Learning Activity Plan for PreK-Grade 2

Teacher Candidate
Date/Time of Scheduled
Visit
Name/Address of School
Age/Grade level
Cooperating Teacher

Jenny Forman Sarno

Name of Lesson
Content
area(s)/developmental
domain(s) addressed
Brief description of the
lesson
This lesson is:

Anarchy Experiment
The students will use cognitive, language, social-emotional and physical skills in
this Global Connections/Social Studies lesson.

Rationale
Timeframe
Objective(s) of the
activity
Connections to
standards

2nd Grade
Classroom Number

The students will experience a period of time without class rules in order to
assess the importance of rules.
A new concept/activity
This lesson is an introduction to functions of Government.
Teacher says: Today we are going to start to talk about Government, what it is
and what it does for us.
45 minutes
Students will investigate the reasons why communities have rules and laws that
affect how they function by participating in a social experiment of lawlessness
and reflecting on their experiences in writing.
NYS Social Studies-2.4a: Students will explain the importance of making fair laws
and rules, the benefits of following them and the consequences of violating
them.
Speaking and listening standard
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.8: Writing: Recall information from experiences or gather
information from provided sources to answer a question.

Learning Activity Plan for PreK-Grade 2

Language Objectives
Resources/materials
needed:
(Include any worksheets or
sources of evidence for
childrens learning you will
use during the activity)
Technology inclusion (if
applicable)
Procedures (step by
step)

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.1: Speaking and Listening: Participate in collaborative

conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers
and adults in small and larger groups.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.1: Opinion writing: Write opinion pieces in which they
introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply
reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to
connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.
Vocabulary: laws/ violate/consequences/enforce/rules
Differentiated Paper Choice
Chart Paper (activity checklist)

Anticipatory Set (Connection/Motivation)

1. Teacher says: You may have noticed that we have a lot of rules here at school
and in this class. What are some examples of school and classroom rules?
2. Turn and Talk (2 min)
3. Students share results of turn and talk
4. Teacher says: Does anyone want to try to predict-what would happen if there
were no rules at all in this classroom?
5. Teacher says: lets try it. I am going to set the timer and for 10 minutes there
will be no class rules at all. You will be free to do whatever you choose. When the
time is up and the bell rings, the rules will be back in effect and we will come
back together to share our experiences.

Learning Activity Plan for PreK-Grade 2

Instruction/Mini Lesson
1. Teacher sets the timer for 10 minutes.
2. Students may need encouragement at first that there are no rules they may
pass the time as they choose.
3. Teacher observes.
4. Timer bell rings.
5. Teacher says: ok everyone. Lets sit down and talk about what just happened.
Who would like to make some observations about what they did?
6. Teacher says: Who would like to make some observations about how they felt?
7. Teacher says: Based on what we observed and how we felt, can anyone think
of a reason why we usually have rules in the class room?
8. Teacher says: How are rules related to laws?
9. Teacher defines laws: a rule made by the government of a town, state,
country, etc.
10. Teacher says: Why do you think we have laws? What purpose do they serve?
11. Teacher defines the word violate: to do something that is not allowed by (a
law, rule, etc.)
12. Teacher says: what would happen if you violated a rule in class? What would
happen if you violated a law?
13. Teacher says: does anyone know the word consequence? What does that
word mean?
14. Teacher defines consequence: something that happens as a result of a
particular action or set of conditions
15. Teacher says: What do you think are appropriate consequences for violating
our classroom rules? For violating the law?
Independent Practice
1. Teacher says: What do you think would happen if there were no laws? We are
now going to work independently and I would like each of you to do some opinion
writing. I want you to answer 2 questions:
2. Teacher writes questions of board: What do you think would happen in our

Learning Activity Plan for PreK-Grade 2

community if there were no laws?
Do you think there should be consequences for violating laws? If yes, please
explain why. If no, please explain why not.
3. Students to work independently on writing task. (20 minutes)
Closure (sharing/reflection, next steps)
1. Teacher says: I would like to hear from some students about what they think
might happen in our community if there were no laws.
2. Teacher says: By a show of hands, how many students think that there should
be consequences for violating laws? That there should be no consequences?
3. Teacher says: lets hear from some students who think that there should be
consequences: can you explain why you feel that way?
4. Teachers says: Now lets hear from some students who think that there should
be no consequences.
5. Next steps: Teacher says: Tomorrow we are going to think more about the laws
that we have in our community and explore who makes them and how they are
made.
Method of assessing
childrens
understanding of
lesson/activity/objective
(s)
(Be sure to include any
tools, rubrics/checklists
and/or worksheets you will
use for assessment(s)

Pre-assessment
1. Students have prior
experience using opinion
writing to express their
point of view and can do
so in novel contexts.

Assessment of Student
Learning
1. Informal observation as
students share their
thoughts and opinions
aloud in class discussion.
2. Collect and review final
written document
completed by students.
3. Students to complete
self-assessment checklist to
review expectations for

Assessment of
Childrens Language
Learning
1. Informal
observations: listen for
vocabulary in class
discussions.
2. Formal evaluation:
review written
persuasive writing
piece for use of topic
specific vocabulary.

Learning Activity Plan for PreK-Grade 2

writing.
Plans for differentiated
instruction/instructional
modifications

Follow up/Extension
activities

Supporting children
with identified delays
or disabilities
1. Students will have
paper choice depending
on fine motor
skills/writing ability.
2. Students will be able to
utilize sentence starter
statements.
3. Teacher will conference
with students throughout
writing task to offer
scaffolding.

Supporting English Language Learners

1. Students will be able to utilize sentence starter
statements.
2. Students can reference vocabulary definitions
written on board in front of the room.
3. Students may have the opportunity to summarize
material orally to a peer or teacher before writing.

Supporting Advanced Learners

1. Students are given additional writing/reflection
task:
If superheroes were real, should they fight crime or
should fighting crime be left to the police? Please
answer yes or no and give a reason to support your
opinion.
1. Teacher says: Are any students familiar with the word enforce?
2. Teacher defines word enforce: to make sure that people do what is required by
a law, rule, etc.
3. Teacher says: Who enforces the laws in our community?
4. Teacher says: How do they do that?

Any additional
information that would
be helpful for the
observer to know
Observer feedback on the lesson plan, including commendations and recommendations for improving aspects
of the learning activity

Learning Activity Plan for PreK-Grade 2