LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Goal 3

The learner will examine how individuals can initiate change in families, neighborhoods, and communities.

Objective 3.02

Describe how individuals, events, and ideas change over time.

Resources aligned to this objective

Tobacco bag stringing: Elementary activity two
This activity for grades 3–6 will teach students how examining photographs can help them to better understand the past. This activity can be used as an introduction to looking at primary source photographs.
Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)
Little and big houses
Using the book Little House on the Prairie and international keypals, students will learn about similarities and differences among children at different times and in different places.
Format: lesson plan (grade 3 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Social Studies)
By Karen Ester.
Farmville's choice
In this lesson, students will learn about rural life in North Carolina at the turn of the century. Home demonstration and 4H clubs implemented many programs to help people learn better farming techniques, ways of preserving food, and taking care of the home. Several North Carolina leaders went to great lengths to ensure the success of these programs. In part of this activity, students help the town of Farmville dedicate a monument to one of those people.
Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)
Families - Then and now
Students apply their knowledge of communities as they compare and contrast the home life described in Sarah Plain and Tall to the home life described in Because of Winn-Dixie.
Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Information Skills and Social Studies)
By Debbie Fox and Sherri Hendrix.

Resources on the web

Sodbusters!
Students examine photographs of sod houses, build a model sod house, and picture themselves living in a ‘soddie’ to gain a firsthand perspective on the frontier period of American history. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Visual Arts Education and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Endowment for the Humanities
Immigrating to America
Students learn about what it was like for new immigrants to come through Ellis Island at the turn of the century. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–4 Social Studies)
Provided by: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
History in quilts
Students will recognize how people from different cultures and time periods have passed down the tradition of quiltmaking. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Visual Arts Education and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Endowment for the Humanities
Earth Day every day
This Xpeditions lesson demonstrates how classroom and community projects can improve the local environment and benefit communities beyond one's own. Students discuss environmental concerns, analyze these concerns, and offer practical remedies. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic