West Irondequoit Central School District

Technology Rich Lesson Plan

Name:

Katie McClintic

Grade(s)

Third

Information about the Lesson 

Title:

Compare Your Culture with the Mayan

Brief Description:

Students watch a short (3 minute) video clip of a modern Mayan family. They compare, in a Venn diagram, the similarities and differences between their lives and the culture of the Maya in the clip. Finally, students identify which cultural components (i.e. food, economy, education, etc.) their observations fall under.

Subject(s) 
integration

All	Information literacy	Language arts
Science	Arts	Mathematics
xSocial studies	Educational technology	Health
Vocational education	Foreign languages	Physical education

(time required to complete lesson, e.g. "two 45-minute sessions")

One 20-25 minute session

Goals:
(curriculum and unit related; National or State standards)

District outcomes for grade 3 social studies to be implemented in Fall 2006.

Objectives:
(measurable specific activities conducted by students)

The student will be able to share, via a Venn diagram, several similarities and differences between their culture (i.e. food, economy, etc.) and that of the Maya.

Teacher Materials/Resources:
(specific materials the teacher must have to conduct the lesson, e.g. Romeo and Juliet (video), American flag, etc.)

None needed
or list necessary materials:
Video clip

Student Materials/Resources:
(specific materials the students must have to complete the lesson, e.g. calculators, construction paper, finger paints, etc.)

None needed
or list necessary materials:
Social studies journals

Pencils

Colored pen or pencil

Procedures:

1. Open the Video Clip from WXXI: United Streaming. The video is “Mexico: The People” and the clip to play from that video is titled “Yucatan Heritage: Mestizos and Maya”
2. Play the video once for the children. Have them simply watch and listen.
3. Instruct students to set up a Venn diagram in their social studies journals. Have them label the middle of the diagram “similarities” and the outside parts of the circles “My Culture” and “Mayan Culture.”
4. Play the video once or twice more. As you play it, have the students record their observations on their Venn diagrams.
5. Discuss observations as a class, connecting students’ ideas to the components of culture in the curriculum (i.e. food, economy, family values, education, etc.) Students can add the name of the component of culture in a colored pen next to each of their observations during the discussion.

Assessment:

Observation of students during the class discussion, as well as the Venn diagrams in their social studies journals.

Useful Internet Resources:

Video Clip from WXXI: United Streaming. The video is “Mexico: The People” and the clip to play from that video is titled “Yucatan Heritage: Mestizos and Maya”

Attach a File: (link to accompanying files)

Sample of Student’s Venn Diagram