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This is a lesson plan on Amish Communities
Subject:
Social Studies
Grades:
2, 3
Denise
Standbridge
Title:
Amish Communities
Grade Level:
2
nd
-3
rd
Length of Lesson:
45 minutes
Performance Expectation(s):
After a lesson about
Amish Communities, students will write a paragraph describing
similarities and differences between the two communities.
Materials:
Just Plain Fancy
by Patricia Polacco;
overhead projector, transparency, and markers; writing paper with
lines and space for a drawing
Procedures:
-
Introduction
Read
Just Plain Fancy
to the students.
-
Development
Amish live in communities. You also live in a community. A community
is a place where people can get the things they need and want.
Communities have places where people live and work. {Begin a list
on overhead transparency (left hand column) and title it Our Community}.
Ask students "Where do people live and work in out community?"
List answers (see example list). From the pictures of the story
we read, "Where do Amish people live and work?" {Begin
a list in the right hand column of overhead transparency and title
it Amish Community (see example list; re-open book and show pictures
to students again)} Continue with the following questions: "How
do people get from place to place in our community?; How do people
get from place to place in an Amish Community?; Do people dress
exactly alike in our community?; What about in an Amish Community?’;
Continue listing, using background information to formulate questions
for discussion.
Ex: Our Community Amish Community
houses houses
families families
do various jobs primarily farm
cars, trucks, buses horses, buggies
wear different clothes wear same type of clothing
church buildings have church meeting in homes
school school (until 8
th
grade)
buy our food and clothes raise most of their food and
from stores make their clothes
electricity, diesel power windmills
tvs, vcrs, phones no tvs, vcrs, or phones in the home
electric lights lanterns
speak English (Spanish) speak English and German
-
Closure:
Today we have talked about what a community is and we compared
our community to an Amish community. "Were there any similarities
between the two communities?" (Both have houses, families,
and schools) "What were differences between the communities?"
(various answers from list)
Pass out paper to students. Have them write a paragraph about
similarities and differences between their community and an Amish
community. Teacher can assist in their writing by providing a
mode. (My community is similar to an Amish community because
and my community is different from an Amish community because )
Students may draw a picture when they are finished writing the
paragraph.
Assessment:
Use checklist for student participation
in discussion. Teacher can check each student’s paragraph for
a similarity and difference as they are writing them or papers
can be collected as an exit slip.
Adaptation/Consideration:
Create stations where
students can try on Amish style clothing and hats; sample Amish
food items; listen to and sing an Amish Children’s song; and look
at other books about the Amish.
Watch a video about Amish communities.
References:
Social studies communities.
(1991) Orlando, FL: Harcourt
Brace Jovanovich.
Faber, D. (1991)
The Amish.
NewYork: Doubleday.
Hartman, J. (1997)
Rural sociology.
Lecture. Columbia:
University of Missouri.
Polacco, P. (1990).
Just plain fancy.
New York: Bantam
Doubleday Dell Publishing Group.