ECE/Elementary Ed.

Required Lesson Plan

Lesson/Activity Title: Social Studies, Writing, Art / Constellations and Myths
Colorado Academic Standards Addressed:

SS3.1.2a, SL.3.31, R.L3.1, SL3.1b, RF 3.1,

W3.3
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Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the students that the patterns of stars
that are constellations have Greek myths that are associated with them and to use that
gained knowledge to create their own constellation and myth to go with them.
Learning Objective(s): The learning objective of this lesson is that students will be able
to describe characteristics of constellation myths orally to a partner. Students will then be
able to use their understanding of the characteristics to write their own myth.
Your Goals for Learners: My goal for the learners is that they will be able to identify
that characteristics of constellation myths are, patterns made of stars used to represent
different Greek myths told by people in the past often to teach a lesson or honor someone
or something great. Once they have heard of a few popular myths they will then be able
to create their own myth using this understanding.
Your Learning Principles: I believe that students retain information better when they
are creative and can relate it to themselves and interpreting the information so it makes
sense to them.
Setting: 3rd grade classroom, 24 students in a whole group instruction at the carpet and
the students desks, 1 teacher and 1 intern.
Materials and preparation:
Preparation: This lesson is an extension of a previous mini lesson where the students
read and annotated a brief article about what constellations are, and where and why we
can see them. This provided the needed background knowledge for writing and creating
their own constellations.
Materials:
Power Point with popular constellations to be shown while reading aloud the
different myths
Read Aloud: Greek Myths (adapted by myself for time purposes and more kid
friendly)
Story constructing worksheet
Pencils
Scrap paper
Black Construction Paper
White Tempera Paint
Q-Tips

Introduction:
Students will meet at the carpet and I will turn off the lights. I will have the PowerPoint
slide show displayed of the night sky. I will ask them if they see any shapes or patterns.
After the students have the opportunity to share, I will then explain to them that other
people from a long time ago saw patterns as well.
I will explain who the Ancient Greeks were and their beliefs and how those beliefs shape
the myths we will be hearing about.
Activity Procedure:
1) I will read aloud-different myth legends while displaying the constellation and
then the picture revealed.
2) Ask guiding question, provide time to turn and talk so students remain evolved in
the read aloud.
3) After the read aloud, discuss the characteristics of the myths that the students
noticed while listening.
4) Identify characteristics in each of the myths and have the students repeat back.
5) Give instruction and walk through the worksheet as a whole group, identifying
any questions.
6) Work as a whole group, to create the class story to use as a way to model writing
out the story and thinking process.
7) Students will return to their desk to begin working on their own constellation. The
worksheet given provides structure and guidelines to allow students to work
independently and share with their table partners as they work.
8) Students will work on their worksheets as teacher walk around the room to
provide assistance.
9) When students finish their story, they can begin sketching out how they would
like their constellation pattern to look.
10) When students come back from specials, they will then be given the black
construction paper to paint out their own patterns for their constellation story.
11) When the students are done, they can walk around and look at other students
work or take out a just right book to read.
Differentiation:
Creating a constellation as whole group first models the thought process and procedure to
complete the worksheet. Students work in their small groups and independently
throughout receiving one-on-one help from teachers as they walk around.
Assessment:
The assessment will be the worksheet complete with the characteristics of myths.
Extensions:
When students finish their story, they can begin sketching out how they would like their
constellation pattern to look, or take out a just right book to read until it is time to paint
their own constellations.

Intern Reflection and Self-Evaluation

(Elementary Education lesson plans)
Date: 4/6/16
Lesson: Social Studies, Writing and Art / Constellations and Myths
How was my preparation for this lesson useful?
This lesson was the extension of a mini lesson where the students were introduced and
learned basic facts about constellations, having this background knowledge was helpful
when moving forward in this lesson. Also gathering all the photos and making them a
PowerPoint provided a smooth read aloud and made it more engaging for the students.
As I am planning for my next lesson, what worked well that I would utilize in the
future?
I found the use of visuals very helpful when reading aloud the different myths, it also
provided organic pauses fro students to comment or ask questions. When planning
lessons and a read aloud I will try to work in more visuals.
In my introduction, what worked that I will utilize in future lessons?
I really enjoyed having the lights turned off having the students try to find or come up
with their own patterns or images they could see, the made for a nice segue into the main
focus of the lesson.
During the activity/lesson, what worked that I will utilize in future lessons?
I loved the read aloud and the student participation during that time. The students took
the opportunity to lie back at look at the board while I read aloud the different myths. It
provided an authentic feel and more realistic.
During the closure, what worked that I will utilize in future lessons?
After the students completed their stories they could then grab a scrap piece of paper and
work on sketching out what their constellation will look like, this was helpful because the
next lesson is the art project where they will be painting out their constellations.
During clean up, what worked that I will utilize in future lessons?
When students finished their work, they were to take out their just right books and quietly
read while the other students finished up. This showed me which students were done and
provided more time for the other students to finish up. I walked around the room and
collected the completed worksheets during this time.

Regarding the transition to the next activity, what worked that I will utilize in
future lessons?
Using the lights for transitions was a nice way to get the students attention without
disrupting the calm from the read aloud. When the lights we turned on, the students went
back to their desks to start their stories.
What classroom management strategies worked well that I would utilize again?
The transitions as well as the clear instructions for the expectations provided a smooth
and clear understanding or the students. I also walked around the room provided
additional support and instruction.
What aspects of differentiation worked well? How do I know?
I left my own drawing on the board as well as shared student examples with the class. I
worked one on one as I walked around the room and provided additional help. The
students understood the task and completed all of their work, while completely engaged.
How did the assessment(s) help me to understand what my students know and are
able to do? How did the assessment help me to plan for future instruction?
Seeing the rough drafts helped me understand that the students understood that a
constellation was a group of stars that formed a pattern and as I read through the stories,
all had successfully utilized characteristics of a myth.
What worked in this lesson? What might I try differently next time?
The scaffolding of the worksheet, the modeling and creating the story as a whole group
were a great success. Next time, I would like the students to break away from the
worksheet and write the stories in paragraph form using the worksheet as a rough draft.
I am now thinking that my focus for my next lesson will be:
Continue to write creative narratives and allow the students more freedom with their
writing where they can incorporate their imaginations and creativity.