Day 1

Unit of Study: Citizenship and Gov’t

Lesson: Read Aloud

Topic: Identify ways people make a difference in civic life of their communities.

3.1.1.1.1 Identify ways people make a difference in the civic life of their communities, state, nation or world as individuals or groups to address a specific problem or need.

Needed Resources: The Ballot Box Battle by Emily Arnold McCully

Connection: Often times people are faced with challenges or problems presented to them and they need to find ways to overcome them. Sometimes there are rules, procedures or laws in place that are not fair to all citizens of our country The citizens of our country have the right to have their voices heard by other people and representatives or our government and rules can be changed to ensure everyone is treated equally under the laws in our country. Sometimes it takes years to work to make these positive changes happen.

Teaching Point: Today we are going to read a story that is based on a woman who worked hard to make a positive change in her community and our country as a whole. Earlier in our country’s history women did not have right to vote. Only certain men had the right to elect representatives to our government and vote on other issues on election day. You will learn how a person can help to inspire positive changes in their community as they work to overcome a problem they face.

Teach

Ask Students

After the page that reads “you will fight because you are a girl”

What events in Elizabeth Stanton’s early life might explain why she was so committed to showing that women are equal to men? (After the death of her brother, she set herself to be learned and courageous: She learned Greek and won a Prize of Excellence)

At the end of the page that reads “I have the right to vote that any man here has”

What reasons did Elizabeth Stanton give for why she had as much right to vote as men? (She is a citizen of the United States)

Active Engagement:

After reading the book

Think-Pair-Share

Ask students how Elizabeth Stanton showed concern for others, attentiveness for their needs, and showed compromise between personal interest and common goals (She is fighting for women’s right to vote, she puts the needs of women voters before her own showing attentiveness for the welfare of Cordelia’s generation)

Link:

Students complete a Venn Diagram in their social studies notebooks to compare and contrast the characteristics of Elizabeth Stantan and Cordelia

The Ballot Box Battle Character Compare and Contrast