Aim: The class will complete a "What I Know, What I Want to Know and What I Learned" (KWL) chart to build their background knowledge of the community.
| A great guide to our community. This site includes maps, a directory of the local businesses, and a forum. In the forums section, there are many residents who lived in Ridgewood a very long time ago. This is a great opportunity for the students to learn about Ridgewood first-hand. | http://www.hometownusa.com/ny/Ridgewood.html |
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The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) At this site, children learn how to be good citizens. The site is very child-friendly and includes safe places to play, virtual field trips, and interactive games. |
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National Crime Prevention Council |
Implementation-Facilitation
Implementation-Facilitation
A. Motivation
1. Before filling in the KWL chart we will discuss the term "community".
a. Who can tell the class where we live?
b. What is the name of our town?
c. We live in a community. Can someone tell us what the term "community" means?
2. Before filling in the KWL chart we will discuss where our community is located.
a. Where in New York is our community located?
b. Would we be able to find it on a map?
3. We will look at various pictures taken around the community.
a. Let’s look at these pictures of our community that we took. Who can tell us one important place they see in our community?
b. Where are these places located compared to our school?
4. The students will orally state the facts that they know about our community.
B. Method
4. The teacher will ask the students what the word "community" means.
a. Let’s look at the class’ definitions of "community".
b. Talk about different types of communities with the class.
c. Discuss what type of community the class is part of.
5. The teacher will ask the students to tell us where our community is located.
a. Use a map of the community to have the students locate it.
b. If possible, have the students’ incorporate directionality when exploring the map.
6. Next, the teacher will pass around various pictures taken with our community.
7. The teacher will ask the students to observe each picture.
a. Use one picture to discuss as a class how to pick out important aspects of the picture.
8. Then, the teacher will ask the students to state what they know about our community based on the pictures and their prior knowledge.
a. Allow the students to work with a partner to locate important aspects of
each picture.
b. Each group will have a different picture.
c. Then allow each group to share with the class.
9. After writing all the facts on the KWL chart, the students will be asked to write in their notebooks three things they want to know about our community.
a. Write three things you would like to learn about the community.
10. When the students have completed writing what they want to know they will share it with the class, as the teacher writes their ideas on the KWL chart.
11. When the class has completed these sections of the KWL chart, the class will take an extended walk around the neighborhood to explore new sites.
12. After the walk, the class will complete the last section of the KWL chart as a whole class based on what they explored around the neighborhood.
****THE WALK SHOULD BE TAKEN AT A DIFFERENT TIME AS A SEPARATE LESSON*****
Grouping
1. Completing the first two sections of the KWL chart will be done in two
heterogeneous groups.
2. Exploring the neighborhood will be done as a whole class.
Student Activities
1. The students will review vocabulary words.
Vocabulary: Community, Senior Center, Businesses, Police Station, Apartment Buildings
2. The students will state any prior facts that they know about the community.
EXAMPLES OF WHAT I KNOW:
a. Our school is in the community.
b. There is a Senior Center next to our school.
c. Many of us live in an apartment.
3. The students will then write questions that they have about the community.
EXAMPLES OF WHAT I WANT TO KNOW:
a. Where is the Police Station?
b. Where do they park their cars?
c. Is there a library in our community?
4. The students will walk around the neighborhood to learn new facts.
EXAMPLES OF WHAT I LEARNED:
a. I found the Police Station down the block from school.
b. I found the bagel store near my house.
Materials
KWL chart
Pencils
Notebooks
Photos of the community
Reinforcers
1. The students will state information from prior knowledge.
2. The students’ verbal responses will be written on the KWL chart.
3. The students will receive praise for their input of information.
4. The students will brainstorm in groups.
5. The students will all participate in exploring the community.
Evaluation
1. Observation of the students ability to retrieve prior knowledge.
2. Measurement of students observation skills through the students’ ability to state new facts they learned on their walk.
Homework
Use KidPix or any other drawing program to make a map of the block you live on.
a. Be sure to include your apartment or house, and the others on the block.
b. Be sure to also add in any stores or other buildings on your block.
c. Don’t forget the street signs and cars.