Social Studies - Kindergarten
Standard 2 Objective 1
Students will learn what the characteristics of a hero are.
Literature:
The teacher needs to have an understanding of the characteristics of a true hero. When choosing books for this lesson make a conscious effort to include people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Demonstrate a positive learning attitude.
Begin the lesson activity by asking the students if they know what a hero is. List the different traits of what the children on the board.
After brainstorming ideas of what a hero is, read the story Maxi, The Hero. Throughout the story, ask the children if Maxi (the main character in the story) has any of the traits they listed on the board.
Upon finishing the story, talk about the true traits of a hero that were described in the story about Maxi. Assess if the children's idea of what a hero is has changed. Add new ideas (or take some away) from the list previously developed.
Share with the students who your hero is by sharing a picture and/or other artifacts that you have that show the true heroic traits your hero possesses.
Give the students time to look through books with true American hero's (use books from the provided list, or others you are aware of) to learn about the different American hero's.
As a homework assignment, have the students decide who their hero is. They can bring a picture or other artifacts to school to share with their classroom and add to the class "Hero Hall of Fame" (a bulletin board in the classroom or hallway).
Help student who may not have home support create a display for the "Hero Hall of Fame" at school rather than as a homework assignment.
To use other genres of literature, the teacher can introduce heroes from fairy tales or folklore.