| Has Change Been Good for Texas? |
Grade:
Fourth |
Content Area:
Technology |
Time Frame:
2-3 lessons (90-135 minutes) |
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Unit/Lesson Overview:
Students will use Microsoft Excel to create a graph illustrating the positive or negative impact of events, discoveries, and inventions on Texas. They will then answer the question "Has Change Been Good for Texas?" and why they think this is so, using factual evidence to support their evaluation.
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Student Standards (TEKS)
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I Can....
... identify events, discoveries, or inventions causing change in Texas.
... identify the year in which these events took place.
... determine the positive or negative impact of these events on Texas.
... create a line graph using the Chart Wizard in Microsoft Excel evaluating the impact of events.
... write an essay using the information in my graph as evidence to support my thinking. |
Assessment(s):
Go to the Rubistar website to quickly create your own rubric.
Did the student evaluate at least six events that have caused change in Texas?
Did the student include the year of each event?
Did the student express the positive or negative impact of each event on Texas?
Did the student create a visually appealing line graph? : |
TAKS Objectives:
| Reading: |
Objectives 1, 3, 4 |
| Writing: |
Objective 1, 3 |
| Math: |
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| Social Studies: |
Objective 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| Science: |
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Bloom's Taxonomy
| Yes |
Knowledge |
| Yes |
Comprehension |
| Yes |
Application |
| Yes |
Analysis |
| Yes |
Synthesis |
| Yes |
Evaluation |
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Big 6 Skills
| Not Chosen |
Task
Definition |
| Not Chosen |
Info. Seeking
Strategies |
| Not Chosen |
Location and
Access |
| Not Chosen |
Use of Information |
| Not Chosen |
Synthesis |
| Not Chosen |
Evaluation |
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Supplementary Resources / Materials:
Scott-Foresman Soc St Textbk: Texas , Unit 5.
Students may want to skim for events, discoveries, and inventions throughout this unit, but the following pages are very helpful: pp. 298,307 320-321, 324, 330, 338, 353
Before teaching this lesson, practice creating the graph by following the detailed instructions that are included in the MS Word document called "directions_tx_change_graph.doc" so that you will feel comfortable when leading your students through the lesson.
An example and student template are included in the Excel file called "tx_change_graph.xls"
File: directions_tx_change_graph1.doc
File: tx_change_ graph1.xls
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Internet Links:
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Accommodations:
To be determined by teacher based on student needs |
| Procedures |
Introductory Activity (Warm-Up):
Students will work with a partner or small group to choose at least six events, discoveries, or inventions causing change in Texas between 1900 and 1940 for their line graph.
Have students discuss how we might best evaluate whether an event, discovery, or invention has had a positive or negative impact on our state. Brainstorm and create a list of important areas of concern and /or impact. |
Lesson:
Step 1: Save MS Word document called directions_tx_change_graph.doc (file1) and the Excel document called tx_change_graph.xls (file 2) to your computer. Step 2: Save a copy of the Excel document called tx_change_graph.xls (file 2) in your grade level folder in Student Share for students to access.
Step 3: Follow the detailed directions in the MS Word document called directions_tx_change_graph.doc (file 1) to complete the activity with students.
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Reteach:
To be determined by teacher based on student needs
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Extension:
Students may add additional events to their timeline or add details and pictures to further explain the events.
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Guiding Questions:
What are some things that have happened in the early part of the 20th century in Texas?
What discoveries and inventions occurred?
Was their impact positive or negative on the state?
How does a line graph help you to understand the impact of events?
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Summary Questions:
Is change good for a state or a country? How can we evaluate events, discoveries, and inventions as being positive or negative?
How can events have a positive or negative impact upon a state or country?
What do I predict the impact of future discoveries and inventions will be on our state or country?
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Reflection:
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