Teacher(s) Name: Christa Haggerty, Adriana Burney, Katherine Jenson, Brandi Marshall

Thematic Unit Theme/Title/Grade Level: American Symbols /A Salute to American Symbols / 2nd Grade
Wiki space address: http://ucfgr2americansymbolssp15t.weebly.com/
Daily Lesson Plan Day/Title: Day two / All about the American Flag, Presidential Seal, and Bald Eagle

LearningGoals/Objectives
Whatwillstudents
accomplishbeabletodoat
theendofthislesson?Be
suretosetsignificant
(relatedtoSSS/CCSS),
challengingandappropriate
learninggoals!

Learning Goal:
Students will recognize the nine U.S. symbols we discuss, will know basic
facts about each symbol, and will understand that all of the symbols represent
our freedom.

NCSSThemes
CommonCoreState
Standards(CCSS)
NextGeneration
SunshineStateStandards
(NGSSS)Listeach
standard.Cuttingand
pastingfromthewebsiteis
allowed.
http://flstandards.org.

NCSStheme(s):
Power, Authority, Governance
Common Core State Standard(s):
LAFS.2.W.1.AP.2a Write statements that name a topic and supply some
facts about the topic.
LAFS.2.SL.1.2 Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read
aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
LAFS.2.SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse
partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small
and larger groups.
NextGenerationSunshineStateStandards:
SS.2.C.3.2 Recognize symbols, individuals, events, and
documents that represent the United States.

Assessment
Howwillstudentlearning
beassessed?
Authentic/Alternative
assessments?
Doesyourassessmentalign
withyourobjectives,
standardsandprocedures?
Informalassessment
(multiplemodes):
participationrubrics,
journalentries,
collaborative
planning/presentation
notes,etc.

Learning Objectives:
1. Students will understand what a symbol is.
2. Students will understand what an American flag is, why it is a symbol of
the United States, and will be able to supply some facts about it.
3. Students will understand what a Presidential Seal is, why it is a symbol of
the United States, and will be able to supply some facts about it.
4. Students will understand what a bald eagle is, why it is a symbol of the
United States, and will be able to supply some facts about it.

Unit Pre-Assessment:
Two weeks prior to the Unit, the students will be given an assessment
consisting of 10 questions. The questions include circling one of three
images that represent the United States, circling one of three images that does
NOT represent the United States, writing a brief sentence about what US
symbols stand for, and creating a symbol that represents the United States. This
assessment should be used to guide instruction.
Unit Post-Assessment:
We will use the same assessment we used for the pre-assessment, however
some of the questions will be moved around.
On-going daily (progress-monitoring) Assessment:
At the end of the lesson, we will ask students to hold up 0-4 fingers regarding
their knowledge of symbols in general, and American symbols specifically. We
would have the following chart listed somewhere in the classroom that is
visible to students so that they can self-assess their knowledge:

1. I know what a symbol is, but I could not talk about any of the three
symbols discussed today (American flag, Presidential Seal, bald eagle).
2. I know what a symbol is, and I could talk about one out of the three
symbols discussed today (American flag, Presidential Seal, bald eagle).
3. I know what a symbol is, and I could talk about two out of the three
symbols discussed today (American flag, Presidential Seal, bald eagle).
4. I know what a symbol is, and I could talk about all of the three symbols
discussed today (American flag, Presidential Seal, bald eagle) and I could
teach a friend about these symbols.

Design for Instruction

Activate prior knowledge/Anticipatory Set
(10 mins)
Student Activities &
Hold up a stuffed animal bald eagle for all the students to see and have
Procedures
the students pass it around. While the stuffed animal is being passed
Whatbestpractice
around, pass out to each student a small hand held American Flag and a
strategieswillbe
mock Presidential Seal. (ESOL/ESE Accommodation: provide
implemented?
contextual support through tangible artifacts/artifakes)
Howwillyoucommunicate
Ask students what each of these objects are. If students know what the
studentexpectations?
objects are, have them explain what they know about it. If they don't
Whatproductswillbe
know what an object is, introduce the object to the class by explaining
developedandcreatedby
its name, providing a short background, and asking a question to further
students?
engage the students in the object. (ESOL/ESE Accommodation: link
ConsiderContextual
lesson topic to students' prior knowledge)
o This is the American flag. Each country in the world has a flag,
Factors(learning
differences/learning
and this is our country's flag. The American flag can be seen in
many different places. Where have you seen the American
environment/learning
flag before? (Potential answers: in the classroom, in front of the
styles)thatmaybeinplace
schools, in front of someone's house...)
inyourfutureclassroom.
o
This is the Presidential Seal. It was made back in 1945 and is
Exceptionalities
used by the President of the United States to seal a letter or
What accommodations or
document that he was sending to Congress. The Presidential seal
modifications do you make
is also placed on documents that the President signs, to verify
for ESOL, Gifted/Talented
that the President's signature is real. The Presidential Seal is also
students, Learning/Reading
a symbol to represent the President of the United States. Where
disabilities (SLD), etc.
have you seen the Presidential Seal before or where do you
think you may see the Presidential seal? (Potential answers:
Air Force One, the Presidential limousine, on the podium the
President makes speeches on, on letters from the President...)
o This is a bald eagle. The bald eagle is a type of bird. It became
the national bird for the United States in 1782. Have any of you
ever seen a bald eagle before, if so where at? Why do you
think this specific bird became the national bird? (Potential
answers: seen bald eagle at the zoo/outside, it's the national bird
because it is beautiful/strong/powerful)
The teacher will write names of the three symbols (American flag,
Presidential Seal, and bald eagle) up on the white board for all students
to see. (ESOL/ESE Accommodation: list important words on the board)
(5 mins)

The teacher will explain that today the students will be rotating in
groups for three different centers. At each center, there will be a symbol
that represents America, and an activity that goes along with that
symbol. The teacher will then explain that the three symbols for today's
centers are the American Flag, the Presidential Seal, and the bald eagle.
(ESOL Accommodation: promote cooperation in small groups)
The teacher will explain what the students should do in each center in
simplified, slow, and redundant speech. (ESOL/ESE Accommodation:
direct instruction: teacher modeling and explaining in simplified, slow,
and redundant speech)
The teacher will outline on the white board how students will rotate in
groups throughout each center. (ESOL/ESE Accommodation: establish
predictable classroom routine through the use of an outline on the
board)
The teacher will tell the students to bring along their artifacts (small
hand held American Flag and mock Presidential Seal) and their US
Symbols Fact book with them to each center. The teacher will place the
bald eagle stuffed animal at the bald eagle center for students to see and
hold while participating in the bald eagle center.

Centers:
Center one: American Flag (15 mins)
(10 mins)
Students will listen to the book Stars and Stripes: The Story of the
American Flag by Sarah L. Thomson, Bob Dacey, and Debra Bandelin
on audio. They will learn about the American flag and how the flag
came to be.
Students will then review the facts they just heard in the story, and add
some new facts to their knowledge by completing a matching cards
game. Students will be given a set of matching cards with American
flag fun facts on them. Students are to match up the cards to complete
the sentence, which states an American flag fun fact. The answers will
be on the backs of the cards so students will be able to check their
matches.
Students who finish early can use the internet to look up the answers to
questions they may still have about the American flag. (ESE
Accommodation: extension of lesson opportunity)
(5 mins)
Students will record what they learned about the American Flag in their
US Symbols Fact book under the picture of the American flag. They
will write at least three to four sentences. (ESOL/ESE Accommodation:
students can use drawings or write key concepts instead of sentences in
their fact books) (ESOL/ESE Accommodation: intergrading listening,
writing, and reading activities)
Center two: Presidential Seal (15 mins)
(10 mins)
Students will use computers to gain access to an interactive Presidential
Seal at http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/5a2a.htm. Students will
scroll over different parts of the Presidential Seal and learn what each

part means.
o Shield: 13 stripes representing the original 13 states
o Eagle: Represents the United States and symbolizes the president's
role as Ceremonial Head of State.
o Olive Branch: Symbolizes peace and the president's role as Chief
Diplomat.
o Arrows: Symbolizes the president's role as Commander in Chief of
the Armed Forces.
o Stars: Represents the 50 states and are symbols of the president as
Chief Executive and National Leader.
Students will then create a New Presidential Seal with the website's
instructions. They are to click on the "Create A New Presidential Seal"
link and follow the directions.
o Directions: Two roles of the president are not represented on the
seal. They are Manager of the Economy and Party Leader. What
objects would you use to symbolize these roles? Draw a new seal
that includes all six symbols of the presidency- the stars, arrows,
olive branch, and eagle, plus your two new symbols.
Students will create their new Presidential Seal on a blank sheet of
paper with any writing utensils available.
Students who finish early can use the internet to look up the answers to
questions they may still have about the Presidential Seal. (ESE
Accommodation: extension of lesson opportunity)

(5 mins)
Students will record what they learned about the Presidential Seal in
their US Symbols Fact book under the picture of the Presidential Seal.
They will write at least three to four sentences. (ESOL/ESE
Accommodation: students can use drawings or write key concepts
instead of sentences in their fact books) (ESOL/ESE Accommodation:
intergrading listening, writing, and reading activities)
Center three: Bald Eagle (15 mins)
(10 mins)
Students will read a readers theater script about bald eagles. They will
pick their character and read through the script.
Students will discussed what they learned about bald eagles and how
they symbolize the United States.
Students will create an acrostic poem with the word "eagle". They will
fill in the poem with new facts they just learned about bald eagles.
Students can use reference materials such as a dictionary or thesaurus
to help them create their poem. (ESOL/ESE Accommodation: use of
reference materials)
Students who finish early can use the internet to look up the answers to
questions they may still have about bald eagles. (ESE Accommodation:
extension of lesson opportunity)
(5 mins)
Students will record what they learned about the Bald Eagle in their
US Symbols Fact book under the picture of the Bald Eagle. They will

write at least three to four sentences. (ESOL/ESE Accommodation:

students can use drawings or write key concepts instead of sentences in
their fact books) (ESOL Accommodation: intergrading listening,
writing, and reading activities)
Closure/Check for Understanding: (5 mins)
Students will return to their seats from their centers
The teacher will ask students to self assess themselves on their
understanding of the three symbols that they learned about today.
Students will self assess themselves by giving themselves a rating of
1,2,3, or 4. They will hold up the number of figures of their rating
under their chin for the teacher to see. (ESOL/ESE Accommodation:
continually monitoring students' comprehension) (ESOL/ESE
Accommodation: students self monitoring their learning)
After students self assess themselves, they can use the extra time to
finish any pages in their US Symbols Fact book they hadn't had the
time to finish. Any student who did not finish recording what they
learned about each of the three symbols will finish for homework.
(ESOL/ESE Accommodation: providing extra time for students to
finish their class work)
Resources/Materials

American Flag book:

Stars and Stripes: The Story of the American Flag by Sarah L. Thomson
American flag activity:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/American-Flag-Fun-Facts-andCraft-324489
Presidential Seal website:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/5a2a.html

Bald Eagle reader's theater:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Symbols-of-America-ReadersTheater-Scripts-419518
DiscussionNotes:Makecommentshererelatedtoideasforassessmentmeasures,parentinvolvement,field
trips,orextensiontotheunitplanideas.