Lesson Plan 2

Title: Robert F. Kennedy: Leader of Social Justice

Grade: 4

Time Requirement: 80 minutes

Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Describe character traits that a leader of social justice would exhibit.
• Compare personal character traits with that of a leader of social justice.
• Understand how people can work for change in dealing with social injustice when people share the same vision and character traits.

New York State Learning Standards

• Social Studies Standard 1: History of the United States and New York State KI 1, PI 3; KI 2, PI 1; KI 3, PI 2-3; KI 4, PI 3
• Social Studies Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship and Government KI 1, PI 1; KI 2, PI 2; KI 3, PI 2; KI 4, PI 1-6
• English Language Arts Standard 1 Grade 4 - information and understanding: Reading PI 5, 7, 10; Writing PI 1-2; Listening PI 4; Speaking PI 6
• English Language Arts Standard 2 Grade 4 - literary expression: Reading PI 2, 4, 6; Writing PI 5; Listening PI 2-3
• English Language Arts Standard 3 Grade 4 - critical analysis and evaluation: Reading PI 1, 7; Writing PI 1, 7; Listening PI 4-5; Speaking PI 3

SOCIAL STUDIES CORE CURRICULUM

• Grade 4: Local History and Local Government
• Government - The fundamental values of American democracy

SKILLS

• Thinking Skills - Drawing inferences and making conclusions
• Research and Writing Skills - Getting and analyzing information
• Interpersonal and Group Relations Skills - Defining terms, identifying basic assumptions, participating in group planning and discussions, cooperating to accomplish goals

CONCEPTS

• Change
• Citizenship
• Diversity
• Empathy
• Justice

Biography of Robert F. Kennedy

• (Provided in introduction to the unit)

Technology Requirement

• Internet access (optional)

Student Activities

Anticipatory Set

The teacher should post the following quote for all to read:

• "We can master change, not through force or fear, but only through the free work of an understanding mind." Robert F. Kennedy

Discuss with the students what this quote means to them. Ask if an understanding mind is a character trait. Have students explain their answers.

Activities

• From a book students are currently reading or have read, think of characters and list their traits.
• Discuss/identify character traits. Use a T chart (double entry) to help students identify the difference between physical traits and character traits (see illustration below).
• Review character traits of a leader of social justice (see vocabulary).
• Group activity – Have groups view photos of Robert F. Kennedy and have them compile a list of character traits they can surmise about Robert F. Kennedy from the photos.

T chart

Culminating Activity

• Ask students to read the biography of Robert F. Kennedy (provided).
• Ask students to compile a list of character traits for Robert F. Kennedy by using the photos and biography.
• Ask students to create a Venn diagram that compares the character traits of Robert F. Kennedy to themselves.

DOWNLOAD: Worksheet 2e: Venn Diagram (PDF)

Extension

List character traits other leaders of social justice have exhibited (Martin Luther King Jr.) Discuss how Robert F. Kennedy used these traits to help bring about change in one or more of the following:

• Civil rights
• Voter rights
• Workers' rights
• Equal education
• Fighting poverty

Read aloud a story about what others do to overcome an injustice (see sample list of books under additional resources) and discuss the character traits shown by the main characters.

Ask students to create an acrostic poem using the character traits they have identified.