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LESSON OVERVIEW
Toolkit Topic: My Family
Lesson Title: Lets find out about families around the world!
Subject/Grade Level: Social Studies/ First Grade
Lesson Duration [can be longer than a single class period]: 50-60 minutes
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
Essential Question(s) for Toolkit: What is a family? How are families now different from the
past? How are families different based on where they live?

Essential Question(s) for Lesson: What are the differences between the families we interviews? What
are the similarities between the families interviewed. What are the similarities or differences of the
family interviewed to your family? How do the places they come from affect the differences in their
families? Do you think these families would be different if they were in different places right now?

OBJECTIVES
The student should be able to
identify the differences between
the families they observed.!
The student should be able to
identify the similarities between
the families interviewed.!
The students should be able to
identify differences and
similarities between the families
they interview and their own
families.!
Students should be able to
hypothesize about how the
surrounding the families are in
and the culture affect their
family structures.!
Students should be able to
hypothesizes how the families
they interviewed would change
if they were to be in the
environment the students are in
currently. !

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STANDARDS
E.4.14 Describe how differences in

cultures may lead to understanding

or misunderstanding among people
E.4.9 Explain how people learn about
others who are different from
themselves
E.4.8 Describe and distinguish among
the values and beliefs of different
groups and institutions
E.4.4 Describe the ways in which ethnic
cultures influence the daily lives of
people
E.4.3 Describe how families are alike
and different, comparing
characteristics such as size,
hobbies, celebrations, where
families live, and how they make a
living
E.4.2 Explain the influence of factors
such as family, neighborhood,
personal interests, language, likes
and dislikes, and accomplishments
on individual identity and
development

ASSESSMENTS
Interview Questions and Answers: Students interview will be assessed for their understanding of what
questions they need to ask in order to understand the differences between families and how their
community and culture might effect them. The answers will give an inside to if the questions they
posed were probing enough to get the information they needed.

Exit slip: The students will be assessed on their knowledge they got from the interview. The students
will be assessed on their ability to identify differences and similarities between the families
interviewed and the families they were responsible for and their own family. The slip will also assess if
the students used probing enough questions to hypothesize how the culture or where they live effect
their family and how their family would be different.

DIFFERENTIATION
If the students are ELL or english is their second language we can include their
language in the interview process if the families speak their language.!
The students would be able to ask question in their language to the
person they are interviewing. (If there will be a family that speaks their
language the students will be placed in the group that is responsible for
that family). !
If the students are ELL or english is their second language they will be
encouraged to share their family experiences in regard to the differences and
similarities to the families they interviewed. !

If there are students who are visually impaired:!

The students will be able to hear the interview. The students will not be
ale to read the translation if the families speak in a different language so
the student can come and sit next to the teacher who will read the
responses to him or her.!
If there are students who are hearing impaired:!
The student will be able to see the responses that are translated. For
the families who speak english the student can sit next to a teacher who
will be writing down the responses and they can read them off of the
sheet. !
If the students have behavioral problems and cannot sit in one place for too
long: !
The student can get up and move their spot between interviews that will
allow them to walk around little and switch up their spot so they can
refocus and not be so focused on the fact that they have been sitting in
one place for along amount of time.
LESSON CONTENT OUTLINE

Lesson Opening The lesson would be started with picture activity. (10 Min)!

The students will be shown pictures of families with all of their belonging out on the
curb with them.!
The students will be asked to pick one picture on the board and share with their

partner what they think these families lives are like based on the picture. !
The students can talk about the things they see around them and hypothesize

from there how this would affect the way their family is and what the family would
do.!
Ask the students after sharing to take out a piece of paper, they will turn in, and

write a 6 word story about the family they chose from the picture.!
-the students will have prior knowledge as to what the 6 word story
looks

like. !
Collect the sheets of paper as an assessment of the students understanding how

the environment can effect the way a family is and what the family does. !
http://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2010/08/10/129113632/

picturingpossessions !
Learning Activities: (40 minutes)
Interview: Students will use prior prepared question when interviewing the families over Skype.
The students will be divided into three groups previously and come up with interview questions for the family that

they will interview.

The students will be interviewing three different families from different parts of the world. If the people who are

interviewed are not speaking english there will be a translation done via computer to them and to the classroom.
The people will be friends or someone the teacher knows who are from a different culture than the students in the

classroom.
The students will all get to see the interview on the big screen.

Each group will introduce themselves to the people they specifically will interview.

Each group will have a specific person they will choose to be the interviewer that will ask the questions.

The other students will be responsible for one or two questions they need to write down the responses to.

The teacher will also record the responses in case the students did not get enough time to write them down. ( the

students will not be aware of this and will still be responsible for taking notes).
The groups will have up to 10 questions they can ask the family.

Each group will get to interview their family.

Discussion: after the interviews will be conducted ask the students to discuss in their groups the family they interviewed.
Have students discuss the differences and similarities they saw between the different families they interviewed

today.
Have students share the differences and similarities they saw between the families they interviewed and their own

families.
Ask students to hypothesize how the culture of the families and where they live right now might affect their family.

Ask student to think about if the families were here in US how would their families be different from what they are

currently.
Exit Slip: Student need to complete the answers on the slip and turn them in at the end of the lesson with their interview
questions, and the response notes they got from their group. Each student should turn in their own exit slip and their own
part of the interview notes they were responsible for.
Question one: What differences did you see between the families we interviewed today?
Question two: What similarities did you see between the family your group was responsible for and your own family?
Question three: How do you think their culture and where they live affected the way their family is?
Questions four: How do you think their family would be different if they lived in US?!
Lesson Closing: Collect the students exit slips and interview notes. Discuss with the students the things they noticed. Ask the students
to come for next class with their thank you letters to families that will be mailed out to them to show the gratitude of the students for
taking their time to talk and answer their questions.

MATERIALS/RESOURCES/TECHNOLOGY
Skype!
A big screen !
Student groups interview questions !
Papers for students for note taking!
Copied of the exit slip!
Contact information of the people that will be interviewed

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Exit Slip:

EXIT SLIP:
Please fill out all the questions as much as you can! Turn this in
with your interview materials!
1. What differences did you see between the families you
interviewed?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2. What similarities did you see between the family you
interviewed and your family?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
3. Give ONE hypothesis why the family is the way it is based on
their culture or the place they live.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
4. Give ONE hypothesis on how would the family be if they
lived in the United States instead of where they live.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________