Great Mother’s Day lesson plan
by Alan Haskvitz
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Ringleaders/al.html
Mother’s Day cars are an excellent teaching tool as well as an opportunity for the students to learn about famous women in history.
The lesson starts with the students developing a list of positive character traits. There are some excellent sites listed below. Next, they research famous women in history and make a list of what traits those women possessed. This can either be done as as a group or as a class project.
After the research is complete the students each have to look at the traits and make a list of those traits that their mother or other care-giver have and the other famous women who shared those traits.
When this research is completed, it usually takes about two days, the students are given card stock and coloring tools and start to create their Mother’s Day cards. On the first page is a list of the famous women with a greeting such as You are Famous, Mom.
On the second or inside cover page is a list of the character traits that the students found. Older students may even be able to provide an example of each significant woman’s trait with a quote or summary of the deed(s).
On page three the student writes Happy Mother’s Day and lists the traits that their mother has and what other famous women share that favorable trait.
When the card is done the teacher needs to check it over for accuracy and offer suggestions as needed.
The result is a Mother’s Day card that is unique and highly appreciated. Depending on the student the project should take a couple of periods for the research and a period for the artwork and finalization.
Here is a site that could help the student start their research. It is about the character traits of Amelia Earhart.
http://ameliaearhartsce.weebly.com/character-traits.html
Famous women in history
Lessons, videos, and more
http://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/
Time for Kids
Famous women stories
http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/womens-history-month
Excellent list of important women
From Scholastic, short biographies by last name.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/women/notable.htm
What is character?
This article explains character and gives several good examples.
For the more traditional approach, here are some tried and true ideas.
Mother’s Day Craft Ideas
http://atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Mother_s_Day/
http://www.teachingheart.net/mompage.htm
Basic site with brief history of Mothers Day and Projects
http://holidays.mrdonn.org/mothersday.html
Games for Mother’s Day
For younger students
http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/mday/mdgms.htm
W omen’s Rights lessons
For older students
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=435
The Car Family 