Unit Plan #4: History Ancient Americans

Submitted By: Denise Crosby

Unit Plan #4: Reflection Page

1. Where did you get the ideas and materials for this unit plan? Include website names & URLs, book titles and authors. The main source of reference for ideas and materials for this unit plan came from the Houghton Mifflin 1st Grade Social Studies textbook United States History, Volume 1. I also used the Montessori Native American Card Set from
www.montessoriservices.com/native-american-card-set for individual and pair seat work.

I also used http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ for making the rubric for the project at the
end of the unit.

2. What were the easiest and most challenging parts of writing this unit plan? The easiest part of writing this unit plan was following the Houghton Mifflin TE. Each lesson is clearly mapped out with many extensions and ideas for enhancing the lesson. I liked the variety of assessing the students understanding that were suggested at the end of each lesson. The most difficult was the assessment and developing a rubric. I find this always a challenge, as I want to have variety but have the assessment be authentic. 3. What suggestions do you have for yourself for the next time you write unit plans? I would allow myself more time in writing unit plans. I always under-estimate the time needed to write the plans. I also believe I over think each lessons assessment and extended activities. I almost feel that I am rewriting the ideas from the TE in the unit plans and it seems redundant to me. This is probably because I have been a teacher for quite some time and I am familiar with the set up and organization of a well-prepared lesson.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2013 Karen Powell- Instructor