LESSON PLAN: Symbols of the United States

February 22-25, 2016

Standard:
HSS.1.3IdentifyAmericansymbols,landmarks,andessentialdocuments,suchastheflag,baldeagle,Statueofliberty,U.S.
Constitution,andDeclarationofIndependence,andknowthepeopleandeventsassociatedwiththem.
CSS.RI.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.RI.1.2 Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
CCSS.W.1.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide
some sense of closure.

Objective: The students will be able to identify key details from an informational text about how the flag, Liberty Bell,
Declaration of Independence, Statute of Liberty, and the Bald Eagle became symbols of our country. The students will be

able to write a summary about their favorite American symbol that includes a topic sentence, three body sentences,
and a concluding sentence. The students will be able to use Work Dough, construction paper, or crayon drawing to
create their favorite American symbol.

Sequence

Activity

Modifications

Script

(4 days/1
hour each
day)
Day 1:
Understanding
Symbols

Teacher will help the

students understand
that symbols are objects
that represent
something else.

Teacher will first review

the definition of symbols
and provide some
examples of symbols
(e.g. play button, pause
button, +, - , , , ). (5
minutes)

(50 min)

Teacher will prepare a

symbol scavenger hunt
to provide the students
the opportunity to
practice recognizing
symbols. (35 minutes)
o Teacher will draw
symbols (i.e.
heart, smiling
face, peace sign,
recycle, breast
cancer awareness
ribbon, stop sign,
Olympics, no cell
phone, handicap
access, infinity,
Batman, Red
Cross, &, =,
bathroom sign) on
Post-It notes and
stick them around
the classroom.
o Teacher will group
the students into
small groups of
three and provide
them with a list
with hints.
o The student will
work in their
small groups to
follow the clues
and search for the
symbols.
o When the
students find the
symbols, they will
have to draw the
symbol on their
shared handout.

Teacher will review the

Students will be
working in small
groups to
decipher the list
of clues.
Activity involves
a lot of visuals.

Teacher will
review the
definition of
symbols.
Teacher will
provide and
ask for
examples of
symbols.
Teacher will
explain what
the students
need to do for
the scavenger
hunt and
explain how to
complete the
handout.