Teacher Preparation

• Review and make adjustments to the Project Presentation Slide Deck.

Materials Needed

• Print copies of Community Issue Notecatcher
• Print copies of Think and Write Reflection

Purpose: To introduce the concept of community heroes and to brainstorm ideas for community issues.

Learning Outcome: Students will be able to define a community hero and identify a community issue they care about.

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Briefly introduce the concept of community heroes and real-life examples. Suggestions below. You may choose to use a combination of one or more suggestions.
   1. Community Walks:
      1. Take a walk around the school campus or neighborhood to observe the environment.
      2. Discuss any issues that students notice, such as litter, damaged sidewalks, or overgrown plants.
   2. Community Surveys:
      1. Create a simple survey to ask classmates and family members about their concerns.
      2. Analyze the results as a class.
   3. Real-Life Hero Story:
      1. Share a story about a local hero, like a firefighter, police officer, or teacher.
      2. Ask students to identify the qualities that make this person a hero.
      3. Discuss how these heroes can help the community.
   4. Superhero Analogy:
      1. Use popular superhero characters to spark interest.
      2. Explain that real-life heroes don’t wear capes, but they do amazing things.
   5. Class Discussion:
      1. Ask open-ended questions to stimulate discussion:
         1. Who are some people in our community who help others?
         2. What qualities make someone a good neighbor?
         3. How can we help our community?
   6. Other Suggestions: Local News Stations, Community Websites, Social Media
      1. Share local news broadcasts to learn about community issues.
      2. Share community websites of local government agencies, schools, or non-profit organizations for information on community initiatives and challenges.
      3. Explore social media platforms to see what people are talking about in the community.
2. After discussing real-life heroes, introduce the idea of democratic rights. Explain that these rights help people be good citizens and help their communities.

2. Learning Experience (20 minutes)

1. Brainstorming:
   1. Divide students into groups of 4-5 students.
   2. Explain that they will be working together to identify a community issue that they care about.
      1. Assign roles within each
         1. Researcher
         2. Recorder
         3. Spokesperson
         4. Timekeeper
   3. Provide each group with a Community Issue Note Catcher
   4. Here are some school and community issues:
      1. School-Related Issues
         1. Playground Safety
         2. Library Organization
         3. Classroom Cleanliness
         4. Lunchroom Behavior
      2. Community Issues
         1. Litter
         2. Pollution
         3. Park Maintenance
         4. Animal Welfare
         5. Traffic Congestion
   5. Remind them that a community issue is something that affects many people in their neighborhood, school, or town.

3. Reflecting on our Learning (15 minutes)

1. Share group ideas as a class.
   1. Have each group share their brainstormed community issue.
   2. Encourage students to ask questions and provide feedback.
2. Discuss the importance of community involvement.
   1. Ask guiding questions:
      1. Why is it important to care about our community?
      2. How can we make a difference in our community?
      3. What are the benefits of working together to solve problems?
3. Personal Reflection
   1. Think and Write: Have students reflect on how they can contribute to their community.

Scaffolds: Provide visual aids (pictures, charts) to support discussion.

Teacher Preparation

• Review and make adjustments to the Project Presentation Slide Deck.
• Determine top 3 community issues for students to vote on.
• Prepare resources for community issue research.

Materials Needed

• 3 different colored stickers for community issue voting
• Print copies of Superhero Research

Purpose: To research the chosen community issue and potential solutions.

Learning Outcome: Students will be able to gather information from multiple sources and identify potential solutions to their chosen issue.

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Voting on Community Issue
   1. Select the top 3 community issues.
   2. Color-Coding Voting:
      1. Each student gets one vote and places a colored sticker next to the issue they want to focus on.

2. Learning Experience (25 minutes)

1. Introduce Research Skills
   1. Research Sources: books, articles, and online resources
      1. Provide students with books, articles, and online resources.
   2. Provide Superhero Research note catcher:
      1. Problem
      2. What We Know
      3. Our Solution
      4. What We Learned
2. Group Research
   1. In groups, students use their note catcher and resources to conduct research.
   2. Discuss how community issues can impact different people in different ways.
      1. Talk about how democratic rights can help address these issues and ensure fairness.

3. Reflecting on our Learning (10 minutes)

1. Partner Share
   1. Have groups partner with another group to share their research.
   2. The Helpful Heroes Feedback Protocol
      1. Decide which group will share first.
      2. Listen carefully to the presentation.
      3. Be kind: offer positive feedback.
      4. Give helpful advice for improvement.
      5. Ask questions for clarification.

Scaffolds: Provide different reading levels for books and articles to support varied reading levels.

Teacher Preparation

• Review and make adjustments to the Project Presentation Slide Deck.

Materials Needed

• Print copies of Superhero Infographic Template
• Superhero Research – from Day 2

Purpose: To plan the creation of an informative infographic.

Learning Outcome: Students will be able to plan and organize the content of their infographic.

1. Introduction (15 minutes)

1. Recap key findings from the previous day.
2. Have students reference Superhero Research from Day 2.
3. Introduce the concept of infographics and show examples.

2. Learning Experience (25 minutes)

1. Have groups plan their infographic.
   1. Provide template (digital and/or poster).
      1. Main Message
      2. Key Points
      3. Visual Elements
2. When planning their infographics, encourage students to think about how their solutions can promote equality and opportunity.
   1. Discuss how their projects can contribute to a more just and equitable community.

3. Reflecting on our Learning (5 minutes)

1. Discuss the importance of clear and concise communication.
2. Have teams do a quick reflection on their next steps.

Teacher Preparation

• Review and make adjustments to the Project Presentation Slide Deck.

Materials Needed

• Superhero Infographic Template – from Day 3
• Superhero Research – from Day 2

Purpose: To create informative infographics to share their findings.

Learning Outcome: Students will be able to create an informative infographic that clearly communicates their message.

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Recap group plans for their infographics.
2. Have students use their Superhero Infographic Template from yesterday and their Superhero Research from Day 2.

2. Learning Experience (30 minutes)

1. Provide materials and guide students in creating their infographics.
2. As students create their infographics, remind them to think about the impact of their work.
   1. Encourage them to use their creativity to promote positive change.

3. Reflecting on our Learning (10 minutes)

1. Have groups share their progress and any challenges they are facing.

Teacher Preparation

• Review and make adjustments to the Project Presentation Slide Deck.

Materials Needed

• Group Infographic

Purpose: To share the infographics with the community and reflect on the learning process.

Learning Outcome: Students will be able to present their work to an audience and reflect on their learning.

1. Presentation Preparation (15 minutes)

1. Review presentation tips and rehearse presentations.

2. Community Showcase (20 minutes)

1. Present infographics to the class or a community audience.
2. During the presentations, discuss how the students’ projects contribute to the community.
   1. Highlight the importance of civic engagement and democratic participation.

3. Reflection and Celebration (10 minutes)

1. Discuss the experience of sharing their work and celebrate the journey.

Criteria	4 – Exemplary	3 – Proficient	2 – Developing	1 – Beginning
Understanding of Leader SS.K-2.2.3: Gather facts from teacher and/or adult-curated sources to answer questions.	Demonstrates a deep understanding of the leader’s life and contributions.	Demonstrates a good understanding of the leader’s life and contributions.	Shows some understanding of the leader’s life and contributions.	Lacks understanding of the leader’s life and contributions.
Research Skills SS.K-2.2.3: Gather facts from teacher and/or adult-curated sources to answer questions.	Conducts thorough research, using a variety of reliable sources.	Conducts thorough research, using a variety of reliable sources.	Conducts thorough research, using a variety of reliable sources.	Conducts thorough research, using a variety of reliable sources.
Creativity and Presentation SS.K-2.4.3: Present explanations using a variety of print, oral, and digital technologies.	Creates a highly creative and engaging presentation.	Creates a creative and engaging presentation.	Creates a basic presentation.	Presentation lacks creativity and engagement.
Communication Skills SS.K-2.4.3: Present explanations using a variety of print, oral, and digital technologies.	Clearly and confidently presents information to the class.	Presents information clearly and confidently.	Presents information but lacks clarity or confidence.	Difficulty presenting information.