Unit Overview
This backwards design unit was created to satisfy a course requirement towards my Masters of Elementary Education at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.
This unit is designed for use in a 4th grade classroom to teach about the Reconstruction-era Virginia. The unit focus is on problems Virginia faced during Reconstruction, how these problems affected various groups living in Virginia, and how Virginians worked to solve these problems. The unit of course includes social studies, but integrates the fine arts, science, math, and literacy as well. Plans for lessons one through five are included on this site, as well as brief outlines for the other lessons. Resources used in planning as well as those needed for implementation are found under the Resources tab above.
In the first lesson, students will look at images from Virginia during the Reconstruction, and begin to think about what was life was like at the time. Lesson two will go over the same content, continuing the introduction to the unit.
In lesson three, students will be introduced to historical newspapers, and learn about their summative assessment for the unit. They will also look at a timeline of Reconstruction in Virginia.
Lessons four and five teach students about the economic shape Virginia was in at the end of the Civil War, and how Reconstruction worked to change Virginia's economy.
Lessons six and seven inform students about social changes that took place during Reconstruction.
Lesson eight serves as a concluding lesson, and provides students time to work on their Reconstruction Newspapers during the school day.
Throughout the unit, students will be working on their summative assessment: A Reconstruction Newspaper. The project should be completed both in the classroom and at home, but mostly as homework. More information on assessment is found under the Assessment tab above.
This unit is designed for use in a 4th grade classroom to teach about the Reconstruction-era Virginia. The unit focus is on problems Virginia faced during Reconstruction, how these problems affected various groups living in Virginia, and how Virginians worked to solve these problems. The unit of course includes social studies, but integrates the fine arts, science, math, and literacy as well. Plans for lessons one through five are included on this site, as well as brief outlines for the other lessons. Resources used in planning as well as those needed for implementation are found under the Resources tab above.
In the first lesson, students will look at images from Virginia during the Reconstruction, and begin to think about what was life was like at the time. Lesson two will go over the same content, continuing the introduction to the unit.
In lesson three, students will be introduced to historical newspapers, and learn about their summative assessment for the unit. They will also look at a timeline of Reconstruction in Virginia.
Lessons four and five teach students about the economic shape Virginia was in at the end of the Civil War, and how Reconstruction worked to change Virginia's economy.
Lessons six and seven inform students about social changes that took place during Reconstruction.
Lesson eight serves as a concluding lesson, and provides students time to work on their Reconstruction Newspapers during the school day.
Throughout the unit, students will be working on their summative assessment: A Reconstruction Newspaper. The project should be completed both in the classroom and at home, but mostly as homework. More information on assessment is found under the Assessment tab above.