Social Studies Lesson Plans

Starting the Unit

Due to the scaffolding nature of many states curricula, many students have prior knowledge about historical subjects. Begin your units by activating this prior knowledge with a KWL chart. Students can recall what they know and help define their search for knowledge by posing questions. And this will also help you modify your instruction based on your students knowledge and interests.

Using the Song and Clickable Lyrics

Each unit page opens to a song or video the heart of the Flocabulary program. Below it, you'll find lyrics to each song. Begin by listening to the song or watching the video. Afterward, click on the lyrics to display more information about lines in the song. Students can read these info boxes out loud or study them for homework. Students can take notes using the note-taking worksheet.

Using the Challenge Questions

Immediately following the song, test students knowledge with challenge questions. The questions test students on what they heard in the song or video. Its easy to use the challenge questions as a game. Just divide your class into two or more groups and have the groups compete to answer the questions.

Using the Missing Lyrics

You can remove the key words from the songs by clicking on Missing Lyrics in the side menu. After the students have heard the song a few times, project the missing lyrics onto the board and have students write in the correct word while the song is playing or afterward. As a spelling check, you can make copies for students and have each student write in the correct word while the song is playing. You can also use copies of the missing lyrics as a context clues quiz.

Using the Tests

Each social studies unit includes a test, accessible by clicking on Test on the unit page. You can use the questions to assess student comprehension. You can also use the tests for group practice or homework assignments. The questions go further in depth than the Challenge Questions and require that students have reviewed the info boxes.

Writing Academic Rhymes

Why stop with Flocabulary's version of history? Have your students create their own historical rhymes. They can write about the same historical events we cover in our units, or report on other historical topics. Our Writing Academic Rhymes lesson sequence covers everything from creating basic mnemonic rhymes to writing complete hip-hop songs. Get started writing here.

Students Teaching

Divide the song into sections and assign each student or group to become experts on that section. This could mean that the students study the pop-out info boxes, or that they do additional research. Then have each expert student or group present to their fellow students, who take notes with the note-taking chart.

Debate History

Capitalize on controversy. Debating a news story can help students clarify their understanding of a topic, develop opinions and understand others views of current events. Debates can range from formal argumentation to a more casual discussion. And in all cases, they encourage interactions and socialization in the classroom. We've provided some guidelines and a worksheet to hold a formal debate as well as tips for more casual opinionated discussions.