Lesson Plans

A Show on the Showboat

Subject: Language Arts/Social Studies - Grade Level: 4- 8

Objective

Students working collaboratively using a cooperative learning model will write and perform a dram depicting what "daily" life was like for white and black enlisted men and officers aboard the Battleship NC during her participation in the Pacific Theater. Drama will be presented in a mini-lesson format.

Materials

• Poster Board
• Markers, colored pencils/pens
• Overhead projector & transparencies
• Various cardboard props
• Costumes
• Cassette recorder
• VHS camcorder
• Tapes…

Activities/Procedures

Students must be given oral history transcripts and general informational reading contained within the Battleship information packet. Students are assigned readings from the packet. Students are placed within cooperative groups and students choose their respective roles within their groups. Each group chooses which dept. from the ship they want to represent and depict through role-play activities. Each group is responsible for writing and developing scripts, making necessary props, designing their set, presenting their mini-lesson using overhead, and performing their drama as a teaching vehicle.

Mini-Lesson/Drama Format

1. Assign students to cooperative groups
2. Students choose roles within groups (i.e., recorder, research, artist, writer, presenter, etc.).
3. Group determines what men and roles from the ship they are going to teach about and depict through mini-lesson and drama.
4. Collaborative working and planning within group which requires writing and developing lesson plans and script (students establish goals and objectives; "today’s mission," "plan of the Day", etc.
5. Art Project – Design and develop props
6. Simulates historical events as they occurred on the ship through the presentation of mini-lesson and dramatization.
7. Incorporate music, dance, and fads of the period of time when appropriate.
   

Assessment

Students in class will assess each group after they present lesson and drama using an assessment checklist, developed by the classroom teacher, which list all necessary components that must be present during the Presentation Phase. Teacher assessment and feedback will incorporate both individual and group assessment.

* Teaching presentations and drama can be videotaped and played back to students to provide assessment and feedback to groups. Videotape may be presented to PTO/PTA groups to solicit funding for a field trip to the Battleship NC.