Kristin Imberger

Research for Children

Professional Development Lesson Plan

Overview: This lesson is intended to show faculty and staff of a tool that I think will
be valuable, Our Documents. It is a government website that I chose because it
contains valuable, accurate information for students to use in their research
process. Our Documents is a website that contains 100 milestone documents
including the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. This is a great
website for students to look at copies of these documents as there written years
ago and to read about the history involved with these documents. There is even a
resource book for teachers to use with these documents.

There is a lot of historical information offered on this website. It based on 100

documents that were most affective in America. There are actual copies of these
documents that can be downloaded for free, resources for educators to use, lesson
plan ideas. There are great ideas for librarians and tons of useful information that
can be used with many content areas.

Procedure
1. Talk to the faculty about important historical information they use in their
classrooms.
a. What kinds of historical events do you talk about in your classroom?
b. What kinds of events should you talk about in your classroom?
c. How can we get students more engaged in history?
d. How can we integrate history into every subject?
2. Let’s talk about a great tool, Our Documents
a. www.ourdocuments.gov
b. We will take a look at these documents
i. Look at Constitution
ii. Look at Bill of Rights
iii. Look at JFK’s Inaugural Address
c. What are some ways you can use this website in your classroom?
i. Focus Activity
Introduce document analysis as a regular activity at the
beginning of each class period to focus student attention on the
day's topic.

For example: Place a transparency of a document on an

overhead projector for students to see as they enter the room;
or meet students at the door, hand them a document, and as
soon as the bell rings, begin a discussion.
1. Content Area: History, Language Arts
 ii. Brainstorming Activity
Launch a brainstorming session prior to a new unit of study with
a document. This will alert students to topics that they will study.

For example: Distribute one or more documents to students. Ask

them what places, names, concepts, and issues are contained in
the documents, as well as what questions the documents
prompt. Write these on a sheet of butcher paper. Keep this list
posted in the room for the duration of the unit. Check off items
as the students study them.
1. Content Area: History, Language Arts, Science/Geography
iii. Visualization Exercise
Encourage students to visualize another place or time by
viewing and analyzing graphical materials.

For example: Post around your classroom photographs; maps,

and other visual materials created during the period that you are
studying. Change these images as the units change.
1. Content Area: History, Language Arts,
Science/Geography, Drama
iv. What are some other ways to use this website in your
classroom?
1. Hand out Our Documents Source Book
v. There are various competitions for students as well as educators
to come up with some innovative lesson plans, why not try it?
vi. What questions do you have about this website?
Materials:
Computer
Projector
Screen
Access to internet
Copies of Sourcebook