,
related to important concepts of related to culture/time and
culture/ time and use of creative use of engaging activities
activities
Content is adequate but
not challenging,
somewhat related to
important concepts,
good activities.
Evaluation Describe
the assessment measure
for determining
whether the lesson's
objective(s) were met.
Sophisticated and varied
evaluation strategies used to
assess whether students can
answer aim, using
comprehensive knowledge of
culture/ time presented in
activities
Effective evaluation
strategies used to assess
whether students can
answer aim, using much of
knowledge presented in
activities
Moderately effective
Ineffective
evaluation strategy
evaluation strategy
somewhat assesses
whether students can
answer aim, using
knowledge presented in
activities
Standards
All standards are clearly labeled
and addressed with content that
demonstrates candidates mastery
of content
All standards are clearly
Some standards are not Standards are not
labeled and addressed with clearly labeled
clearly labeled
content that demonstrates
candidates familiarity with
content
Content Culture and
Cultural Diversity
(NCSS 1.1)
Information about culture and
cultural diversity is accurate, and
includes relevant and distinctive
background or contextual
information, which exhibits
candidate’s strong mastery of the
theme
Information about culture
and cultural diversity is
accurate and includes
relevant background or
contextual information,
which that candidate’s
familiarity with the theme
Information about
culture and cultural
diversity is mostly
accurate and includes
some related
background or
contextual info
Information about
culture and cultural
diversity is not
accurate and does
not include related
background or
contextual info
Information about Time,
Continuity & Change is
accurate and includes
relevant background or
contextual information,
which that candidate’s
familiarity with the theme
Information about
Time, Continuity and
Change is mostly
accurate and includes
some related
background or
contextual info
Information about
Time, Continuity
and Change is not
accurate and does
not include related
background or
contextual info
Average is 3.0-3.7
(B, B+, A-)
Average is 2.0-2.9
(B-, C+, C)
Average is below
2.0 (Below C)
Information about Time,
Content Time,
Continuity and Change Continuity & Change is
accurate, and includes relevant
(NCSS 1.2)
and distinctive background or
contextual information, which
exhibits candidate’s strong
mastery of the theme
Sum of Total Points
Total Average: Divide
total points by 7
Average is above 3.7 (A, A+)
Part B: Lesson Plan #2 on Power, Authority, Governance (“Power”) and Civic Ideals and Practices (“Civic
Ideals”) Rubric (NCSS Standards 1.6 and 1.10)
Exemplary (4 points)
Proficient (3 points)
Developing (2
points)
Not Acceptable
(1 point)
Aim: Articulate a
question about
power/civic ideals
which students will
answer by the end of
the class
The aim is related to
power/civic ideals; is a
significant and challenging
question, and related to
students’ lives.
The aim is related to
power/civic ideals. It is
significant or challenging
The aim is related to
power/civic ideals but
not both. It is not
significant or
challenging.
The aim is not
related to
power/civic ideals, is
insignificant, or not
challenging.
Do Now: Activity
which connects
students’ experiences
to the aim
Do Now challenges students’
thinking and engages them in
the activity.
Do Now is somewhat
challenging and engaging.
Do Now is engaging
but not intellectually
challenging.
Do Now doesn’t
engage students in
the aim or challenge
them.
Very good explanation of
aim to students’ lives
Adequate explanation
of aim but not well
connected to students
No or poor
explanation of aim
and its relationship
to students.
Excellent explanation of the
Motivation:
Explanation of how the relationship of the aim to
students’ lives.
aim and activities relate
to students’ lives
Activities: Describe the
content and activities
of the lesson and how
they are related to
power/civic ideals.
Content is challenging and
Content is challenging,
related to important concepts of related to power/civic ideals
power/civic ideals and use of
and use of engaging
creative activities
activities
Content is adequate but Content is
not challenging,
inadequate or
somewhat related to
insignificant and
important concepts,
poorly organized.
good activities.
Evaluation Describe
the assessment measure
for determining
whether the lesson's
objective(s) were met.
Sophisticated and varied
evaluation strategies used to
assess whether students can
answer aim, using
comprehensive knowledge of
culture/ time presented in
activities
Effective evaluation
strategies used to assess
whether students can answer
aim, using much of
knowledge presented in
activities
Moderately effective
Ineffective
evaluation strategy
evaluation strategy
somewhat assesses
whether students can
answer aim, using
knowledge presented in
activities
Standards
All standards are clearly
labeled and addressed with
content that demonstrates
candidates mastery of content
All standards are clearly
labeled and addressed with
content that demonstrates
candidates familiarity with
content
Some standards are not Standards are not
clearly labeled
clearly labeled
Content Power,
Authority, and
Governance (NCSS
1.6)
Information about Power,
Authority, and Governance is
accurate, and includes relevant
and distinctive background or
contextual information, which
exhibits candidate’s strong
mastery of the theme
Information about Power,
Authority, and Governance
is accurate and includes
relevant background or
contextual information,
which that candidate’s
familiarity with the theme
Information about
Power, Authority, and
Governance is mostly
accurate and includes
some related
background or
contextual info
Information about
Power, Authority,
and Governance is
not accurate and
does not include
related background
or contextual info
Content Civic Ideals
and Practices (NCSS
1.10)
Information about Civic Ideals
and Practices is accurate and
includes relevant background
or contextual information,
which that candidate’s
familiarity with the them
Information about Civic
Ideals and Practices is
accurate and includes
relevant background or
contextual information,
which that candidate’s
familiarity with the theme
Information about Civic
Ideals and Practices is
mostly accurate and
includes some related
background or
contextual info
Information about
Civic Ideals and
Practices is not
accurate and does
not include related
background or
contextual info
Average is above 3.7 (A, A+)
Average is 3.0-3.7
(B, B+, A-)
Average is 2.0-2.9
(B-, C+, C)
Average is below
2.0 (Below C)
Sum of Total Points
Total Average: Divide
total points by 7