Social StudiesUnit for 4th Grade

Denise Lenihan

Significance

“Life in Virginia during the Reconstruction Era”

Reconstruction Era is critical to rebuilding a nation after what is arguably the worst war this nation has faced

Period of change and development

Led to freedoms, four million slaves set free

Rebuilding of cities, railroads, buildings, plantations, the economy

Democracy foundation (14th and 15th Amendments)

Lesson #1

“On the Map”

Map #1: shows the population of Slaves in Virginia, in 1860, to show the number of freed slaves after the Civil War

Map #2: Booker T. Washington’s home in Franklin County, VA

Students are to draw their own plantation maps, incorporate a key, and find the coordinates of Booker T. Washington’s home

Lesson #2

“The Banjo”

Image of a banjo is projected onto screen, students identify it and label the parts/see an old banjo artifact

Hand make their individual banjos using an old soap box and rubber bands/then they can play and practice together

Social impact of war on African Americans, they used music

Lesson #3

“Booker T. Washington”

Re-enactment of Booker T. Washington

Graphic organizer to fill out his leadership qualities and civic engagement about Civil Rights

Effects of the “Jim Crow” laws and Booker T’s response

My favorite lesson- Booker T. Washington was a true leader, students very engaged with the re-enactment, bring in ginger cakes!

Lesson #4

“Jim Crow Laws”

Excerpt from an old newspaper, caricature

Research on the effect of the “Jim Crow Laws”, using internet links, biographies of Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Abraham Lincoln, W.E.B Du Bois, newspaper articles- Chronicle, USA Studies Weekly, text A History of Us; Reconstructing America

Assessments

3 multiple choice questions

Identify the principal cause of the Civil War

Specific form of art brought the newly freed slaves together

How Booker T. Washington responded to the prejudice and discrimination

Essay question

What were the “Jim Crow Laws”, 3 specific examples, 2 key leaders who fought against the laws

Challenges/Rewards

Challenges: finding primary sources and artifacts, figuring out what is most appropriate for this grade level, keeping a main focus (Reconstruction Era can be easily broadened)

Rewards: full lesson plans, sharing with my CT, knowing where to get sources/information, connecting class lessons/pedagogy with our own ideas, learning about an important time period of our country’s history

Closing

Relevance: SOL VUS. 7 Civil War and Reconstruction: 1860-1877 and SOL VUS. 8 Reshaping the Nation and the Emergence of Modern American: 1877 to 1930s

Perspective on our development, suffering, and new foundations

The nation and Virginia have grown because of it today

Wiki: http://dnlenihan.wmwikis.net/home