The following unit is titled “What Makes a Leader” and is designed for the fifth grade. In this overview and rationale we will describe the ideas we plan to use in this unit. In order for students to understand what makes an effective leader this unit will provide information on various types of current and historic leaders. Students should understand that a “bad” leader can still be effective according to his or her designs. We feel that children learn best when the material is presented in a way that students can relate to it and apply it to their lives and own experiences. This unit plan is composed of several lesson plans.
The students will discuss problems that they know of in their schools, communities and around the world and then narrow down these issues, focusing on the one that is most important to them. From there, students will then research and discuss the chosen issue, finding a way that they believe they can make a difference. Students will then choose a way to best impact the issue such as raising money, making posters about the issue or collecting items. The process should be totally student-driven and teacher-guided.
Students use tangrams in this math lesson to practice group participation and cooperation. This lesson focuses on the group process and is designed to introduce students to working in teams. This lesson is anchored in mathematics, using Tangram puzzles.
Teacher-Submitted Lesson: This simple, fun partner activity develops students' communication skills. Students will gain a greater understanding of the keys to effective communication, build team and cooperative learning skills, and develop feedback skills.
In this problem solving lesson plan for grades 6-12, students use a free online game called Quandary to practice ethics, critical thinking and problem solving skills. This lesson can also be used with 5th grade students to introduce higher order thinking problems.
Students will be introduced to entrepreneurship and learn how inventing a product can lead to becoming an entrepreneur. An emphasis on entrepreneurship as a way of improving income and opportunities in the future, as well as impacting communities.
Following the traditional form of the haiku, students publish their own haikus using Animoto, an online web tool that creates slideshows that blend text and music.
A tactile and visual lesson about how unkind words can “wrinkle” your heart. The lesson develops emotional intelligence by making the connection between words, actions and feelings.
