Title: American Symbols

Date: 04/09/2020
Subject area/course/ grade level: Social Studies 2 nd grade

Materials:
 Kid-friendly videos on the internet about U.S symbols https://bit.ly/2KoQvqt
https://youtu.be/6d8BZWaibH8
 iPads/computers/tablets for research
 Epic App and account for students to do research on symbols
 Google account for students
 Paper
 Pencils

Standards:
SS2010 2) Describe the history of American symbols and monuments.
DLIT(2018) R5) Locate and curate information from digital sources to
answer research questions.
13) Create a research-based product using online digital tools.

ISTE Standards for Students

3a Students plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and
other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits.
3c Students curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and
methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or
conclusions.
5b Students collect data or identify relevant data sets, use digital tools to analyze them,
and represent data in various ways to facilitate problem-solving and decision-making.
6c Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a
variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.

Objectives:
 Students will name and identify United States symbols.
 Students will collaborate with their partner and create a digital story about a
United States symbol and discuss ways it represents our nation.
Differentiation Strategies:
The teacher will ask questions to transition the students to use prior knowledge of
symbols.

Engagement:
Ask the students if they know what symbols are. Ask if they know the symbol for peace,
love, luck, stop, etc. Allow think and respond time.
Students will pair with their partner and create a list of as many American symbols as
they can think of. Allow them to share with whole group. Show video on American
symbols. https://youtu.be/6d8BZWaibH8
Assessment: As the students are discussing what symbols mean, the teacher can
determine if everyone understands. If yes, then move on. If they do not, revisit the
meaning of a symbol and give more examples.
Exploration:
After the video, answer any questions with the whole group. Tell the students that with
their partner, they will choose an American symbol to research using Epic.
https://www.getepic.com/ The students will answer these questions about their symbol:
1. What does my symbol represent?
2. What are some characteristics about it?
3. Why was it chosen to represent the USA?
4. What do you like about it?
When the pairs have finished their research, they will create 4-6 slide presentation using
Google Slides, to share with the class.
Presentation must include:
1. A minimum of 4 slides, not more than 6 slides
2. At least 3 pictures of our symbol
3. Correct spelling/ punctuation
4. 5 facts about our symbol

Assessment: As the students are conducting their research, the teacher is walking
around the room checking for comprehension from each student and answering
questions and making their slides.

Explanation:
The pairs will share with the class the four questions about their symbol as they present
their slides. This allows all students to learn about each American symbol/monument.
After the presentations the students will give positive comments to peers on their
presentation and ask any questions they may have. This will be open discussion time.
Assessment: During the presentations, the teacher will watch for incorrect information
and comprehension of the pair presenting.

Evaluation:
Presentation rubric

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Content All content is Almost all At least half of Less than half
about the USA content is about the content is of the content
symbol and is the USA symbol about the USA is about the
accurate. and is accurate. symbol and is USA symbol
accurate. and half
accurate.

Spelling & No spelling or No spelling or One spelling or Several

Grammar grammatical grammatical grammatical spelling and/or
mistakes on mistakes on error on the grammatical
slides with lots slides with little slides. errors on the
of text. text. slides.

Cooperation Worked Worked Worked Worked with

cooperatively cooperatively cooperatively partner some
with partner all with partner with partner of the time,
the time with no most of time most of the time, needing more
issues. and resolved needing little teacher
issues on their teacher intervention.
own. intervention.

Required Slides included Slides included Slides included One or more

Elements all required all required all required required
elements as elements and elements. elements was
well as a few one additional missing from
additional element. the slides.
elements.
Elaboration:
Have students design a symbol they want to go on a new coin/bill that is being printed in
the United States.
Write a paragraph explaining what your symbol represents and why you chose it.
These will be displayed on a bulletin board near the main entrance of the school.