Lesson 3: Factors that make an effective lesson plan when using Cultural Artifacts
Guiding Questions for Lesson 3:
- What makes an effective and engaging lesson plan through the use of cultural artifacts?
- How does a lesson plan that uses cultural artifacts look like?
- How does one go about analyzing their own cultural artifacts?
- Is a thorough analysis of an artifact necessary before being used in the classroom environment?
Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to:
- select a topic for a lesson plan creation and describe it in a written rationale for the final assessment of the course.
- analyze a sample cultural artifact of their choosing and complete an observation sheet.
- reflect and compose a brief reflection using the lesson guiding questions.
Overview and Expectations:
In the first half of this unit, participants will review both the positive and negative effects that entail teaching with cultural artifacts. Participants will complete readings, select a personal cultural artifact sample to analyze, complete an observation sheet based on that artifact, and write a brief reflection on your findings. Participants will also select their topic for their final assessment (a lesson plan) in the mini course. They will develop a rationale and consider possible cultural artifacts to use in their lesson plan.
This lesson will allow students to create a better understanding of the term cultural artifacts by describing something personal to their own lives. This will give participants the opportunity to become the learner and view cultural artifacts as their students would view them in their classroom experience.
By completing assessments like the observation sheet, self reflection, and the topic selection and written rationale, participants will be able to show a developing understanding of the material given thus far in this mini course.
Learning Activities:
1. Participants will read the following articles and use the lesson guiding questions to start thinking about possible factors that affect the creation of an effective lesson plan that uses cultural artifacts.
Extra readings:
- http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2013/01/10/30-ways-to-promote-creativity-in-your-classroom/
2. Participants will list 4-5 factors they found to be imperative in the creation of an effective lesson plan that uses cultural artifacts.
3. Participants will select a sample artifact of their own choosing that best reflects their own cultural background and/or experiences. Once a cultural artifact has been selected, participants will complete an observation sheet to deeply analyze their artifact with a deep attention to detail. A picture or drawing should be submitted with the observation sheet to demonstrate the artifact to the group and/or instructor. The observation sheet to be completed can be found here: http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/observe.pdf
Consider the following model to better develop your insights about the concept of culture in order to analyze your own cultural artifact in the above activity!
http://www.msdwt.k12.in.us/msd/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/iceburgofculture.pdf
4. Finally, participants will consider and select a topic of their own choosing and 1-2 artifacts to use to create their final assessment of the mini course, a lesson plan using cultural artifacts. Then, write a brief rationale describing their reasons for selecting the specific cultural artifacts, how they will support the lesson, and the purpose for teaching the chosen topic.
References:
http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/observe.pdf
http://www.uft.org/teacher-teacher/historical-artifacts-bring-learning-life
http://teachinghistory.org/issues-and-research/roundtable-response/25
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/6390
http://www.socialstudies.org/system/files/publications/yl/1804/180427.pdf
http://www.msdwt.k12.in.us/msd/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/iceburgofculture.pdf http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2013/01/10/30-ways-to-promote-creativity-in-your-classroom/
Links:
Go to: Unit 2: Utilizing Cultural Artifacts in the Classroom | Next Lesson: Lesson 4: Creating lessons using cultural artifacts
Go back to mini course: Using cultural artifacts in the language classroom
Go back to Unit 1: Unit 1: Introduction to Cultural Artifacts