Unit Title: Freedom and Me
Unit Overview: Students recognize that in order to have freedom, they must show and demonstrate the qualities of being an exemplary citizen: equality,
justice, and loyalty.
DAY #1
Objective During the grand conversation,
students will be able to describe
the impact that Mean Jean had
on other students.
Students will write an uplifting
letter to a classmate
anonymously to demonstrate
the importance of kind words.
Standards IAS: 2.RL.2.3; 2.W.3.3
Materials My 2nd grade pictures, letter
paper, pencil, clipboards,
checklist, and example (on
whiteboard)
Management Group discussions and individual
writing activity
Anticipatory 2nd Grade me and my story on
Set bullying
Purpose Today, we are going to read a
story about Mean Jean the
Recess Queen. Mean Jean runs
the school yard with her
negative words. Her words
create tension and fear among
her classmates. But, something
happens, and her attitude
changes, which effects the rest
of her classmates.
Lesson Reading the book aloud and
Presentation allow for students’ discussion to
answer: how did Katie Sue
respond to Mean Jean trying to
tell her what to do? How did
Katie Sue change Jean? This will
lead to students writing uplifting
and encouraging words to each
other.
Closure or Discussion about how to
Conclusion encourage others and ways to
help others feel encouraged.
Formative The letters students wrote to
Assessment each other are assessed to see if
they wrote words of
encouragement.
Adaptations Students are not in one place
for too long and there are a
variety of ways to contribute –
discussion and written
Summative
Assessment
(as needed)
DAY #2
Students will be able to answer
the question, what does the
Pledge of Allegiance mean, by
explaining the words of the
Pledge.
IAS: 2.2.6; 2.RV.2.2
NCSS: PAG (Strand 6)
ISTE
Map of U.S., mirror, American
Flag, Statue of Liberty image,
chain/links, gavel, Bald Eagle
image, precut paper, glue, pencils
Group discussions, breakout
groups
Finding the connection between a
group of objects
Today, we are going to dig into the
question, what does the Pledge of
Allegiance mean? Sometimes, we
find ourselves saying words and
phrases, but we do not actually
know why or what we are saying;
therefore, we are going to take
apart the meaning and break it
down.
Students take responsibility of the
Pledge by understanding the
meaning of the words and using
sign language for them.
Additionally, they create a chain-
linked flag to demonstrate their
ownership of the Pledge.
Refer back to the anticipatory set
objects and how they each fit into
the words and meaning of the
Pledge.
Students participated in group
discussion about the meaning of
the Pledge.
Students move between stations,
provided with verbal, written, and
visual demonstrations.
Name: Abby Greenfield
DAY #3
Students will create campaigns or
help create campaigns for a mock
government.
Students will identify community
leaders and understand their
responsibilities.
IAS: 2.2.3; 2.2.6
NCSS: PAG (Strand 6); CIP (Strand
10)
Slides, iPads, Google Forms
Lesson presentation at seats and
small group presentation
Voting for favorite ice cream flavor
When we vote for different types of
ice creams, in our minds, we have to
decide which is the better flavor. We
also realized that our opinion may
not be the same as others, but
everyone has a voice. This is the idea
when it comes to voting for
community leaders. Today, we are
going to expand our understanding
of the different roles and
responsibilities of several
community leaders; then, we will
hold our own vote.
Students learn the several
government positions using
Zootopia characters. They then
apply their knowledge of a mayor
and book characters to vote for who
would be a better mayor.
Reminder of the importance of
voting: an expression of your voice.
Voting for the mayor demonstrates
freedom of opinion.
Students are moving around and
provided the opportunity to work in
groups. Additionally, the speaker is
decided within the group.
DAY #4
Students will create rectangles
and identify the perimeter.
IAS: 3.M.5
Slides, iPads
Individual and partner work on the
iPads
Building a wall around a Lego square.
When you play Minecraft, you can
build a house. Within the house, you
are able to place furniture around the
room, similar to what you did with
the Legos. Without knowing it, your
brain is already thinking about the
length of the room walls and the
empty space that you can fill. This
concept is area and perimeter.
Students learn how to calculate
perimeter through the use of
Minecraft, where they can build and
challenge their friends.
A quick overview of the term
perimeter and returning to the
anticipatory set to calculate the
perimeter of the Lego wall.
This would appear on a unit test for
these particular students since they
are further ahead than others.
This is tailored to this group of
students; therefore, it incorporates a
hands-on approach. They are able to
create and manipulate their iPads for
the task.