Author:
Melody Casey
Subject:
English Language Arts, Social Studies
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Level:
Lower Primary
Grade:
K
Tags:
  • GEDB
  • Global Education
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial
    Language:
    English

    Education Standards

    GEDB Investigating Birthdays Around the World: Exploring Birthdays (Lesson 1 of 5)

    GEDB Investigating Birthdays Around the World: Exploring Birthdays (Lesson 1 of 5)

    Overview

    This lesson allows students to investigate birthdays around the world by using text to explore different celebrations and traditions in the world in which we live. The students will listen and learn about the diversity of people, food, games and traditions globally. This lesson was developed by Leslie Montgomery as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy.

    Lesson Plan

    Description

    This lesson allows students to investigate birthdays around the world by using text to explore different celebrations and traditions in the world in which we live. The students will listen and learn about the diversity of people, food, games and traditions globally.


    Content

    Student Engagement/Motivation

    The teacher will read Cliiford's Birthday Party by Norman Bridwell

    The students will share how they celebrate birthdays with their family including games, parties, food and songs.


    Learning Targets and Criteria for Success

    I can listen and actively engage while my teacher reads a book.

    I will listen to the teacher read the book.

     

    I can ask and answer questions about the text.

    I will ask and answer questions about the text in whole group. 

     

    I can tell one new thing I learned about birthday celebrations.

    I will identify one new thing I learned.

     

    I can tell how birthday celebrations are alike and different around the world.

    I will share one thing that is alike or different about birthday celebrations around the world.


    Supplies/Resources

    Book - Birthdays Around the World by Mary D. Lankford (found in any library)

    Book - Cliiford's Birthday Party by Norman Bridwell ( found in any library)

    KWL chart (a chart that identifies the following - "K" - what they already know, "W" - what they want to learn, "L" - what they learned) see pdf attachment at the bottom of this lesson.


    Learning Tasks and Practice

    The teacher will use students prior knowlege to start a KWL chart.  Have the students make a list of birthday traditions they know including their own or any other global traditions they might be aware of to complete the "K' column of the KWL chart.   Next on the KWL chart, in the "W" column,  make a list of items students want to know about birthday celebrations around the world.  The teacher will tell the students that the "L" column of the KWL chart will be completed after we read the book and investigate birthday celebrations around the world to show what the students have learned. 

    The teacher will read Birthdays Around the World by Mary D. Lankford, specifically focusing on the USA and China.

    The teacher will ask the following questions. What did you learn about how people in other countries recognize and celebrate birthdays? What are some similarities and differences between how people celebrate their birthdays around the world? What are things that are alike or different in how we celebrate birthdays in the U.S.?

    The teacher will give the students time to talk with their A/B buddy(partner) about what they learned about birthday celebrations around the world.  The teacher will allow 5 to 7 minutes for them to discuss their findings and what their persecptive on birthday traditions are. The teacher will listen and interact with partners to better gauge their understanding. 

    The teacher will gather the students to a whole group to complete the KWL chart.  The teacher and students will work together to complete the "L" on the KWL chart.  The teacher will ask the students what they learned from the text about birthday celebrations and traditions around the world.  

    The teacher will review the KWL chart by revisiting each part of the chart and asking the students questions about their prior knowledge, what they wanted to know and what they learned.  

    The teacher will give the students time to ask questions about birthday celebrations around the world.  


    Collecting and Documenting Evidence of Learning

    The teacher will listen and talk with students during A/B buddies(partners) to better gauge their understanding.

    The teacher will observe students engagment during the book, when working on the KWL chart and interactions during whole group conversations.

    The teacher will ask the students to elaborate on the similarities and differences between their birthday celebrations and what they have learned.

    The teacher will evaluate students' culture perspectives by questioning them about their culture and traditions.

    The teacher will ask students to take action by incorporating any new traditions into their next birthday party celebration?

    The students will be evaluated on their participation and ability to share what they have learned in their writing later in the unit.


    Student Self-Reflection and Action Steps

    Students will draw pictures and write reflections in their journals about their learning later in the unit.


    Feedback/Instructional Adjustments

    No adjustments needed.


    Extended Learning Opportunities

    The teacher will provide more resources such as books, magazines and pictures in the library center for the students to explore.

    The teacher will provide materials in the writing center for students to make birthday cards, decorations, invitations, etc. 

    The teacher will extend the lesson into a grade level activity by incorporating the Kindergarten around the world birthday celebration rotations.(information available in upcoming lessons)


    Teacher Reflection of Learning

    Reading Birthdays Around the World was a good resource to introduce students to the global differences of birthday celebrations.  Students were very knowledgable after the lesson about different countries and their different traditions.  This lesson should be used as an anchor lesson. Adding more books and resources to this lesson to reference about other countries would help the teacher and students to become more aware of different cultures.