Think Different Lesson
Brief Description: Students learn about famous people who were instrumental in changing the world in their own way.
Subject and Grade Level: Grades 4 -12 - English, Social Studies, Science, Cross-Curricular
Materials/Equipment: Computer(s) with access to the Internet or with web capturing software if access is not available during classtime. Optional: projection device.
Time Needed: Will depend upon how you use the material in this lesson.
Before the Lesson: Check the sites listed and others you may want to include to make sure they are appropriate for your students. Here are a few ideas for bookmarks:
Gather material on Einstein, Edison, Henson, King, Gandhi, and others that you select.
Objectives:
- to help students learn more about the contributions of leaders who have changed our world in their own way.
- to give students practice in using online and library resources for gathering information.
- to help students learn to make connections.
- to give students the opportunity to present information and conclusions.
Procedures:
Depending upon the age and ability level of your students, lesson procedures will vary. With some classes, you may wish to have students locate additional web site information. With others, you may wish to use bookmarked sites. Please feel free to download and modify this lesson as needed.
Talk with the students about people they believe have made a difference in our world. Let them list names on the chalkboard along with a brief phrase as to why these people made a difference. Consider it a brainstorming session. If the students don't mention Einstein, Edison, King, and Gandhi, bring up these names and see what the students know of these people. Then mention the name of Henson, and ask if he should be included in the list.
Ask: Did all of these people make a difference? Are some contributions, in your opinion, more important than others? What about in the opinions of others? What does it take to be someone who makes a difference?
Let students pick a "hero" or assign "heroes" to the students. Have the students use traditional library and textbook resources in addition to online resources to collect information about their "hero." You may want them to develop a "case" or present proof as to why their "hero" should be considered one of the people who made a significant difference in our world, or you may want to have them do biographies or diaries of the "heroes" and their lives.
Decide how this information should be organized and presented and give the students appropriate time to complete the assignment.
Have the students present their work to the class and perhaps for their parents.
Note: Besides the people mentioned above, Apple's "Think Different" campaign includes these people who made a difference: Amelia Earhart, Buckminster Fuller, Bob Dylan, Richard Branson, John Lennon, Alfred Hitchcock. Maria Callas, Pablo Picasso, Frank Lloyd Wright, Martha Graham, Ted Turner, and Mohammad Ali. You may want to include some of these in your lesson.
Enhancement/Enrichment:
After the presentations, have a discussion on why very different people in very different fields might qualify for this designation.
Continue the discussion to include how your students might make a difference, too. You might want to have them develop ideas relating their goals in life. Have them put these goals in a safe place and refer to them often.
Suggestions for Parents:
At home students might talk with parents about this topic. Who are "heroes" of the parents? Who are the children's "heroes?" Parents and children might go online together to find more about people they believe made a difference. This is, in addition, a fine opportunity to help children with goal-setting.
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