Social Studies Lesson: New Jersey Lighthouses
Lesson Plan
45 minutesGrades4Social Studies
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Written by Diane Gavin, Sustainable Jersey for Schools
About this lesson
Students explore the role of lighthouses over time and create a lighthouse design to represent their identity.
Inquire: Students compare the functional importance of lighthouses to a community both in the past and in the present.
Investigate: Students construct a historic timeline of New Jersey lighthouses.
Inspire: Students create a unique lighthouse design to represent themselves.
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Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Suggestions
- This lesson could be used at the beginning of the year in connection with community building in your classroom or a “getting to know you” activity.
- This lesson could be used at the beginning of the year since New Jersey hosts an annual lighthouse challenge for families in October that could be shared with students.
- This unit provides an opportunity for ongoing data collection that could be carried out year-long.
- This lesson highlights the importance of how landmarks contribute to community identity and expands into personal identity.
- The Student Document contains a digital and printer-friendly version of activities for teacher to use depending on classroom needs.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 1 of 3 in our 4th grade Social Studies Unit Plan: Lighthouses.
- Art supplies needed include scissors, glue sticks or tape, and coloring supplies to support student lighthouse designs.
- Teacher should preview the video and adjust the length based on classroom needs.
Differentiation
- Teacher can pause the video for students to find the correct history and photo strips in the Student Document.
- Teachers may provide a template of a simple lighthouse or allow students to draw their own design.
- Students could be grouped and design a collective lighthouse representing all group members as a “community lighthouse.” Students could also design a lighthouse to represent their class or their school.
- The constructing an argument writing activity could be extended in the following ways:
- Students can work together to construct an argument for maintaining lighthouses, or the response could be lengthened into a full paragraph.
- Teachers can specify additional writing requirements to build on prior skills or provide additional practice.
- Students can engage in a round of peer feedback and editing.
- Using the Lighthouses of NJ map, students may investigate the history of any of the NJ lighthouses using the Lighthouse Friends links within the Lighthouse Locator Map.
- The Lighthouse Story from the United States Lighthouse Society can be used to learn more about lighthouses.
- Free entrance to lighthouses is offered every summer for families on August 7. This opportunity could be shared with students.
- Students can explore lighthouses around the country or world, identify how they contribute to their community identity, and observe similarities and differences in design.
From the scientist review
This lesson allows students to learn about lighthouses, the importance of connecting them to the identity of a place and how lighthouses have been impacted by extreme weather events in New Jersey. We reviewed this lesson and it has passed our science credibility process.
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About the teacher writers
Diane Gavin
Diane has been a New Jersey middle school educator for 25 years. A graduate of Rutgers University and The College of New Jersey, she has taught science and is passionate about the middle school educational philosophy that focuses on developing student learning along with social and emotional skills. Diane likes exploring nature by hiking or biking and loves New Jersey and all it has to offer.
Sustainable Jersey for Schools
Sustainable Jersey is a network and movement of municipalities, schools and school districts working collectively to bring about a sustainable New Jersey. Acting with state agencies, non-profit organizations, foundations, academia and industry, Sustainable Jersey researches best practices for what communities could and should do to contribute to a sustainable future.
