Nathan Brandsma

EDUC 693B
11/17/14
Instructional Methods Quick Plans #4
Nathan Brandsma Social Studies "Themes of US History"
Presentations/Advance Organizers
Section I - Description
1. Instructional Method: Advance organizers are methods of teaching that emphasize the
organization of the material. This method would be exceptionally useful at the outset of a course
or lesson (hence the advance). This makes the organization explicit for the learners. This gives
them an understanding of what will be learned, when and how. This method can set up the topics
that will be explored in later depth, thus activating schemas of previous knowledge.
2. Topic and rationale: The topic is the themes of united states history. This would be taught at
the beginning of a class on US history. The idea is that the students would have an understanding
of the themes that recur throughout US history, so each subsequent lesson can draw on that
knowledge. The themes would be established in advance of the course, and then be drawn upon
repeatedly in lessons throughout the class. An additional topic that could be taught this way are
economics, where one could talk about supply and demand before getting into depth about each.
Another topic would be a lesson on primary sources and how to read them. That knowledge
would then be repeatedly drawn upon throughout the class
3. Features and purposes: The purpose of advance organizers is to activate background
knowledge of a topic before a lesson, so that that the students are primed for the subsequent
learning. The features of advance organizers are that they set up the structure of a class or a
lesson. The teacher gives the concepts that will structure the information that follows. The idea is
to organize the information, so that individual lessons can be tied to larger notions
4. Advantages and disadvantages: The advantages of advance organizers are that they can help
connect the lesson to students prior knowledge, and that by having the information organized
around broad principles, more synaptic connections can be made and the students can retain
more knowledge. The disadvantages are that the students may not be able to make the desired
connections that the organizer is intended to foster, and that it is confusing.
Section II - Implementation of the Method
1. Objectives: History Standard 2.e. SWBAT analyze continuity and change in eras over the
course of United States History by working in groups and then as a class to identify the themes

that occur throughout US history. Students will work to come up with ten themes in their group,
followed by the class discussing to determine the eight most important.
2. Materials: Because the intent of this advance organizer is to utilize prior knowledge, the
students will not need much in the way of books or computers. The instructor will need the
blackboard to organize the students responses and facilitate the discussion.
3. Model: The teaching model is the advance organizer. This was chosen because it activates the
students prior knowledge while at the same time adding a structure to the rest of the class.
4. Key Terms: Historical themes, continuity, change.
5. Background Knowledge: Students will need to have some knowledge of US history to
participate, but not deep knowledge. If students feel that they know nothing about US history, the
instructor will need to work with the student to draw on their knowledge of current events to
draw out some themes.
6. Assessment: The assessment will be both the lists that the students generate as a group and as
a class, but also the discussion itself, which will need to be moderated in order that each student's
voice is heard.