PowerPoint Lesson Plan
VITAL INFORMATION
Subject(s): Social Studies, Technology
Topic or Unit of Study: Ancient Americans of the Southwest United States - The Anasazi
Grade/Level: 5
Objective: After studying about the Anasazi and their ancient civilization in Social Studies, the students will put together a multimedia presentation using Microsoft PowerPoint. This lesson takes the students another step in merging technology into the social studies curriculum.
Summary: Lesson #2 in the technology series - Students will now create a Multimedia Presentation using Microsoft PowerPoint. The subject matter of slide show will be centered around the archetecture and buildings of the Anasazi, ie the cliff dwellings, kivas, Chaco Canyon, etc. Students will learn the basics of PowerPoint from which to create their slides. The slide show will be composed of the following: • 5 slides • Picture/Graphic on each slide • A few descriptive words about the picture/graphics.
IMPLEMENTATION
Learning Context: The class has been studying about the First People of the Americas in our social studies unit. The unit focuses on four Ancient American Indian cultures. One of the four are the Anasazi, which the students were mostinterested in furthering their research. The Anasazi had a thriving civilization, who lived in in the cliffs of the surrounding mesas (Mesa Verde, Colorado), and built a community in Chaco Canyon (New Mexico) which appeared to be the hub of this civilization. But something happened. The settlements were abandoned, and the people migrated to differing regions.
Procedure: Session 1 (in the classroom): 1) To introduce this activity the teacher will show the class a demonstration of a power point slide show on the Anasazi archetecture and dwellings. 2) Students will be assigned to work with the same partners as they did on the newsletter. 3) Students will discuss with their partner what information they need to include in their slide show, i.e. cliff dwellings, structures at Chaco Canyon. Session 2 (in the computer learning center): 1) Teacher will demonstrate PowerPoint. 2) Teacher will distribute handout on PowerPoint basics. 3) Students will be given time to explore PowerPoint. 4) Students will do a practice assignment on PowerPoint that is guided and supported by the teacher. Session 3 (in the computer learning center): 1) Class will be directed to the Internet. 2) Teacher will demonstrate how to copy a picture from a website, and paste it onto a PowerPoint slide. 3) Students will practice step 2 for a few minutes. 4) Students will then check out Anasazi web sites with various graphics and clip art to include in their slide show. If they find clip art and pictures they want to use they should copy and paste onto a slide (they can always modify the slide to their liking when this session is done). 5) Students will copy onto a disk to bring back to the classroom to complete. Session 4 (in the classroom): 1) Students will be scheduled throughout the day to work on their slide show on the classroom computers. 2) Teachers will once again have centers set up where the students not working on the computers have the opportunity to be working on other assignments or reading. 3)Teacher will be available to help students and answer questions. Session 5 (in the classroom): 1) Students should be finishing up their slideshows. 2) Teacher will then explain to the entire class about some of "Bells and Whistles" on PowerPoint - such as the animations, text. 3) The students will be able to incorporate the animations and text into their slides for the final presentation. 4) Teacher will be available to help students and answer questions. Sessions 6 & 7 (in the classroom): 1) Students will show their presentations to the class.
Sample Student Products: Ancient American Power Point
Collaboration: Students will work collaboratively. Students will work in groups of 2.
Time Allotment: 7 class periods. 1 Hr per class.
Author's Comments & Reflections: This project is another great way to get the students to explore the Internet and experience multimedia. They also get a chance to present in front of the class.
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
Instructional Materials: Handout on PowerPoint Basics
Resources: The number of computers required is 1 per 2 students. Technology resources: Internet Explorer, Netscape, PowerPoint
STANDARDS & ASSESSMENT
Standards: CA- California K-12 Academic Content Standards • Subject : History & Social Science • Grade : Grade Five • Area : United States History and Geography: Making a New Nation Students in grade five study the development of the nation up to 1850, with an emphasis on the people who were already here, when and from where others arrived, and why they came. Students learn about the colonial government founded on Judeo-Christian principles, the ideals of the Enlightenment, and the English traditions of self-government. They recognize that ours is a nation that has a constitution that derives its power from the people, that has gone through a revolution, that once sanctioned slavery, that experienced conflict over land with the original inhabitants, and that experienced a westward movement that took its people across the continent. Studying the cause, course, and consequences of the early explorations through the War for Independence and western expansion is central to students’ fundamental understanding of how the principles of the American republic form the basis of a pluralistic society in which individual rights are secured. • Standard 5.1: Students describe the major pre-Columbian settlements, including the cliff dwellers and pueblo people of the desert Southwest, the American Indians of the Pacific Northwest, the nomadic nations of the Great Plains, and the woodland peoples east of the Mississippi River.  Benchmark or Example 1: Describe how geography and climate influenced the way various nations lived and adjusted to the natural environment, including locations of villages, the distinct structures that they built, and how they obtained food, clothing, tools, and utensils.  Benchmark or Example 2: Describe their varied customs and folklore traditions.
Assessment Plan: Teacher will be taking notes after each session to make sure both partners were participating in the activities and both working on the project together. Teacher will observe student PowerPoint presentations and evaluate them based on the Rubric in the following section.
Rubrics: PowerPoint Rubric