ALEX Lesson Plan Resources

ALEX Lesson Plans  
Subject: English Language Arts (4), or Social Studies (4)
Title: The Great Depression
Description: During this lesson, students will research the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians. Students will collaborate to create a presentation from the project-based learning activity and present it to the class. This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.


Subject: English Language Arts (4), or Social Studies (4)
Title: The Negotiators - Land Of No Return
Description: The lesson content is connected to Alabama Course of Study SS2010 (4) which will explain why significant leaders of the Creek War disrupted the Alabama Creek Indian Headsmen and the government. The disruption would be solved through negotiation. The negotiating Creek Indians did not obtain full restoration of their land, however, they did accept a compromise. This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.


Subject: English Language Arts (4), or Social Studies (4)
Title: Alabama's Early Governors
Description: In this lesson, students will learn about the executive branch of government at the state level, especially related to the first governors of the state of Alabama. Their impact on the development of Alabama and Alabama's role in the United States will be discussed. Students will use research and note taking skills to gather information on an early governor. Then students will participate in jigsaw groups to share their information, discuss the importance of each governor, similarities, and impact. Finally, students will discuss the role of governor and how governors have an impact on the state and the impact these men had in Alabama and in other states.  This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History. 


Subject: English Language Arts (4), or Social Studies (4)
Title: Hernando de Soto in Alabama
Description: Students will use primary sources to gain information about Hernando de Soto, his route, and his interactions with Native Americans in Alabama. Students will read two articles in order to identify information about Hernando de Soto and his journey through Alabama. Students will also learn about the impact of European Exploration on the Native Americans who were in Alabama in the 1500s.  This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.


Subject: English Language Arts (4)
Title: True Identity
Description: After reading a chapter book together as a class, small groups will each be given a different story character to analyze in more detail.  Student groups will choose from a given list of choices how they want to present their character to the rest of the class.  The other groups must guess the character being presented and base their guess upon text evidence. The table group that everyone guesses accurately wins.