3rd Grade Lousiana History Lesson Plan

Topic: Important events in the history of Louisiana

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify and describe important events in the history of Louisiana.

Materials

• Pictures of important events in the history of Louisiana (e.g. Louisiana Purchase, Hurricane Katrina)
• Handouts with information about the important events
• Projector or large screen for displaying the pictures

Warm-up

• Ask students if they know what Louisiana is.
• Ask them to name the state or country that Louisiana is a part of.
• Introduce the topic of the lesson: important events in the history of Louisiana.

Direct Instruction

• Show the map of Louisiana and point out the different regions.
• Ask students to name the different Native American tribes that lived in each region.
• Tell students that Louisiana has a rich and diverse history.
• Ask students to open their notebooks and get ready to take notes on the important events in the history of Louisiana.
• Begin by discussing the French period in Louisiana history.
• Explain that the area that is now known as Louisiana was first explored by French explorers in the 17th century.
• Name some of the important French explorers and settlers, such as Iberville, Bienville, and Charlevoix.
• Discuss the French settlement of Louisiana and the establishment of New Orleans in the 18th century.
• Discuss the transfer of Louisiana from France to the United States in the 19th century.
• Explain that in 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million.
• Discuss the role of the Mississippi River in the development of Louisiana.
• Discuss the period of American rule in Louisiana history.
• Explain that after the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, the area was organized as the Territory of Orleans.
• Name some of the early governors of the Territory of Orleans, such as William C.C. Claiborne and William W.C. C. Claiborne.
• Discuss the admission of Louisiana as a state in the Union in 1812.
• Tell students that they will be learning about more important events in the history of Louisiana in future lessons.

Guided Practice

• Distribute the handouts with questions about the French period in Louisiana history.
• Ask students to work in pairs to answer the questions and check their answers with their partner.
• Go over the answers as a class.

Independent Practice

• Give students a project-based assignment in which they choose a topic from the French period in Louisiana history and research it in more detail.
• Students create a presentation or report on their topic and present it to the class.

Closure

• Review the key events and developments in the history of Louisiana.
• Ask students to reflect on what they have learned about the history of their state and how it relates to their own lives and the world around them.
• Encourage students to think about how their understanding of Louisiana history has changed since the beginning of the semester and what they plan to learn more about in the future.

Assessment

• Observe students during the independent practice activity to see if they are able to conduct research, show understanding of key concepts, and express their ideas clearly.
• Evaluate the class mural or skit to see if students are able to effectively communicate their understanding of the history of Louisiana.