Social Studies Lesson Plans

Lesson 1:

Objective: Student will be able to understand responsibilities of businesses in the community and understand why places are important to our identity.

Overview: Students will visit the local Chamber of Commerce, meeting with local business leaders.  There, students will hear how business leaders network to understand community needs and interest.  They will be encouraged to ask questions; however, this is a front-loading activity, designed to teach students about the Chamber of Commerce as a community resource and to get them thinking about their community, its offerings and their role in it.  Back in the classroom, students will compose thank you notes and emails and send them to those who volunteered their time to meet with us.

Time needed: 90 minutes:Forty-five minutes of travel time and 45 of visiting time.

Materials and Resources:  Bus, appointment (set by teacher), note taking supplies.

Lesson 2:

Objective: Student will be able to invite local business leaders into the classroom and ask leaders more about their roles and responsibilities in the community.

Overview:  Using contact information gained from their visit to the Chamber of Commerce, students will select and contact business leaders, inviting them to our class to serve as experts on a panel.  Students will prepare questions for panel experts, with topics ranging from advertising choices, to community outreach efforts, to offered products and services, to community identity and connections.  Once the students have questioned their panel, they will write thank you notes to those who attended.

Time needed:  Approximately 180 minutes.

Materials and Resources:  Computers with internet connections, Word, Email access, Letter-writing supplies.

Lesson 3:

Objective:  Students will be able to use technology to brainstorm, pre-write, write, edit, revise and publish.

Overview:  Students will review information gathered from visiting the Chamber of Commerce and interviewing a local panel of business leaders and brainstorm what they might be able to turn into stories for a community-centered magazine.  Students will share their top three ideas in groups of 3 or 4, and select two story ideas for further development.  Students who do struggle with story ideas may exercise the option of soliciting (and possibly creating) an advertisement for a local business.  Once students have story and/or ad ideas, they will pre-write, write, edit, and revise their writing.  Once pieces are polished, they will present them for publication.

Time needed:  Approximately 360 minutes.

Materials and Resources:  Computers with internet connections, Word, and writing supplies.