Lesson 4: Creating lessons using cultural artifacts
Guiding Questions:
- How can I make my own lesson plans using such artifacts?
- How can I analyze a lesson that uses cultural artifacts?
Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to:
- understand the importance of using cultural artifacts in the classroom and how to assess them by creating a lesson plan of their own and participating in a small group discussion.
- develop deeper analytical skills by analyzing a sample lesson plan from a given reading and guiding questions.
- apply their learning from the previous lessons by creating their lesson plans and discussing in small groups.
Overview and Expectations:
In this last section of the course, participants will be creating their own lesson plans based on a topic of their own choice and by using their chosen cultural artifacts in the previous lesson. Lesson plans must include 1-2 artifacts, a rubric, and sample assessments.
Participants will also review a sample lesson plan that uses cultural artifacts within a given reading and then reflect on it by completing a fact/opinion sheet to give factual examples from the reading and also give your opinion.
Learning Activities:
1. Participants will complete the following reading with careful attention to the sample lesson plans given in the reading. This will lead to the next activity; an analysis of any lesson plan from the reading by using the lesson guiding questions for organization. There should be a focus on whether the cultural artifacts used in the lessons were useful or instead became a hindrance to the given topic.
The reading can be found here: http://www.indiana.edu/~mathers/Tops.pdf
Some additional questions to consider in your analysis:
- What makes this a good lesson using artifacts?
- How would this lesson be different without the artifacts?
- How would you change the lesson selected to fit your students grade level and subject matter?
- Should cultural artifacts be used in all subject matters? Why or why not?
2. Participants will use their selected topic and rationale from Unit 2 and write a lesson plan that uses 1-2 artifacts chosen with their topic previously. The lesson should have the following sections included:
- Participant name and title of lesson
- Population being taught
- Subject
- Time limit of lesson
- Lesson Goals
- State and National Standards
- Learning Objectives
- Lesson Description
- Sample Assessments
- Links/Resources
- Lesson Rationale
- Lesson Modifications
Note: All of these subtopics must be included in your lesson plan in order to be submitted and graded. All lesson plans should include at least 1 type of media and its reason for usage explained in the lesson rationale. It should not be something to "WOW" your learners, it should be an integral part of your lesson.
Submit lesson plans here: Small Group Lesson Plan Discussion
3. Once lesson plans are submitted to the small group discussion link above, participants should participate in the small discussion to analyze, critique, and make recommendations on at least 2 other lesson plans from the group. They should also respond to anyone that responds to their lessons.
This discussion will allow participants to share thoughts and suggestions in a safe environment before attempting to use their lessons in a real life scenario. By working in small groups, all members of the group can adjust their lesson plans accordingly.
This discussion together with their lesson plan submission and sample lesson analysis will be the lesson 4 assessments.
Course Conclusion: Ideas to Further Your Thinking and Creating!
To conclude the mini course, participants can think about the following activity as a future activity for their own students within their subject of teaching. This activity is offered here as an extended learning opportunity for all participants and learners to develop their skills with cultural artifacts!
File:Culture Boxes Activity.pdf
Thank you for participating in this mini course and entering the world of cultural artifacts in the learning environment!
Links and References:
http://www.indiana.edu/~mathers/Tops.pdf
Go back to mini course: Using cultural artifacts in the language classroom | Unit 2: Utilizing Cultural Artifacts in the Classroom