Elementary Education Program

Department of Teacher Education & Learning Sciences

Lesson Plan

Name: Student Example

Grade: 2
Topic/Concept: Recognizing Others’ Differences and Their importance in the community
Materials/Resources:
 Puzzle Piece Paper
 Colored Pencils
 Markers
 Scissors
 Tape

Teaching Behavior Focus: Our teaching behavior focus for this lesson will be, “Account for
students’ experiences, backgrounds, culture and communities in lesson plans and units. We want
to encourage each individual to design their puzzle piece based on their own unique attributes
and interests. For example, we will ask the students about their culture and some traditions they
do at home. We will encourage students to incorporate these findings into their own puzzle piece
and reinforce that these characteristics and traits all work together with others in the community
to create a working community.

Learning Objectives (measurable): Students will be able to explain how each individuals cultural
and personal differences work together to make a more positive, inclusive community.

Standards: 2.C&G.2.2 Explain why it is important for citizens to participate in their community.
2.C.1.1 Explain how artistic expressions of diverse cultures contribute to the community (stories,
art, music, food, etc.).
2.C.1.3 Exemplify respect and appropriate social skills needed for working with diverse groups.

Assessment Plan (How will you know that your students met the objective?):

Students will be able to explain that each classmates individual differences and preferences is
vital to the classroom community through a series of activities. Through our read aloud of, “All
are Welcome Here”, students will see a group of diverse students working together towards a
common goal. Following, students will complete a learning exercise in which they will design
their unique puzzle piece based on their own cultural and personal interests. We will ask the
students to share their favorite attribute on their puzzle piece in small groups and whole group.
We will then tape the entire puzzle together and reinforce that the puzzle is only complete once
all puzzle pieces have been added. The teacher will then explain that with a piece or person
missing, our classroom puzzle would not be complete. Students will then answer the following
prompts in their EL journal. “What is one interesting thing you learned about a classmate that is
different from you?” and “Why is diversity important in a community?”
 Elementary Education Program
Department of Teacher Education & Learning Sciences

New Vocabulary:

Patka: a man's head covering consisting of a small piece of cloth wrapped around the head, worn
especially by Sikh boys or young men.
Hijab: a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women
Yarmulka: a skullcap worn in public by Orthodox Jewish men or during prayer by other Jewish
men.
Community: a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes,
interests, and goals.
Diversity: understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual
differences. These can be along. the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation,
socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other
ideologies.
Inclusivity: the achievement of a work environment in which all individuals are treated fairly and
respectfully, have equal access to opportunities and resources, and can contribute fully to the
organization's success

Note: A detailed lesson plan is specific enough for another teacher to read and teach
effectively. There should not be any question regarding what to do or how to do it.

Lesson Development (hook/engage/launch, step by step in real time, include questions you will
ask in real time, closure/revisiting learning objectives):

1. Begin by asking the students to gather on the Reading Carpet. Begin reading the book,
“All are Welcome Here”. This book explores the differences of students and how the
students gather together and celebrate their differences on the Lunar New Year.
2. After finishing the book, ask students to return to their seats.
3. Begin to ask the question, “What is a community?”, “What makes up a community?” and
“Why are communities important?”
4. Engage the class in discussion on these terms. They have studied communities this year
so should have a deep understanding of the term.
5. Next, ask students, “Can anyone think of an example of a difference?”. Once again,
engage the students in discussion.
6. Now students, today we are going to talk about our differences in culture, interests and
background all work together for the betterment of our community, similar to the book
we just read.
7. Begin to pass out one blank, pre-cut puzzle piece to each table.
 Elementary Education Program
Department of Teacher Education & Learning Sciences

8. Today students, you have the opportunity to design a puzzle piece that is unique to you
and your culture. You will have twenty minutes to design your puzzle with your crayons
and colored pencils.
9. After we each have designed our own puzzle piece, Ms. Josie and I will collect the pieces
and create our classroom puzzle.
10. Allow students to work for twenty minutes.
11. Before we collect your piece, we are going to go around the class and have each person
share their favorite part of their puzzle piece and how that makes them unique.
12. Allow each student to share, reinforcing the idea that our differences our important and
valued in the classroom.
13. Take ten minutes to paste puzzle together.
14. Hang puzzle on front board.
15. Now, can anyone tell me why this puzzle fits together perfectly? Engage class in
discussion about the importance of each student in the classroom.
16. Close with, “Our puzzle would not be complete without each person’s piece. Each piece
represents your individual culture and all that you drew is vital to our classroom
community.”