Social Studies SIOP Lesson Plan

María Balaguer Mansfeld Middle School 8th Grade

UNIT/THEME: World War II: Navajo Code Talkers (Students will have already been introduced to WWII and its effects.) This lesson will take about 60 minutes

STANDARDS: SS08-S1C8-05: Describe Arizona’s contributions to the war effort: Native American Code Talkers

CONTENT OBJECTIVE: This lesson will describe to students the importance of the Navajo Code Talkers and allow them to decode and create a secret message.

LANGUAGE OBJECTIVE: Language objectives are kept general so that they may be adapted to the various levels of the English learner. For example: A student who is recently arrived will not be able to put together a sentence on his or her own. However, they can draw, point, or copy a one-word response. A student with more experience in the language will be able to put together a sentence and in the more advanced student: a paragraph.  Writing: The student will identify, describe, and apply conventions of Standard English in his or her communications.  Reading: The student will acquire English language vocabulary and use it in relevant contexts.  Listening/Speaking: The student will identify, describe, and apply conventions of Standard English in his or her communications.

KEY VOCABULARY: o Navajo o code o encode o transmit o decode o deploy o baffled MATERIALS: o Copy of Code Talkers Dictionary, o Navajo Code Talker Fact Sheet, o Coded Message with teacher’s name numbered alphabet sheet, o projector for video segment

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION: United Streaming video clip of code talkers, (unitedstreaming.com)

PREPARATION: (Beginning ELL students will do best with this activity if they are handed the numbered alphabet sheet) If “A” is #1 and “B” is #2 and so on, decode the following message: 4-15 14-15-20 6-15-18-7-5-20 20-15 4-15 25-15-21-18 8-15-13-5-23-15-18-11 (Answer: Do not forget to do your homework)

LESSON SEQUENCE i. After reviewing the decoded words in the fast five, ask students why they would use a secret code? ii. Read the Navajo Code Talker fact sheet. Review vocabulary. iii. Tell students that there was an important secret code used during WWII. It baffled the enemy who was never able to decode this code and many believe that it is what led to the success at Iwo Jima. iv. Explain that the Navajo people are the most populous Native American people in the Southwest. Their language is not written. v. Show video stream segment: http://www.unitedstreaming.com/search/searchResults.cfm?N=0&Nty= 1&Ntk=All&blnSearchInit=true&Ntt=navajo+code+talkers&Nr=d_Asset_Type %3AClip&btnFormHeaderSearchGo.x=14&btnFormHeaderSearchGo.y=15 vi. Open for discussion. vii. Introduce Code Talker Dictionary viii. Explain to students that for this activity (Decoding a secret message) they will only need to use the alphabet. ix. Question: Why do you believe the Navajos had more than one word for each letter?

APPLICATION/PRACTICE You will need the coded message with the teacher’s name adjusted (put your name in). (Ms. Balaguer’s Class Rocks!!!)

REVIEW/ASSESSMENT The students will use the dictionary to create their own message, and exchange with other classmates to decode.