This document outlines a lesson plan for teaching fifth grade students about major Civil War battles. The teacher will use a variety of methods including a Second Life virtual tour of Gettysburg, online research through a WebQuest, and creating digital stories and newspaper articles in groups. Students will research two battles, taking notes on graphic organizers, then write a newspaper article and create a digital story to depict the "breaking news" of each battle. The teacher will evaluate students by checking their work and participation in groups, collecting assignments, and grading the digital stories based on a rubric.

1. Kayla Napier
CI 350
Harold Blanco
October 10, 2013
Lesson Four
I.
Analyzethe Learners: I will be teaching a class of twenty-five fifth grade students
who are between ten and eleven years old. There are twelve girls and thirteen boys,
four of whom are African Americans. Overall, there are numerous ways that my
students learn. Thus, I will be incorporating a variety of teaching strategies in order
to ensure that all of my students can easily comprehend the material.
II.
State Objectives: My fifth grade students will identify and describe major Civil War
battles and their outcomesby utilizinga WebQuest, cooperative learning groups,
online research,newspaper templates, pictures, and the creation of digital stories by
the end of the day with 95% accuracy.
III.
Selecting Methods, Material, and Media: To spark student excitement, I will
incorporate the following materials throughout the lesson:
Second life: The students will explore one battle through an interactive tour
on Second Life entitled Virtual Gettysburg: 1863.
WebQuest:The WebQuest will provide the students with assignment instructions,
kid-friendly websites, videos, blogs, and podcasts that they can utilize for research
regarding their chosen battles. This WebQuest also provides sample graphic
organizers and newspaper templates.
Smart board:I will display the WebQuest and its instructions on the
classroom smartboard.

2. Computer Lab:The computer lab will be reserved for online research
regarding each battle.
IPads/video cameras: These resources will be used for the students to create
a digital story.
Windows Live Movie Maker:The students will use this software to edit their
digital stories.
Graphic Organizers/ Newspaper Templates:The students can use the graphic
organizers to write down ideas and facts while completing their online
research. They will then use this information to create a newspaper article
using a template that has been provided.
Group Project:Each group of students will work together to create a digital
story based on the information within their articles.
Pinterest:I will display pictures of Civil War battles that I have retrieved from
my Pinterest account.
IV.
Utilize Media and Material: Prior to class, I will preview all materials and electronic
devices that will be used throughout the lesson. Thus, I will make sure that I can
easily access our Second life virtual tour. Then I will display the class WebQuest
(entitled “Journey to the Civil War”) on the smart board to make sure all of my
digital materials and websites are working properly. Furthermore, I will place the
iPads and video cameras in two separate baskets located in front of my desk, so that
my students can use these devices to complete their group projects. Also I will write
a checklist on the dry-erase board to explain each step to the overall assignment.

3. V.
Require Learner Participation: At the beginning of class, I will explain that there
were many important battles that helped to influence the outcome of the Civil War,
and I will display a few battle pictures that I have collected from my Pinterest
account. Then I will allow the students to take a virtual tour of Gettysburg on Second
Life. After completing this activity, the students will be divided into groups of three
so that they can research about other battles. Each group will research at least two
battles that are listed on the WebQuest using the websites provided. While
researching, the students will fill out graphic organizers to record facts about each
battle. Then they will use this information to create a newspaper article after
choosing from the templates that have been provided. As a group, the students will
work together to write and edit their articles. Each report must be written from a
historic perspective and answer the required questions from the WebQuest. After
competing this newspaper article, each group will then publish their information “on
air” by creating a digital story to depict the “breaking news” of each battle. To
complete this assignment, the students will then use a video camera to record their
stories, and canedit their movie clip using Windows Live Movie Maker. Students will
have until the end of the week to complete this project. Overall, this activity will
help to make history more relevant to the children by incorporating 21 st Century
technology and skills into the classroom.
VI.
Evaluate and Revise: To evaluate my students and check for comprehension, I will:
Circulate throughout the room asking questions,
Check for student participation in group projects,

4. Collect each group’s graphic organizers,
Collect each newspaper article (which will be graded based on the rubric in
the class WebQuest),
Grade each group’s digital story at the end of the week. This must include:
o Location and name of battle
o Number of casualties
o Major players in this battle (important generals, colonels, etc.)
o Winning Side
o 2-4 minutes in length