4 Presidents and American Symbols: Supplemental Guide | Introduction
Lesson Implementation
It is important to note that the interactive activities in the Supplemental
Guide count on the teacher as the “ideal reader” to lead discussions,
model proper language use, and facilitate interactions among student
partners.
It is highly recommended that teachers preview the read-aloud, Flip
Book images, and comprehension questions to determine when to
pause during the read-aloud and ask guiding questions. To check for
understanding—especially before a difficult point is to be presented—you
might say, “While we are reading this part of the read-aloud, I want you
to think about... ,” or you could ask supplementary questions, such as
Who/What/When/Where/Why literal questions.Student Grouping
Teachers are encouraged to assign partner pairs prior to beginning a
domain, and partners should remain together for the duration of the
domain. If possible, English Language Learners should be paired with
native English speakers, and students who have limited English oral
language skills should be paired with students who have strong English
language skills. Keep in mind that in some instances beginning English
Language Learners would benefit from being in a group of three. Also,
pairing an older student or an adult volunteer with a student who has a
disability may prove to be an advantage for that student. Partnering in
this way promotes a social environment where all students engage in
collaborative talk and learn from one another.
In addition, there are various opportunities where students of the same
home-language work together, fostering their first-language use and
existing knowledge to construct deeper meanings about new information.Graphic Organizers and Domain-Wide Activities
Several different organizers and domain-wide activities are included
to aid students in their learning of the content in the Presidents and
American Symbols domain.- Presidents Timeline—Prior to teaching this domain, create a class
timeline that shows the order of presidents in this domain. Use Image
Cards 2 (George Washington), 13 (Thomas Jefferson), 14 (Abraham
Lincoln), 15 (Theodore Roosevelt), and 16 (Barack Obama). Refer to