Social Studies
For Early Childhood
Resource Unit
Amy Dudley
Kadie Boggs
Table of Contents
Section
Slide Number
Introduction
1
Content
2
Objectives
3
Activities
Evaluation
Instructional Resources
4-8
Introduction
This resource unit will address and examine
famous people within our society.
The following is a six day resource unit that is
intended to be used for second grade students in
conjunction with the Ohio Academic Standards.
The students will participate, explore and
discuss the famous people in this unit through
various activities. The main purpose of this unit
is for the students to gain knowledge about the
contributions and efforts of these famous
historical figures.
Content
1.
Christopher Columbus
Students will write an acrostic poem beginning each sentence with the letters
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
Vocabulary words: explore, ocean, sail, world, map, spices, compass, ship, island,
voyage
2.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Students will explore and discuss the civil rights contributions made by Martin
Luther King, Jr. through a wide variety of worksheets and media.
Vocabulary Words: civil rights, voting, segregation, desegregation, leader,
protests, color, racism
3.
Sacajawea
Students will examine, explore and define the efforts made by Sacajawea
during the time period of her life. Students will map expeditionary routes and
discover the challenges that faced people during this time.
Vocabulary Words: expedition, hardships, Native Americans, communication,
tribes, journey
Content
4. Alexander Hamilton
Students will gain knowledge about the establishment of the U.S. Treasury and
explore monetary value through various activities.
Vocabulary: money, treasury, economy, supply, demand, surplus, deficit, budget
5. The Presidents
Students will examine the election process, voting rights, and famous
presidential figures through games, mock elections, brainstorming and debates.
Vocabulary: voting, electoral college, President, Congress, House of
Representatives, equality, government
6. Evaluation
Upon completion of this unit, students will be given a comprehensive exam. The
exam will consist of 5 multiple choice questions, 2 objective questions and 2
short answer essay questions.
Objectives
Students will develop a better understanding of
the famous people covered in this unit
through a wide variety of activities.
Activities
• Day One:
Christopher Columbus Day Acrostic Poem. Write a
poem about Christopher Columbus. Start each line
with a letter from the word “COLUMBUS.”
• Day Two:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Printable Worksheet. A
printable worksheet on Martin Luther King, Jr., who
did extraordinary work for civil rights. The
printout has information on Martin Luther King, Jr.,
questions, and a picture to color. Answers: 1.
Georgia, 2. 15 years old, 3. Montgomery, Alabama,
4. April 4, 1968, 5. January.
Activities
• Day Three:
Turn-2-Think: Have the students divide into
groups of four by counting off 1-4. Have them
count off again within their groups so that each
member has a number. Instruct them to draw a
card from the question pile (cards can be found
at:
http://www.Teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresoures/
units/Byrnes-famous/sacajawe.html). Each
member is to think of the answer and then they
are to draw an answer card to see who will
answer.
• Day Four:
Activities
'PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS' NOTECARDS
 Make your own notepaper with a coin rubbing design. It would make a nice gift!
Make the Cards
 Place a sheet of tracing paper over a sheet of heavy white paper. Hold them together with
4 paper clips, one near each corner.
 Place the attached papers in front of you vertically; then, with a ruler and a pencil, draw a
very fine line dividing the papers in half horizontally. Cut them in half along this line.
 You should now have two 8½ x 5½ sets of tracing and heavy paper. Fold each set in half
(with the tracing paper on the outside) to make 2¾ by 4¼ inch note cards.
Create the Design
 Write Penny For Your Thoughts on the tracing paper front of your note cards, leaving
space for your coin rubbing design.
 Place a coin between the tracing paper and heavy white paper, then rub it with a brown or
copper colored crayon or colored pencil to make a coin rubbing design around the words.
Put Them Together
 Staple the two papers together in the crease formed when you fold them in half, or glue
the two papers together with a very thin line of glue around the edges of the heavy paper.
 These cards can be used without envelopes, but you can also use leftover envelopes from
old note card collections or purchase note card envelopes in some party goods stores or
card shops.
• Day Five:
Activities
Using the K-W-L strategy, brainstorm with students what they
already know about elections and ask them to generate questions
they would like developed about the topic. Record on chart paper.
Examples of student questions might be:
How do you vote?
Why can't kids vote?
Why do we need a president?
Why do presidential elections happen every four years?
What do presidents do?
What is a poll?
Use their questions as focal points for class research, activities,
and discussions
Activities
• Day Six:
Interactive Word Search. Play this interactive word
search game against the clock. You may choose to play
interactively online or print the word search out to play
on paper. Each time you play, there will be a different set
of president last names. Hundreds of games built into
one!
Ten names are randomly chosen from this last name list
associated with Presidents of the United States. 37
names are included and ALL President's are represented.
There have been 43 Presidents of the United States. Can
you explain the difference in numbers?
Evaluation
Unit Test-Famous People
Name:
Multiple Choice (5 points each)
1.
Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492 to America on the ships called the Nina, Pinta and the:
a. Saint Lucia
b. Santa Maria
c. Los Alamos
d. Floridian
2. Martin
a.
b.
c.
d.
Luther King, Jr. wrote and made a speech about equality and civil rights that stated:
Four score and seven years ago..
Our country tis of thee…
I have a dream…
I pledge the allegiance…
3. What famous Native American traveled with Lewis & Clark on their expeditionary route:
a. Sacajawea
b. Ben Franklin
c. Johnny Appleseed
d. Abraham Lincoln
Evaluation
4.
What famous American figure established the United States Treasury:
a. Thomas Edison
b. Bill Clinton
c. Alexander Hamilton
d. Harry Truman
5.
How old do you have to be to vote:
a. 21 years old
b. 16 years old
c. 50 years old
d. 18 years old
True/False (5 points each)
1. In the United States, a new president is elected every 8 years.
True False
2. Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.
True False
Evaluation
Short Answer (5 points each)
1.
What is the job of the President of the United States?
2.
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. fight for during the Civil Rights Movement?
Instructional Resources
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/
aframer/bioprintouts/mlk/
• http://www.Teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresoures/
units/Byrnes-famous/sacajawe.html
• http://www.usmint.gov/kids/campCoin/funWith
Coins.cfm
• http://www.apples4theteacher.com/wordfinds/presidents.html
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/
mapreading/1.shtml
• http://www.proteacher.com/cgibin/outsidesite.
cgi?id=15881&external=
Instructional Resources
• http://abcteach.com/Reading/comps/electing%20out%20presid
ent.pdf&original=
• www.enchantedlearning.com)
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/MLK/timeline.sht
ml
• http://www.arthur.k12.il.us/arthurgs/mlkquiz.htm
• http://k6educators.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/X
J&sdn=k6educators&cdn=education&tm=12&gps=90_275_788_
371&f=00&su=p554.2.150.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3
A//curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/wil/MLK.pdf
• http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson046.shtml
• http://www.gpschools.org/ci/ce/elem/holidays/mlkk5.htm
Instructional Resources
 http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nwa/sacajawea.html
 http://library.thinkquest.org/J0110072/famous/sacajawe
a.htm
 http://sacajawea.idahostatesman.com/pdf/LearningActivit
ies.pdf
 http://www.teachervision.fen.com/us-history/nativeamerican-history/26332.html
 http://www.teachervision.fen.com/nativeamericans/lesson-plan/3843.html
Instructional Resources
•
•
http://www.usmint.gov/kids/campCoin/funWithCoins.cfm
http://www.ustreas.gov/kids/
•
http://www.moneymanagement.org/Education/Resources/Mama/index.asp
•
•
•
http://www.moneymanagement.org/Education/Resources/Penguins/index.as
p
http://www.moneyinstructor.com/elementary.asp
http://www.cyberbee.com/election/elechunt.html
•
http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/676.html
•
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/election-day/index.html
•
http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/electionday.php
•
http://k6educators.about.com/library/blelection2000.htm