Inquiry Lesson Plan Social Studies Methods
Inquiry Lesson Plan Social Studies Methods
Inquiry Lesson Plan Social Studies Methods
Topic: Cultural Backgrounds, Grade Level: 1st Name: Ashlie Barton and Kaylene Hathaway
personal customs, and Nationalities
# in a series: 2 Grouping: Students will begin by being divided into groups of 4. Then, after working
individually for some while, they will regather back into their original groups again.
CCSS: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.7
Explain how specific images (e.g., a diagram showing how a machine works) contribute to and clarify a text.
Social Studies Standard: 1.SS.1.1.4 Compare personal histories, pictures, and music of other selected times and places in
America’s past.
Objective/s: Students will be able to define what a cultural background is, and compare their own cultural background with others
through studying customs/traditions, holidays, music, Nationalities, etc. Students will be able to make a poster that explores their own
cultural background, and briefly share it with others.
Accommodations:
To accommodate students who may have differentiated individual needs, allow them to choose and perform one of the following
tasks:
1. Allow the students to watch a video about culture to help them understand that culture varies across the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpTR1wF4M6k
2. Have students draw a picture about their favorite holiday, custom, or tradition (on a blank paper). Follow up by asking them
how participating in that holiday/custom/tradition has shaped them into the person that they are.
3. Have the students read a book about culture and then create a picture chart that shows different
4. Allow the students to complete a free-write on a blank lined sheet of paper. Have them briefly write/respond to the prompt:
“What does culture mean? What are some parts of your culture?”
Time: What the teacher will say and What the student will say and do: Materials:
do:
5 min. Anticipatory Set/Gain The students will sit on a rug, facing the Sombrero hat, hair flower, chinese
Attention & Recall prior board where the teacher will present umbrella, African beaded necklace and
Knowledge: The teacher will herself and speak with the students. The colorful robe (other props from other
leave the classroom to put on a students will comment on the cool props countries can be substituted).
Mexican Sombrero hat, and and they will make their best guesses as
then come back in to ask the they answer questions about where the
students where they think the props came from.
hat came from? Which country?
Then she will leave again and
come back into the classroom
wearing a flower in her hair and
holding a Chinese umbrella
over her head. She will ask the
same questions. Next, she will
leave the classroom and then
return wearing a colorful robe
and beaded necklace
(representing Africa), and ask
the same follow up questions.
5 min. Teacher Input: The students will work together with the N/A
The teacher will explain that teacher to create a synonym web.
different countries and even
different areas within our own The students will give a thumbs up if
country all have different they agree that they understand what
cultures. Our culture depends “culture” and “cultural background”
on things such as what we means.
wear, what we do (activities),
what we eat, how we speak, The students will provide
what we believe in, what input/comments about what culture is,
holidays we participate in, etc. and different countries that have different
cultures. They will respectfully listen to
The teacher will use the “word the teacher when she’s speaking, and
wall” strategy, by placing the continually sit criss-cross-apple-sauce on
words: cultural background, the rug.
customs, and Nationality on the
board (along with their
definitions). Then, go over each
one and explain more if needed.
China
New Year’s Festival
USA
Easter
Jerusalem
Hanukkah
Africa
Kwanzaa
Mexico
Day of the Dead
Turkey
Christmas
USA
Groundhog Day
Mexico
Cinco De Mayo
Traditions/Customs: What family traditions and customs do you have? Do you celebrate holidays? How?
Family: Who are your family members that you live with?
Foods: What foods do you eat in your culture? Do you have special foods that you eat?
Language/Ethnicity: What languages are spoken in your culture? What is your race? Where are your ancestors from?